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By Road
  From London and the South East
Take the M40 towards Birmingham and the Midlands. Leave at junction 8 and follow the A40 to Oxford North. Follow the ring road sign-posted to Woodstock. Take the A44 sign-posted to Evesham and Woodstock. After entering Woodstock and passing the gates of Blenheim Palace on your left, take the second turning on the left towards the town centre. The hotel should be on the left hand side, opposite the town hall.

From the North
Follow the M1 southbound and leave at junction 15a signposted for Oxford. Follow the A43 to the M40 and take the M40 southbound towards London. Exit at junction 9, follow the A34 south towards Oxford and take the exit sign-posted for Oxford and Blenheim Palace. Palace (“Peartree Interchange”). Take the A44 sign-posted to Evesham and Woodstock. After entering Woodstock and passing the gates of Blenheim Palace on your left, take the second turning on the left towards the town centre. The hotel should be on the left hand side, opposite the town hall.
   
By Rail
  Oxford station is approximately 8 miles
   
By Air
  Heathrow Airport is approximately 50 miles.
 
 





  Local Attractions The jewel in the crown of Woodstock is Blenheim Palace, just a stone’s throw from the Bear Hotel and a must see for any guest. Simply staggering in its beauty and grandeur, Blenheim is home to the Duke of Marlborough, himself a past visitor to the Bear. This baroque palace was built in the reign of Queen Anne and was the birthplace of Winston Churchill. Take a look around the house and then explore the gardens, designed by “Capability” Brown.

Woodstock is ideally placed for visiting Oxford, the Cotswolds and Stratford-upon –Avon. Bourton-on-the-Water, delightful Cotswold village is particularly attractive as is Stow-in-the-Wold, famous for its narrow lanes and antique shops.

   
  Blenheim Palace
 Home of the 11th Duke of Marlborough and birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill.

The Palace
Blenheim Palace was built for John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough, in recognition of his great victory over the French at the Battle of Blenheim in 1704. The palace, designed by Sir John Vanbrugh, is one of the finest examples of English baroque and contains a superb collection of tapestries, paintings, sculptures and fine furniture set in magnificent gilded State Rooms. The Long Library is of outstanding beauty.

The Churchill Exhibition
An exhibition of Churchilliana, which includes manuscripts, paintings, personal belongings, books, photographs and letters. The core of the exhibition is the simple room where Winston Spencer Churchill was born on the 30th November 1874.

The Garden and Park
Blenheim’s gardens are renowned for their beauty and range from the formal Water Terraces, Italian Garden and Rose Garden to the natural charm of the Arboretum and Cascade. Blenheim Lake created by “Capability” Brown and spanned by Vanbrugh’s Grand Bridge is the focal point of over 2,000 acres of landscaped gardens.

Blenheim Palace and gardens are normally open between mid March to the end of October.
   
  Cotswold Heritage Centre
 Rural life traditions and agricultural history are all on display in the unusual setting of a House of Correction, restored cell block’s and a courtroom. There is also a lifestyle exhibition of a typical household “below stairs”, with audio-visual support.
   
  Bourton-on-the-Water A charming Cotswolds village, Bourton’s beauty lies in its many miniature ornamental bridges crossing the River Windrush, which flows through the town. A miniature model village showing the great buildings of the world is very popular with children
   
  Stow-on-the-Wold Stow is unique for its many narrow lanes, which all flow into the central market square. They were apparently designed so that sheep could be herded to market more easily. Today the lanes are lined with antique and souvenir shops.
   
  Chipping Norton
 Having largely escaped the mass tourism of its neighbouring towns and villages, Chipping Norton is nevertheless worth a visit, particularly for its 17th century almshouses and its old Tweed Mill, now converted into luxury homes.
 

 
 
Address:   The Bear Hotel, Park Street, Woodstock, OXFORDSHIRE, OX20 1SZ             Reservations Hotline: 0118 971 4700