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Woodstock
Oxfordshire
OX20 1PX
Telephone:
01993 811091
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Built in the early 1700s to glorify the great military hero John Churchill. Winston Spencer Churchill was born, married and got his sense of destiny here. Situated on a 2,100-acre park, enclosed by a stone wall nine miles long, the palace contains 187 rooms. The current occupant, the 11th Duke of Marlborough grew up at Blenheim in the 1930s but still has not visited all of its rooms.
The rooms include:
The Saloon
The state dining-room, now used by the family once a year, on Christmas Day.
The table is laid with a Minton service with silver gilt. The silver centrepiece, standing on a separate table, shows Marlborough, still on horseback after his victory at the Battle of Blenheim.
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The Long Library
Originally designed as a picture gallery, this 55 metre long room displays some of the finest stucco ceiling decoration within the Palace. With full length portraits of Queen Anne, King William III and the 1st Duke of Marlborough, probably the most striking feature of this room is the magnificent Willis organ at the north end. Two magnificent marble sculptures of Marlborough and Queen Anne are also housed here.
The Three State Rooms
The three apartments interconnecting between the Saloon and Long Library are known as the First, Second and Third State Rooms. The guilded overdoor of the First State Room is typical of the 9th Duke's redecoration. Emblazoned with some of the finest tapestries and paintings, this State Room also displays the hastily written dispatch from the battlefield of Blenheim proclaiming 'a glorious victory' together with the Blenheim Standard; sent as quit-rent to the Sovereign at Windsor each year since the Battle of Blenheim on the battle'sanniversary date (13th August).
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Also a feature of the palace is the park and gardens;
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The
dry-stone wall of Woodstock Park is said to have been the first
park wall built in England. When the Marlboroughs took over in
1705, it was in a poor state of repair and was not rebuilt until
after the first Duke's death; nor was it finished until 1729.
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Park
Admissions - from 14th March 2003
Coaches (including all occupants) £35.00
Cars (including all occupants) £7.00
Pedestrian Adults £2.50
Pedestrian Children £1.00
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There is ample coach and carparking close to the Palace entrance and visitors can either take a guided tour (five to ten minute intervals) or view the rooms independently. The tour takes approximately half an hour. On busy days, tours may be replaced by a free-flow system of viewing. Extra time should be taken to visit the Park and Gardens and the Pleasure Gardens.
Entry to the Marlborough Maze (which includes the Adventure Play area) carries a small additional cost.
Location
Blenheim Palace is situated in the picturesque and historic town of Woodstock, 8 miles North West of Oxford on the A44 Evesham Road, and approximately an hour's drive from both London and Birmingham.
Stratford-upon-Avon is only 45 minutes drive away. Approaching Oxford on the M40, exit at junction 9 and follow signs to Blenheim. From other directions take the A44 exit from the Oxford by-pass. There is unlimited free car parking for cars and coaches. The nearest British Rail main line station is Oxford.
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