Visitors are being invited to go behind the scenes at Britain's greatest palace as part of a series of new virtual tours, guides and activities. 

Blenheim Palace has launched a special programme of free online resources for people as part of its #Stayconnected initiative. 

Visitors can join Blenheim's head gardener on a video tour inside the Oxfordshire UNESCO World Heritage Site's private walled garden and greenhouses as well as pick up her spring gardening tips as part of National Gardening Week.

There's a chance to peep inside the Estate's lambing sheds via a 360-degree camera and meet head shepherd Charles Gerring, who is working around the clock looking after more than 3,000 new arrivals. 

There will also be regular updates and images from herdsman Richard Tustian on Blenheim's wild white cattle, which live in the ancient oak woodland and are also currently giving birth to calves. 

The Estate's head forester explains how he cares for saplings grown from acorns collected from Blenheim ancient oak woodlands. Other resources include extensive audio-guides as well as 360-degree views of key parts of the Palace, grounds and gardens. 

“We can't wait to welcome visitors back again in person, and we will when the time is right, but for now our #Stayconnected resources enable visitors to enjoy the Palace and its stunning parkland and gardens virtually,” said Marketing and Communications Director Steph Duncan. 

“Staff are also recording videos of areas the public can't normally get access to on their smartphones.

“We think we've discovered some natural presenters among the team and it's giving everybody the chance to enjoy their own private online tours,” she added. 

There's also a virtual walkthrough of the state rooms and fun art and nature workbooks for families to download and complete at home along with quizzes, competitions, e-newsletters and a celebration of Blenheim Palace's 70th anniversary of opening to the public.

• To access the new resources and to sign up for the latest news updates go to www.blenheimpalace.com/stayconnected/

For more information please contact Gemma Else on 07342 020 534 at gelse@blenheimestate.com or Drew Cunliffe at drew@flamingo-marketing.co.uk . 

About Blenheim Palace 

Home to the Dukes of Marlborough since 1704, the Oxfordshire Estate was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987. 

Set in over 2,000 acres of 'Capability' Brown landscaped parkland and designed by

Vanbrugh in the Baroque style, it was financed by Queen Anne, on behalf of a grateful nation, following the first Duke of Marlborough's triumph over the French in the War of the Spanish Succession. 

At the time the victory was hailed as the greatest British military success since Agincourt. 

Blenheim Palace is also the birthplace of one of Britain's most famous leaders, Sir Winston Churchill and it was his father who described the vista on entering the Estate from the village of Woodstock as the 'finest view in England'.