Visiting Britain's Greatest Palace

from China and Japan

Blenheim Palace welcomes thousands of visitors from around the world each year.

The Oxfordshire UNESCO World Heritage Site is the perfect cultural attraction for visitors keen to discover more about the UK's fascinating past.

Known as 'Britain's Greatest Palace' its rich history, priceless artefacts, brilliant exhibitions, exciting events calendar, historic restoration projects and specialist tours showcases over 300 years of history and heritage.

Blenheim Palace is just a 90-minute bus or train journey from Central London and located 10 miles north of the historic University City of Oxford.

Why Visit

• Home to the Dukes of Marlborough since 1704
• Birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill
• Location of the 'Finest View in England'
• Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987
• Set in over 2,000 acres of 'Capability' Brown landscaped parkland
• A gift from Queen Anne, and a grateful nation following victory at the Battle of Blenheim
• The Column of Victory, 41 metres high overlooking the Parkland, is a monument dedicated to the victories of John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough
• Quintessentially British Afternoon Tea experiences
• A dedicated Chinese website
• Alipay & WeChat Pay available for visitors
• Audio guides in Mandarin with 60, 40 and 20-minute tour options
• Chinese Guides available*

New for 2020 – 'Let's misbehave; the 1920's at Blenheim Palace' (15th February – 14th April)

Travel back in time to the roaring 20s when Blenheim Palace was home to the 10th Duke of Marlborough and his beautiful Duchess, the American Socialite Gladys Deacon.

Accept your special invitation to sample life as an aristocrat during this famously decadent decade through a series of entertaining and interactive features showcasing the fashion, food, music, politics, society and art of the era. 

A Palace For All Seasons

Blenheim Palace offers fascinating tours of the Palace, Park and Gardens throughout the year. 

• Discover the free audio guide of the Palace State rooms which is available in Mandarin and eight other languages
• Private Apartment Tours, from February – September discover where His Grace, the 12th Duke of Marlborough, and his family still live
• The Untold Story, be immersed in the aristocratic culture from Blenheim Palace's history and heritage with this interactive and automated tour
• Churchill Tour, discover the history of our 'Greatest Briton' born at Blenheim Palace in a fascinating tour documenting his life and milestone political achievements
• Formal Garden Tours, enjoy beautiful nature in the 10 Formal Gardens at Blenheim Palace

Group Tours

Group and coach bookings can enjoy guided talks and tours whilst visiting the Palace. 

• Winston Churchill at Blenheim
• Military Marlboroughs – John Churchill and pre 20th Century warfare
• The Palace at War – WW1 and WW2
• Ladies of Blenheim – The Women Who Shaped “Britain's Greatest Palace”
• Christmas at Blenheim: Family stories (only available at Christmas)
• Life Below Stairs – Private Service at Blenheim Palace
• Park & Gardens - Henry I to Achille Duchene via Henry Wise and 'Capability' Brown
• The Blenheim Collection – Indoors and Outdoors
• Conservation and Sustainability – Major works and exciting developments

Winston Churchill

'At Blenheim I took two very important decisions; to be born and to marry. I am content with the decision I took on both occasions.' Sir Winston Churchill  

Winston Churchill was born at Blenheim Palace in 1874, spent much of his childhood there, and proposed to his beloved wife Clementine in the Temple of Diana in 1908 during a summer downpour.

The Palace and its surroundings were a constant source of inspiration for Churchill, who was a regular visitor throughout his long life 

Winston's love of Blenheim Palace remained to his dying day. Following his state funeral in 1965 he was buried beside his parents in the cemetery of St Martin's Church in Bladon – located on the south western edge of the Estate.

Shopping

The East Courtyard is home to Blenheim Palace's unique Gift Shop. With Blenheim Palace souvenirs, gifts and locally made specialities there are plenty of ranges which are exclusive to the Palace.

Luxury shopping destination Bicester Village is located just 20 minutes away and is home to more than 130 boutiques of world-famous brands, each offering exceptional value with savings of up to 60% on the recommended retail price.

The Village offers a suite of services that include Valet Parking, hands-free Shopping, and an onsite tax refund and money change service. Bicestervillage.com 

Dining

Blenheim Palace has four eateries for visitors to enjoy:

• The Orangery Restaurant - Enjoy a two or three-course lunch, Champagne Afternoon Tea or Traditional Afternoon Tea in the stunning setting of the Orangery. Head Chef Billy Bush and the team from luxury restaurateurs, Searcys, serve food daily. The Orangery Restaurant overlooks the Duke's private Italian Garden
• The Oxfordshire Pantry – Offering fresh sandwiches, salads, homemade cakes, soft drinks and coffees, all available to eat in or take away. The Pantry's location offers a perfect place to stop off between going between the Park and Palace, offering delightful treats and refreshments
• The Water Terrace Café – A cafeteria-style restaurant which overlooks the beautiful Water Terraces serving a range of sandwiches, seasonal hot meals and drinks
• The Pleasure Gardens Pizza Café – Designed especially for families and located near the Pleasure Garden's Adventure Playground the café serves a selection of delicious handmade pizzas freshly made and a range of tasty salads

Transport

Blenheim Palace is easily accessible from Central London and is just 90 minutes away.

• Train - Nearby train stations include Oxford, Oxford Parkway and Long Hanborough. Chiltern Railways operate from London Marylebone into Oxford Parkway and Great Western Railways operate from London Paddington to Oxford
• Bus - The S3 bus from Oxford to Woodstock runs every 30 minutes from Oxford train station and Oxford's Gloucester Green bus station to the gates of Blenheim Palace. Please ask the bus driver to identify the appropriate stop. The 7 bus from Oxford to Woodstock runs from Oxford train station and George street via Oxford Parkway to the gates of Blenheim Palace
• Oxford Bus Company - 500 service leaves from Oxford Parkway and stops at Blenheim Palace and Woodstock

Brochure Download

Use this link to access our latest visitor map and information ahead of your visit.

https://www.blenheimpalace.com/assets/files/downloads/ZH-CN.pdf

*Additional extras such as dining and guided tours with key staff members can be discussed with Blenheim Palace's Operations Team to assess availability.