Looking for opulence and a fair dash of history? Then there’s no better place to explore than Blenheim. When you visit Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire, you’ll discover an enchanting house, stunning gardens, and much more…it’s an experience you won’t soon forget!
History of Blenheim Palace
Blenheim Palace is a beautiful country house in Oxfordshire, England that is the principle residence of the Dukes of Marlborough (and is one of England’s largest houses).
Especially for those who love history, visiting Blenheim Palace is a treat…the story of Blenheim is filled with prestige, wealth, and intrigue.
From its early days, with the first duke receiving Blenheim as a reward for his military victories including in the 1704 Battle of Blenheim, to its later years with the ninth duke marrying the American heiress Consuelo Vanderbilt, there is something for everyone in Blenheim Palace’s story.
Exploring the Blenheim Palace Interior
The interior of Blenheim Palace is as ornate as you would expect in a house of this size, with expensive furnishings, family portraits, ornate fireplaces…you name it, it’s there.
But what makes the interior special enough to visit? (Especially if you’ve already been to other country houses?)
Well, the specialness is in the details…and in the entertainment factor, as you come to know the personalities of some of the major figures in Blenheim Palace history.
For instance, I like to play a game that I call “Spot the First Duke.” He had just a touch of vanity it seems, as his face is literally all over the place. In the family portraits, on the murals, in the chapel, on top of the Column of Victory outside, and…in the tapestries! Yes, even woven into the very fabric of the tapestries on the walls.
The Blenheim Tapestries are a set commissioned by the First Duke of Marlborough to commemorate his victory at the Battle of Blenheim in 1704. He personally oversaw their creation, and they now hang all throughout the lower story of the house. They’re really quite impressive—and very detailed! And he is in nearly all of them.
The Ninth Duke and Consuelo Vanderbilt
Other details that make visiting here entertaining include getting to know some about the lives of the ninth duke and Consuelo Vanderbilt. It was not a match made in heaven, as the ninth duke was poor and needed money and Consuelo’s mother wanted a title in the family. To fully appreciate their family life, you should look for the giant silver monstrosity that sits on the dinner table…which Consuelo insisted on keeping placed in the center between her and the ninth duke, so she didn’t have to see him at dinner.
While you’re at it, you should also look for the family painting of the ninth duke and Consuelo with their two sons. It’s by the famous John Singer Sargent, so worth looking at in its own right, but it is also rendered amusing because Singer Sargent painted in a non-existent step to soothe the ninth duke’s vanity. Yes, the proportions as drawn without the step are true to life…Consuelo really was that much taller than the ninth duke!
The Long Library
But besides these very human and amusing foibles of Blenheim Palace life, there are several serious aspects of the interior of the palace that make it truly worth a visit. One of these is the Long Library.
The Long Library is, in fact, long (surprise, surprise). It measures over 180 feet in length and was once described as the longest room in England. Although it was originally intended as a picture gallery, it now hosts over 10,000 books as well, which gives the room its name.
But there’s something extra-special about this library, that you won’t find in many other libraries anywhere in the world—it boasts an organ! Say WHAT?! Yes, a real, working organ. (So much for quiet in the library 😉)
The Blenheim Palace organ, called the Willis Organ, was installed in 1891..and is the largest privately-owned organ in Europe. Luckily for visitors, the resident organist for Blenheim Palace (yes, there is a RESIDENT ORGANIST. Say what?!) still plays this organ frequently on specific dates for visitors to hear. I went on a Sunday once, and it was so worth it…although there’s no seating so be prepared to stand while you listen!
There are plenty more quirks and exorbitant displays of opulence throughout the palace, but you’ll have to visit to discover them. Keep in mind that there are guided tours of the lower floors that you can take for free with your entry tickets, so be sure to take advantage of this to get the full inside scoop!
Blenheim Palace Gardens and Landscape
So the interior is magnificent, but now let’s talk about the exterior too. The exterior of the palace itself is imposing with its stone facade and symmetry, but the Blenheim palace grounds are perhaps even more impressive.
The landscaping throughout the grounds was done primarily by Lancelot “Capability” Brown, the renowned landscaper who is also known by the title “England’s Greatest Gardener.”
Strolling through the grounds, you’ll find much of the landscape was essentially created by Brown. He formed the lake, planted thousands of trees, and sculpted each aspect of the park to bring the greatest possible enjoyment to those wandering the grounds.
Part of the charm of the grounds is that it all seems so effortlessly natural—yet when you learn about Brown and what he did throughout the grounds, you realize that the “naturalness” is the effect of so much hard work and minute planning. It truly is the perfect place to wander away the day.
But if you’re into more manicured and stately gardens, Blenheim has that to offer too. With carefully-trimmed spiral hedges, sparkling water fountains, and classical statues, you’ll find these areas charming in a formal sort of way.
And of course, being the large estate it is, you’ll find other attractions scattered far away like a rose garden, butterfly house, and a maze. There is so much to see outdoors at Blenheim that you can’t do justice to it all in just one day!
Sir Winston Churchill’s Ancestral Home
For history buffs, Blenheim Palace may have a more particular attraction, though, as it is the ancestral home of Sir Winston Churchill.
Churchill was born into the Spencer-Churchill family, but to the younger son of the seventh duke, so he was never in line for the dukedom or possession of Blenheim Palace (that fell to his cousin, the above-mentioned ninth duke).
Yet Blenheim Palace still played an important role in his life as it was his birthplace (by accident, apparently). It was also later the place where he proposed to his wife Clementine, on the grounds at the Temple of Diana.
Because Sir Winston Churchill is a direct descendant of the Spencer-Churchills and is so celebrated, Blenheim Palace plays host to an exhibition about his life. Here you’ll find memorabilia, stories about his life, quotes and historical facts of interest, and interesting aspects of his life and death that you may not have heard before. (Unless perhaps you’re the most staunch of Winston Churchill history buffs).
It’s well worth the time to wander through the exhibit and discover both its humanizing and its elevating of this famous Prime Minister.
Blenheim Palace in Movies
For movie fans—particularly fans of Cinderella or the Harry Potter franchise—Blenheim palace will be of interest because it was a filming location for these movies.
Cinderella (2015) filmed part of the escape from the palace on Blenheim’s bridge, while Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007) used a distinctive cedar of Lebanon tree on the grounds to film Snape’s worst memory. (You can take a Harry Potter walking tour of nearby Oxford to see even more filming locations!)
The Cinderella bridge stands opposite the palace (you can’t miss it!) so stop by to admire the bridge, and then once you cross it you can turn left and walk straight for a bit to find the Harry Potter tree. It’s just a short walk away.
Blenheim Palace Admission
If you want to see Blenheim, there is a fee to enter. Fortunately, you have a few options to choose from.
The cost you pay for the Blenheim Palace entrance fee depends on what ticket option you choose. First, you have a choice between purchasing a ticket for the park and gardens or for the palace, park, and gardens.
I recommend you go for the palace, park, and gardens option…though it is a little more expensive.
But here’s a tip…if you think you might want to come back to Blenheim within the next year (or even if you just wishfully hope that you will come back to Blenheim), you can choose to donate your admission to their charity and you will receive 12 months of entrance for the price of just one day. It’s a pretty sweet deal, you just have to tell them you want to donate your admission fee.
Check out their ticketing options online to see the prices and options for entry.
How to Get to Blenheim Palace
If you think you might want to visit Blenheim Palace, I recommend adding the city of Oxford to your itinerary. Oxford has plenty of amazing things to do (including plenty of free things!) and it makes an excellent base to explore Blenheim Palace.
After all, Blenheim is only 30 minutes away from Oxford by bus. And if you take the S3 bus from Oxford to Blenheim Palace, you will also get 30% off your admission cost! (And this can be combined with the 12 months free offer too…what a steal!)
However, if visiting Oxford isn’t in your plans this time, you can check out the Blenheim Palace website to see more information on how to get to Blenheim by train, car, taxi, and even bicycle.
But one thing’s for sure…no matter what option you choose to get to Blenheim, you will have a delightful time and want to return here again and again!
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