Blenheim Palace

Over het museum

Blenheim Palace was built between 1705 and 1722 as a national reward to John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough, for his victory over French and Bavarian forces at the Battle of Blenheim in 1704. Queen Anne gave the land, and the architect Sir John Vanbrugh designed the house in the English Baroque style. Disputes over costs and politics dogged the project, and the Crown stopped paying for the work in 1712.

The palace became the seat of the Dukes of Marlborough and has been the family home of the Churchill and Spencer-Churchill families ever since. Sir Winston Churchill was born here in 1874, and the palace today includes an exhibition on his life. The parkland was reshaped by Lancelot 'Capability' Brown in the eighteenth century, while the formal Water Terraces and Italian Garden were laid out in the early twentieth century.

In the late nineteenth century the palace was rescued from financial difficulty by the wealth that came with the 9th Duke's marriage to the American heiress Consuelo Vanderbilt. Blenheim was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987. It is run today by a charitable foundation, and a large roof restoration project has been under way since 2025.

Hoogtepunten

• Palace State Rooms with portraits, tapestries and furniture
• Churchill Exhibition in the house where he was born
• Formal Gardens and Water Terraces
• Parkland landscaped by 'Capability' Brown, with the Grand Bridge and lake
• Walled Garden with maze, butterfly house and miniature train

Vaste collectie

• Palace State Rooms – Gilded state rooms with portraits, tapestries and furniture, open daily with a Palace ticket.
• Churchill Exhibition – Historic objects and new technology tell the story of the life of Sir Winston Churchill, who was born at Blenheim.
• Family Treasures Collection – An exhibition of objects that brings visitors close to the dukes, duchesses and guests who lived at the palace.

Opgericht

1705

Beheerder

Blenheim Palace Heritage Foundation

Toegangsprijzen & kortingen

Prices shown are for the Palace, Park and Gardens ticket booked online; on site the adult ticket costs £44, the child ticket £27 and the family ticket £116. All tickets should be bought in advance (online booking is possible on the day of the visit) and offers must be applied at the time of purchase. Palace, Park and Gardens tickets are treated as donations to the charity and are converted into a 12-month pass at no extra cost; a one-day ticket without donation can be requested. Privilege passes add a 15% discount in cafés and shops. A 20% discount applies online for visitors arriving by bus, train or bike (code GREEN20). The site is cashless.

Toegankelijkheid

• Deels rolstoeltoegankelijk
• Lift
• Aangepast toilet
• Gehandicaptenparkeerplaats
• Hulphonden welkom
• Tastmodellen / voelbare objecten
• Rondleidingen in gebarentaal
• Informatie in eenvoudige taal: geen informatie
• Audiodescriptie: geen informatie

There is level access from the main entrance to many areas, including the State Rooms, the Churchill Exhibition, the Orangery restaurant, the Walled Garden and the Marlborough Maze. Lifts into the State Rooms and the Orangery restaurant take up to 200 kg, so scooter users may need to transfer to a wheelchair for the Palace. The upstairs tour has steps. Surfaces in the gardens and park can be uneven. Wheelchairs and single-person mobility scooters can be hired from the Access Desk; book at least 24 hours ahead. Accessible toilets are at the back of the gift shop, in the Churchill Exhibition and at the Walled Garden, where a Changing Places facility is also available. Blue Badge parking is at the front of the main car park. Free British Sign Language-interpreted tours run on selected dates each month, and a touch tour is available for visitors with visual impairments; display information is offered in audio and large print. Assistance dogs are welcome and water bowls are provided in the East Courtyard.

Kinderen & gezin

Erg geschikt voor kinderen & gezinnen

• Gezinsrondleidingen & workshops
• Doe- en voelstations
• Kinderwagenvriendelijk
• Verschoonruimte
• Speeltuin / speelhoek

Under 3s are free. Adventure Play offers tunnels, bridges, cargo nets and water play, and quiet play sessions run on the last Sunday of each month. The Walled Garden has a play area, maze, butterfly house and a miniature train that costs £1 each way. Pushchairs are welcome in the Palace, which is on the ground floor, but the Palace lift is not suitable for them. Baby changing facilities are at the back of the gift shop, near the Churchill Exhibition and at the Walled Garden.

Bereikbaarheid & parkeren

Eight miles north-west of Oxford on the A44; signposted from junction 9 of the M40. Use postcode OX20 1UL for satellite navigation. A 20 mph limit applies across the estate.

Service & horeca

• Café
• Restaurant
• Museumwinkel
• Kluisjes
• Wifi

Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the areas of the Palace open to the public. Orangery Restaurant, Oxfordshire Pantry, Stables Café, Walled Garden Pizzeria and the Snack Shack in Adventure Play; the Palace Shop and a toy shop. Paid lockers can hold a rucksack; suitcases and several bags per person cannot be stored.

Evenementen & zaalverhuur

• Ruimtes te huur
• Privéfeesten
• Zakelijke evenementen
• Bruiloften / trouwceremonies

More than six venues are offered for events. Pre-approved outside caterers may work only in the Great Hall and Long Library; the Orangery is catered by Blenheim. The Saloon is unavailable until the new year 2027.

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