Receive a warm welcome into the home of the 12th Duke and Duchess of Marlborough and the birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill. Wonder at this masterpiece of 18th century Baroque architecture, which houses some of the finest antique collections in Europe.
History
Blenheim Palace was built between 1705 and 1733 for John Churchill, the 1st Duke of Marlborough to celebrate victory over the French at the Battle of Blenheim in 1704, which is how the Palace got its name. Over the past 300 years Blenheim Palace has been the home of the Dukes of Marlborough, but has also been used for many other purposes, including a hospital for wounded soldiers, a home and school for evacuees, a base for MI5, and today is a popular filming location and spectacular venue for weddings and events. In 1950, the 10th Duke of Marlborough opened Blenheim Palace to the public for the first time, and since then millions of visitors have passed through its doors and the Palace is established as one of the best heritage attractions in the UK.
The Palace
Take an audio tour of the State Rooms and admire the portraits, tapestries and exquisite furniture while learning about the 300-year history of this National Treasure. Visit the Churchill Exhibition and learn all about the life of the great Prime Minister through photographs, extracts from his diaries, artefacts and a number of other elements. Then visit our Stables Exhibition and discover the importance of horses at Blenheim through the centuries. Gain an insight into the lives of the family that have lived at Blenheim Palace, their guests and household staff with one of three tours of the Private Apartments. The ‘Upstairs’ tour includes the Palace’s Bedrooms and the ‘Downstairs’ tour showcases the staff areas.
The Park & Formal Gardens
Explore this World Heritage Site amongst over 2000 acres of parkland landscaped by one of the UK’s most famous landscape architects, Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown. Take a stroll up to the Grand Cascades or around the lake to admire some of the finest views in England, looking out for the historical monuments in the grounds, including the Column of Victory and Grand Bridge. Discover the array of Formal Gardens, including the Rose Garden, Churchill Memorial Garden, Water Terraces and Secret Garden. A short miniature train ride away from the Palace is the Walled Garden, which boasts a Giant Hedge Maze, Butterfly House, Lavender Garden and an exhibition about how the Gardens have been used and maintained throughout the Palace’s history.
Events & Experiences
Blenheim Palace is not only an iconic part of history, but also a living, changing experience with a wealth of sporting and cultural events, themed exhibitions, and tours on offer all year. The busy events calendar includes firm favourites such as Christmas at Blenheim Palace, Halloween and The Flower Show.
Saturday 23rd March - Sunday 30th June 2024
Our biggest exhibition to date arrives at Blenheim Palace from March 23rd to June 30th. Featuring world-class designers, fashion houses and labels, the collection includes a captivating collection by Turnball & Asser inspired by Winston Churchill and a special creation by Milliner Stephen Jones (Included in an Annual Pass, PPG, and Day Ticket.) Each space along the visitor route in our 300-year-old Palace will pay homage to a British fashion icon starting in the Great Hall with designs on display by the late Dame Vivienne Westwood and creative partner Andreas Kronthaler.
Icons of British Fashion will continue through Blenheim Palace where you can marvel at the highly visual exhibition dramatically lit and displayed amongst our own priceless collections. We have such a rich history of our own in British fashion having hosted many fashion shows, photoshoots, and catwalks attended by high society and royalty. Our Palace is the perfect backdrop to showcase the lasting impact of British fashion on the global stage over the years. Alongside the impressive array of legendary designers, we’ll also be celebrating our own icon of
fashion, Sir Winston Churchill. With this year honouring the 150th anniversary of Sir Winston Churchill’s birth, it’s only right that during this momentous exhibition, visitors can see one of the original Churchill Siren Suits, kindly loaned by Turnbull & Asser, as well as a new take on the iconic boiler suit and a smoking cap designed by Steven Jones.
4hr. Suggested visit time.
All Ages. Free admission for children under 3.
1st January, 2024
10th November, 2024
Unfortunately, tickets for this event are no longer available.
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