5 /5 Andrew Thomas: A truly magnificent palace, situated amongst beautiful Formal Gardens within acres of landscaped parkland. Blenheim Palace is of such architectural quality and historical significance it is a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The palace is enormous, housing spectacular state rooms rich with ornate decoration and furnishings, well equipped kitchens and an exquisite chapel. Visitors can see the room in which former Prime Minister Winston Churchill was born.
For me, the grounds were a highlight. They offer tremendous variety, from the elegant Water Terraces overlooked by the palace, and the neat Rose Garden, to the Churchill Memorial Garden, and 18th century Capability Brown landscape. A pleasant walk around the lake is rewarded with views of the Grand Cascade, which could almost pass for a natural waterfall. Other features of interest include the picturesque Grand Bridge, and nearby Cedar of Lebanon, which featured in Harry Potter and The Order of the Phoenix.
Onsite facilities are comprehensive, and include a café, restaurant, large gift shop with an extensive range of premium and locally sourced products, and well maintained toilet facilities. Everything is presented to a very high standard, reflected in the ticket prices. At the time of writing, adult tickets were £31, which could be upgraded to an annual pass for an additional £10. I can imagine this would be worthwhile for locals as the park and gardens change through the seasons. Considering the extent of the estate, which easily occupied a full day, the price delivered value for money.
The palace roof was undergoing restoration at the time of our visit, meaning part of the property was clad in scaffolding and protective sheeting. Rather than this simply impacting certain views of the property, it actually presented a unique opportunity to view the roof structure from the maintenance platforms. A commendable effort which meant essential site maintenance didnt detrimentally affect the visitor experience.
Theres free onsite parking for ticket holders, and bus services connecting Woodstock with Oxford. Dogs are allowed in the parkland but not the Formal Gardens or palace itself.