Blenheim Palace

Leaving Oxford, heading towards Brecon and a last minute decision. Let's swing by Blenheim Palace. Oh my Goodness!

Blenheim Palace is currently home to the 11th Duke and Duchess of Marlborough. It was built in the early 1700's as a gift from Queen Anne and a grateful nation to John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough following his famous victory at the Battle of Blenheim in 1704.

Blenheim Palace is opulence and grandeur on a scale to behold, starting with the enormous front courtyard, columned entrance, arched windows and 20 metre high entrance hall, complete with a painted dome ceiling. And from there it was through to the room Winston Churchill was born in in 1894, along with an exhibition of his remarkable life in person, in the palace and in politics.

From there we took a guided tour of the State rooms, rooms that are designed to impress. And impress they did! High gilded ceilings, lavish furniture, grand portraits and enormous tapestries depicting the Wars of the Spanish Succession.

Blenheim Palace

Our guide was excellent and by the end of the tour my head was spinning with details of Dukes, Queens, Lords and Duchesses. And to cap everything off, we were treated to a recital on the most enormous organ, with pipes ranging in size from a few inches to 16 feet. The kids were well behaved, even the guide commented on their "exemplary" behaviour, and their faces were a delight when the organ playing began.

Exemplary Kids !

From the palace we headed, by miniature train, over to the Pleasure Gardens, which included the Marlborough Maze, Adventure Park and Butterfly House.  Our brief visit to Blenheim Palace turned into a 5 hour stay and we all enjoyed every minute of it.

Butterfly House