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Palace · Oxford, Inglaterra
Blenheim Palace
The baroque palace of the Dukes of Marlborough in Woodstock, 13 km from Oxford, where Winston Churchill was born, with a park designed by Capability Brown, a lake and formal gardens. UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
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About Blenheim Palace
The Palácio de Blenheim is in Woodstock, about 13 km north of Oxford. It was built between 1705 and 1722 as a gift from Queen Anne and Parliament to John Churchill, the first Duke of Marlborough, for the victory over the French at the Battle of Blenheim in Bavaria in 1704. The design is by John Vanbrugh and Nicholas Hawksmoor in the English Baroque style, and it is the only non-royal, non-episcopal palace in England. It has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987.
Winston Churchill, grandson of the seventh duke, was born in the palace in 1874, and the room where he was born is part of the visit, with an exhibition about his life. The State Rooms have tapestries depicting the first duke's battles, family portraits and the Long Library, which is 55 metres long and contains an organ. The ducal family still lives in the palace.
The park, about 800 hectares, was redesigned by Lancelot Capability Brown in the 1760s, who created the large lake by damming the river Tâmisa, crossed by Vanbrugh's Grand Bridge. Close to the palace are the formal gardens: the Italian Garden, the terraces with reflecting pools, the Secret Garden and the Marlborough Maze hedgerow labyrinth. Churchill is buried in the church at Bladon, on the edge of the park.
Woodstock, the village at the park gate, has stone houses, pubs and antique shops.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
Half a day for the palace and the gardens. Those who want to walk through the park and around the lake spend the whole day.
Best time
From spring to autumn, when the gardens are at their best and the park is green. At the end of the year the palace usually has decorations and a Christmas illuminated trail. Check the opening days for the State Rooms, which may close for events.
How to get there
From Oxford, the S3 bus departs from the city centre and the train station and stops at the palace gate in Woodstock in about 30 minutes. By car it is roughly 13 km via the A44. The nearest train station is Oxford Parkway, about 10 km away.
Tip
Enter through the village gate of Woodstock on foot to get the first view of the palace and the lake all at once. At the end of the visit, walk to the Grand Bridge or continue to the church at Bladon, where Churchill's grave is located.
Official website
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Blenheim Palace
How to get from Oxford to Blenheim?
By S3 bus, which leaves from central Oxford and stops at the palace gate in about 30 minutes, or by car, about 13 km.
Was Churchill born at Blenheim?
Yes, in 1874. The room where he was born is part of the visit, and he is buried in the church at Bladon, adjacent to the park.
Can you visit only the park?
There are tickets that include the park and gardens without the State Rooms. Check the options on the website.
How much time should you allow?
Half a day for the palace and formal gardens; a full day if you want to walk through the park.