Blenheim Palace

BLENHEIM PALACE

HX Suggested Reasons to Visit

Winston Churchill
Capability Brown Landscapes
Column of Victory

Explore the stunning room where Sir Winston Churchill was born, wander to the Column of Victory and take in the breathtaking gardens crafted by Capability Brown

About

Blenheim, England’s only non-royal palace, packs more than a punch. Named after the 1704 battle in which the man to whom the site was given John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough triumphed over the French, thanks to some funds from Queen Anne it was finally completed in 1722 by Sir John Vanbrugh. Its build journey was not an easy one, with Vanbrugh and Sarah, Duchess of Marlborough in constant clashes, and in the end they parted ways. From 1764, the landscape architect Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown transformed the park at Blenheim into a naturalistic haven, building a tree-fringed lake at its centre, around which today wonderful walks can be had with views of the palace.

 

By the late 19th century, the Marlboroughs’ finances were looking bleak, and a series of paintings, as well as Blenheim’s library were sold to ease the situation. Salvation came in 1895 when the super-rich American heiress Consuelo Vanderbilt was encouraged by her ambitious mother to marry Charles ‘Sunny’ Spencer-Churchill, 9th Duke of Marlborough, and save Blenheim from ruin with the money she was able to pump into it. While this was successful, the venture came at a different kind of cost: the Marlboroughs’ marriage failed, and ended in 1921. The house was used as a school and then to house MI5 during the Second World War, during which the family stayed on-site, and in 1987, Blenheim was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It remains the family home of the Dukes of Marlborough.

 

Featured in

Queen Charlotte
Mission Impossible
James Bond
Harry Potter
Bridgeton
Napoleon

BOOK A VISIT

Closed now

Trusted partner

Book with ease

24/7 visitor support

*Free cancellation

Cancel up to 48 hours in advance
  • Palace, Formal Gardens & Park BOOK FROM £22.00
  • Palace, Formal Gardens & Park, Adventure Playground BOOK FROM £29.00
  • Formal Gardens & Park BOOK FROM £13.50
  • Formal Gardens & Park, Adventure Playground BOOK FROM £20.50
  • Palace, Formal Gardens & Park FROM £22.00
  • Palace, Formal Gardens & Park, Adventure Playground FROM £29.00
  • Formal Gardens & Park FROM £13.50
  • Formal Gardens & Park, Adventure Playground FROM £20.50
  • Book in seconds via Apple / Google pay on your phone for your chosen date.

    Blenheim Palace tickets

    Turn up at Blenheim Palace's entrance and use your phone to show your QR code that will be in your emailed ticket.

    Blenheim Palace logo

    That's it!
    The HX team will be on hand if you have any questions about your ticket.

    Palace, Formal Gardens & Park

    Palace, Formal Gardens & Park

    The Palace is open daily between 10:30 - 16.45. Step inside the Palace and explore the gilded State Rooms, filled with priceless portraits, tapestries, and furniture. Download our onsite app for an audio tour, and don’t …


    Palace, Formal Gardens & Park, Adventure Playground

    Palace, Formal Gardens & Park, Adventure Playground

    The Palace is open daily between 10.30 - 16.45, the Formal Gardens 10.00 - 16.00, The Park 09.00 - 17.00, The Adventure Playground 10.15 - 17.15. Step inside the Palace and explore the gilded State Rooms, …


    Formal Gardens & Park

    Formal Gardens & Park

    The Formal Gardens are open daily between 10:00 - 16:00. Explore our stunning Formal Gardens, featuring the Water Terraces, Italian Garden, Secret Garden, Churchill Memorial Garden, and Rose Garden. A new accessible path from the West …


    Formal Gardens & Park, Adventure Playground

    Formal Gardens & Park, Adventure Playground

    The Formal Gardens are open daily 10.00 - 16.00, The Park 09.00 - 17.00, The Adventure Playground 10.15 - 17.15. Explore our stunning Formal Gardens, featuring the Water Terraces, Italian Garden, Secret Garden, Churchill Memorial Garden, …




    Listen in



    Upcoming events at Blenheim Palace

    Jan. 1, 2024 to Dec. 31, 2024

    This year, Blenheim Palace proudly commemorates a significant milestone—the 150th anniversary of Sir Winston Churchill's birth. …

    BLENHEIM PALACE

    Read more about Blenheim Palace

    Explore the rich history of Blenheim Palace, from its tumultuous construction and transformation by 'Capability' Brown …

    by Eleanor Doughty

    Nearby houses

    25 miles away

    26 miles away

    27 miles away