blenheim palace buggy tour

Guide To Blenheim Palace: What To See + Tips

Blenheim Palace is a magnificent Baroque mansion and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

It’s just a few miles outside Oxford a in the picturesque Cotswold village of Woodstock. The palace is often referred to as the “Versailles of England.”

Queen Anne gifted the palace to John Churchill, the Duke of Marlborough, as a thank you for defeating the French at the battle of Blenheim in 1794. It’s still the seat of the dukes of Marlborough.

The English Baroque-style palace took almost 20 years to construct, between 1705-24. It’s famously the birthplace of Winston Churchill and it has an excellent exhibit on the statesman.

Inside, the palace is adorned with luxurious tapestries, statues, and elegant period furniture that are sure to leave you in awe.

There are paintings by famous English artists like John Singer Sargent, Joshua Reynolds, Anthony Van Dyke, and George Romney.

Blenheim ticks off a lot of boxes. You’ll want to visit if you’re a fan of the TV series Bridgerton , Winston Churchill, and UNESCO sites.

I’m all three, so was in hog heaven!

Here’s a snapshot of what you can see on a visit:

• Great Court
• Churchill’s Birth Room
• Blenheim Tapestries
• State Rooms
• State Dining Room (Saloon)
• Long Library
• Churchill’s Destiny Exhibition

>>> Click here to pre-book a ticket

Guide To Blenheim Palace: What To See

There are said to be almost 500 rooms in the palace. But you’ll only see a fraction of them. Here are the must see highlights, in the order in which you’ll see them on a visit.

Blenheim is the greatest Baroque manor house and the only non-royal palace in the UK.

It was designed and built by architects Sir John Vanbrugh and Nicolas Hawksmoor. Hawksmoor was the star pupil of Sir Christopher Wren of St. Paul’s Cathedral fame.

The palace is constructed from distinctive Cotswold limestone, which gives it a warm, honey-colored appearance. It’s so pretty in the sunlight!

At the center of the facade, there is a prominent columned portico, reminiscent of ancient Roman architecture. It features massive Corinthian columns and a triangular pediment adorned with sculptural decorations.

From the central block, walls stretch forward to flank the Great Court.

2. Great Hall

The Great Hall is a spacious area with double arched colonnades on both sides, covering nearly 3,000 square feet. At the top row, you’ll find statues in the niches.

The ceiling of the Great Hall was painted by British artist James Thornhill. It portrays the T riumph of Liberty and Peace , featuring the triumphant 1st Duke of Marlborough in Roman attire as he presents his Battle of Blenheim strategy.

Within the Great Hall, you’ll discover marble busts and statues of prominent figures from British history.

3. North Corridor

From the Great Hall, you walk down the North Corridor. It’s lined with portrait busts and paintings. The first two busts are of the 9th duke and his first wife, Consuelo Vanderbilt.

In a cabinet to the left, you’ll see a collection of Sevres and Meissen porcelain.

4. Churchill’s Birth Room

Sir Winston Churchill was a descendant of the Duke of Marlborough.

He entered the world at Blenheim on November 20, 1874, in a rather unconventional manner. His arrived early during a grand ball being held at the palace. He was born in a room being used as a coat closet.

Since then, Churchill’s affection for Blenheim was profound. He famously stating that he made two pivotal decisions there: to come into this world and to embark on matrimony.

Churchill spent many of his formative years here. Throughout his lifetime, he returned to the palace as if it were a cherished touchstone.

The room is now decorated as a bedroom, with period-appropriate furniture, busts of Churchill, Impressionist watercolors he created, and even locks of his hair from his tender years displayed above the bed.

5. Green Drawing Room

In this room, you can see the first of three of Nicholas Hawksmoor’s original ceilings. The other two are in the Red Drawing Room and the Green Writing Room.

The coving and banding was innovative at the time. And it’s all covered in 24 carat gold leaf.

The chandelier dangling from the ceiling was once filled with real candles. They were regularly replaced by staff, who — as a perk — could keep the burnt down candles.

Over the fireplace is a portrait of the 4th duke, George Spencer, painted by George Romney.

6. Red Drawing Room

This is a fabulous room, full of family portraits. At each end, hang two large family portraits that face each other.

One is a John Singer Sargent painting of the 9th duke and his family. The other is a Joshua Reynolds painting of the 4th duke and his family.

Each painting features the “Blenheim Spaniels.” In fact, you can almost play a spot the spaniel game at the palace. There are literally spaniels in centuries worth of paintings.

The fireplace is flanked by “chaperone sofas.” This was for a chaperone to discretely monitor a courting couple, to ensure no untoward behavior.

7. Green Writing Room

The Green Writing Room is a beautiful room, named for the bright green fabric of the chairs and the silk damask wall coverings. This room is home to the first of a series of 10 Blenheim Tapestries, called the “Victory” series.

The first duke commissioned them to celebrate his victories during the Spanish War of Succession. It took over 200 weavers eight years to complete them all and they are magnificent in their detail.

The one on the left depicts the famous Battle of Blenheim. This battle was the first major defeat for Louis XIV of France.

Above the fireplace is a portrait of Elizabeth, the 3rd duchess. Despite her parents’ disapproval, she married Charles Spencer, who would become the 3rd duke.

The Saloon was originally a grand reception room, which was used to celebrate the 1st duke’s achievements. Today, as you can see from the elegantly set table, it’s a dining room used for special events and by the family on Christmas Day.

The trompe l’oeil ceiling is by French artist Louis Laguerre. Among other curiosities, he depicts the nations of the world and the four known continents.

The imposing silver centerpiece is by Garrrard and shows the 1st duke on horseback.

If you’ve watched Queen Charlotte, you will remember that this is where Charlotte sat, alone, waiting for the King George III to join her.

9. First State Room

This room features more of the Blenheim Tapestries.

Above the fireplace is a youthful portrait of the 9th duchess Consuelo Vanderbilt by Carlos Duran. It was commissioned by her mother to advertise her beauty and attract a titled suitor.

Consuelo’s mother gave her the ornate gilded cradle on display in the room. It’s a replica of the one in the Doge’s Palace in Venice . It doesn’t really look usable, but the duchess did rock her children in it.

The red patterned chairs are unique. The 1st duchess had the chairs upholstered with the face of Louis XIV on the bottom. When a guest sat down, he or she would be sitting on the defeated king.

The room also displays a copy of the famous dispatch the 1st duke sent his wife. In it, he told her to let the queen know of his victory at Blenheim.

10. Second State Room

In this Rococo-style room, you’ll find the Blenheim Tapestries and exquisite bronzes on display.

One of the tapestries features a Blenheim Spaniel with horses’ hooves. This dog accompanied the duke into battle.

Above the fireplace, there’s a unique portrait of the 1st duke’s adversary, Louis XIV, seated. It’s a rare depiction.

Why is it here? It’s a result of the duke’s redecoration, perhaps serving as a reminder of his victory over someone seen as supremely powerful.

From this room, you can peer out the window and see all the way to Bladon Church, where Churchill is buried.

11. Third State Room

This room was the state bedchamber, which is magnificently opulent and features more tapestries.

It’s called the “Boulle Room” because of its collection of Boulle style furniture. Boulle was the celebrated cabinet maker of Louis XIV.

The fireplace mantle has examples of 17th century Japaneses porcelain that were gifted to the duke by Samuel Spalding. And there is a bronze 19th century bust of the 1st duke.

12 . Long Library

The Long Library was my favorite room.

At 1,287.112 square feet, it’s the second largest private room in any British estate. It runs the complete length of the western facade.

The “noble room of parade” has arched ends, a richly stuccoed ceiling, and a collection of paintings.

It was originally created as a picture gallery. Later, it was converted to a library.

Today, it holds over 10,000 books collected by the 9th duke. At his death, it was one of the finest private libraries in Europe.

There’s a prominent statue of Queen Anne. The 1st duchess commissioned it to remind future generations of the queen’s generosity to the family.

At one end is a fine organ built in 1891 by “Father” Henry Willis with 2,300 pipes. It was commissioned by the 8th duke. But he died before it was installed, so never saw it.

The room is lined with side tables where you’ll find family portraits and ephemera.

13. Churchill Exhibition : “Churchill’s Destiny”

This exhibition is fantastic. It covers several rooms, filled with a history and mementos from his entire life — from his birth to becoming a soldier to becoming a statesman in WWII.

Churchill was the cousin of the 9th Duke. In fact, before the duke had a son, Winston was in line to inherit the title and palace. How different history might have been!

From his youth, you’ll see portraits, a crib, clothing, a leather riding saddle, and locks of hair. You’ll learn that Churchill ardently pursued the ladies, offering up a trip to Blenheim to spark their interest.

At first, he preferred rich and theatrical types, though they didn’t return his interest. In 1908, he met the lively and intelligent Clementine Hozier. Four months later, he proposed to her in the Temple of Diana in the palace gardens.

You’ll learn Churchill was a prolific writer, winning the Noble Prize for Literature in 1953. And how he became prime minister on the very same day the Hitler invaded France.

You can admire his “siren suit,” basically a onsie that he wore for comfort during air raids. He liked it so much he had it made in green and blue too.

There are also cigar cases, campaign items, watches, typewriters, and other personal effects.

There’s even a piece of shrapnel. It fell between Churchill and the 9th duke when they served together in WWI. Had it been one foot closer, it would have ended his life.

In the final room, snap a selfie with an incredibly lifelike Churchill likeness. If you’ve visited the Churchill War Rooms in London, you’ll find this exhibit to be the perfect complement.

14. Family Chapel

You access the Chapel from the courtyard. It was built by the 1st duchess as a monument to her husband.

He had wanted to be buried “in my chapel at Blenheim.” But, since it wasn’t finished, he ended up in Westminster Abbey .

William Kent designed the monument with the duchess’ guidance. The duke is portrayed as a victorious hero, flanked by by the figures of History and Fame.

The furniture in the room wad added later and is from the Victorian era.

15. Gardens

The palace is set on many acres. Near the house there are superb rose gardens, a formal Italian garden, water terraces, ponds, fountains, and statues.

Two sphinxes guard the steps down to the second terrace. They bear the face of the 9th duke’s second wife, Gladys Beacon. (A photo of her is in the Long Library).

In the lower terrace, there is a mini version of Bernini’s river gods fountain in Rome’s Piazza Navona .

Farther out, the 2,100 acre park was landscaped by Lancelot “Capability” Brown between 1764 and 1774. He was the most famous landscape designer of the day.

Trees are in their full pomp. There’s also a man made lake where you can rent a boat and float around.

Brown’s master stroke was to build two dams and a cascade near Bladon, resulting in two natural lakes on both sides.

If you’re prepared to do some walking and have the time, you can admire the beautiful Temple of Diana, the Grand Bridge, the hedge maze, the Column of Victory, and the “Harry Potter tree” that appeared in the film the Order of the Phoenix .

Practical Guide & Tips For Visiting Blenheim Palace

Address : Woodstock OX20 1PP, UK

Hours : Open daily 10:00 am to 4:00 pm

Tickets : £35.00. Click here to pre-book a ticket.

Audio Guide : You can scan a QR code to download the free audio guide

How To Get To Blenheim Palace:

By Car : From London, the drive is about 1.5 to 2 hours. There is a parking facility onsite. You can walk or take a shuttle to the entrance.

By Train : You can catch a train from London’s Paddington Station to Oxford. From there, you can take a taxi or Uber to Woodstock. Or take a bus from the bus station, just a 10 minute walk from the train station.

By Guided Tour :

If you would prefer to visit Blenheim Palace on a guided tour, there are several that leave from London. You can book a:

• 10 hour tour of the Cotswolds and Blenheim Palace
• 10 hour tour of the Cotswolds, Blenheim, and Downton Abbey
• 10 hour tour of the Cotswolds, Blenheim, and Oxford
• 7 hour private tour of Blenheim

I’ve visited Blenheim twice, on my own and on the first guided tour listed above. Usually, I find visits by guided tour to be rushed. But there was plenty of time to see the palace and some (but not all) of the palace gardens.

You can also book a guided tour of Blenheim from Oxford .

Palace Tours :

The palace gives daily tours of the palace state rooms and a “lights, camera, action tour” of the filming location at the palace.

On some occasions, for an extra fee, you can also book a tour of the upstairs private apartments, the downstairs private apartments, or a buggy tour of the formal gardens.

How Long Too Spend At Blenheim Palace

I recommend budgeting 2 hours to see the palace. If you want to see everything in the garden, add on another 2 hours for your visit.

Gift Shop :

Blenheim has an excellent gift shop. You’ll find household items, ceramics, books, toys, chocolates, Christmas decorations, etc. It’s hard to come away empty handed.

I hope you’ve enjoyed my guide to Blenheim Palace. You may enjoy these other England travel guides and itineraries:

• 3 Day Itinerary for London
• 5 Day Itinerary for London
• 3 Day Cotswolds Itinerary
• Hidden Gems in London
• 30 Day Trips from London
• Best Museums in London
• One Day In Canterbury Itinerary
• One Day in Oxford Itinerary
• One Day in Bath Itinerary
• One Day In Stratford-upon-Avon
• Guide to Westminster Abbey
• Guide to St. Paul’s Cathedral

If you need a guide to Blenheim Palace, pin it for later.

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Last Updated on January 16, 2024 by Leslie Livingston

Blenheim Palace is expecting a record number of twins this year! With over 3,000 lambs due to arrive towards the end of April, visitors can see them gambolling about in the 'Capability' Brown Parkland on a special Lamb Buggy Tour beginning 20 April.

The 1808 ewes were scanned by two members of the Rural Team in February meaning that Head Shepherd, Charles Gerring knows he is expecting 391 singles, 1,166 sets of twins, 218 sets of triplets and 1 set of quads! The spring arrivals are thought to be arriving from 20 April.

The scans show a huge increase in multiples, with a 195% success rate for the ewes and 133% for the ewe lambs. The ewe lambs are just a year old at lambing and shepherds really only want them to have 1 lamb each, so they have excelled themselves averaging 1.33 each.

The ewes achieved 195% scanning which is the highest Blenheim Palace Estate has ever achieved and the overall percentage including the ewe lambs is also the highest achieved. The figures for the ewes in particular are very good. Ewes who give birth to triplets and quads usually have one or two of their offspring taken away and given to another ewe so that they can cope with feeding.

Head Shepherd Charles Gerring says: “The estimated yield of lambs from our flock this spring is really pleasing. The increase in twins is fantastic, and always what we hope to achieve. With such good conditions when tupping, and our grass quality during the early winter, we have scanned the largest percentages that we have ever had. This will likely mean lots of work for the team and I making sure lambs are successfully fostered. It may also mean some very cute pet lambs with all hands-on deck for hand-feeding in the early days. For our new apprentice, Tom, this is a great time to be involved in Shepherding.”

Visitors can learn about Blenheim Palace's rich agri-history and discover more about the Estate farm on the Lamb Buggy Tours which will be running through the Park to the lambing fields set in the historic surrounds of the Grand Avenue.

The grassland within this World Heritage Site is an idyllic area for our extensive flock to graze throughout the year. We lamb outdoors in order to give lambs the best spring grass and nutrients they need.

Blenheim Palace lambs later than many farms because their sheep are reared entirely on grass, largely staying within the Park walls, keeping them as naturally healthy and organic as possible.

The sheep breeds which graze Blenheim Palace parkland are the Scotch Mule - according to Charles these sheep “Make the best lawnmowers!”.

The Estate team have put in place a careful health management programme for the 1,800 resident ewes, which has led to great lambing results over the last three years. After the lambing season the total number of sheep grazing Blenheim Palace rises to nearly 5,000 (1,800 Ewes & just over 3,000 Lambs).

Visitors are asked to please refrain from approaching or touching the sheep and lambs whilst on this tour.

What: Lamb Buggy Tours at Blenheim Palace

Why Visit: See our lambs full of the joys of spring frolicking upon the 'Capability' Brown landscaped Parkland at Blenheim Palace

When: Daily from 20 April – 3rd June

Admission: Park & Gardens Ticket + Price: £3.50 per adult, £2.50 per child

Blenheim Palace, Woodstock, Oxfordshire, OX20 1PP

Please contact: Melodie Manners | [email protected] | 01637 873379 or 07815 709248 for more information.

Notes to editors

• Concession price available for over-60s and students. Excludes weekends and Bank Holidays
• Blenheim Palace is a member of the Green Tourism Business Scheme.
• Blenheim Palace is a member of the Treasure Houses of England, 10 of the most magnificent palaces, stately homes and castles in England treasurehouses.co.uk

Annual Pass - Buy One Day, Get 12 Months Free!*

Donate your Palace, Park and Gardens admission on arrival to claim a free Annual Pass*. Enjoy entry to our World Heritage Site throughout the year for the price of one day, plus exclusive member benefits.

Enjoy these benefits:

• Free entry to events run by Blenheim Palace including Jousting Tournaments, the Blenheim Palace Food Festival, Blenheim Palace Flower Show and the Blenheim Palace Festival of Transport.
• Discount for family and friends on their first visit when you accompany them.
• A monthly e-newsletter with news of our latest events, offers, and competitions.
• Tickets to a selection of externally run events including the Battle Proms Picnic Concert, BBC Countryfile Live and 'Christmas at Blenheim'.

*Terms and conditions apply

Founded in 2016 under the auspices of the 12th Duke of Marlborough, the Blenheim Palace Heritage Foundation Charity looks to safeguard the future of our World Heritage Site for centuries to come.

By agreeing to donate a Palace, Park and Gardens admission on arrival visitors can benefit from converting to a free Annual Pass*.

*You are eligible for Gift Aid if you are a UK taxpayer. The process costs you nothing but allows us to claim money back from the government on the tax that you have already paid. This means that for every £1 donated, we receive an extra £0.25, allowing us to invest even more in the upkeep of the Palace, its contents and surrounding Estate.

Blenheim Palace Heritage Foundation

Registered charity 1166164

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Lamb Buggy Tours at Blenheim Palace

Blenheim Palace is expecting a record number of twins this year! With over 3,000 lambs due to arrive towards the end of April, visitors can see them gambolling about in the ‘Capability’ Brown Parkland on a special Lamb Buggy Tour beginning 20 April.

The 1808 ewes were scanned by two members of the Rural Team in February meaning that Head Shepherd, Charles Gerring knows he is expecting 391 singles, 1,166 sets of twins, 218 sets of triplets and 1 set of quads! The spring arrivals are thought to be arriving from 20 April.

The scans show a huge increase in multiples, with a 195% success rate for the ewes and 133% for the ewe lambs. The ewe lambs are just a year old at lambing and shepherds really only want them to have 1 lamb each, so they have excelled themselves averaging 1.33 each.

The ewes achieved 195% scanning which is the highest Blenheim Palace Estate has ever achieved and the overall percentage including the ewe lambs is also the highest achieved. The figures for the ewes in particular are very good. Ewes who give birth to triplets and quads usually have one or two of their offspring taken away and given to another ewe so that they can cope with feeding.

Head Shepherd Charles Gerring says: “The estimated yield of lambs from our flock this spring is really pleasing. The increase in twins is fantastic, and always what we hope to achieve. With such good conditions when tupping, and our grass quality during the early winter, we have scanned the largest percentages that we have ever had. This will likely mean lots of work for the team and I making sure lambs are successfully fostered. It may also mean some very cute pet lambs with all hands-on deck for hand-feeding in the early days. For our new apprentice, Tom, this is a great time to be involved in Shepherding.”

Visitors can learn about Blenheim Palace’s rich agri-history and discover more about the Estate farm on the Lamb Buggy Tours which will be running through the Park to the lambing fields set in the historic surrounds of the Grand Avenue.

The grassland within this World Heritage Site is an idyllic area for our extensive flock to graze throughout the year. We lamb outdoors in order to give lambs the best spring grass and nutrients they need.

Blenheim Palace lambs later than many farms because their sheep are reared entirely on grass, largely staying within the Park walls, keeping them as naturally healthy and organic as possible.

The sheep breeds which graze Blenheim Palace parkland are the Scotch Mule – according to Charles these sheep “Make the best lawnmowers!”.

The Estate team have put in place a careful health management programme for the 1,800 resident ewes, which has led to great lambing results over the last three years. After the lambing season the total number of sheep grazing Blenheim Palace rises to nearly 5,000 (1,800 Ewes & just over 3,000 Lambs).

Visitors are asked to please refrain from approaching or touching the sheep and lambs whilst on this tour.

What: Lamb Buggy Tours at Blenheim Palace

Why Visit: See our lambs full of the joys of spring frolicking upon the ‘Capability’ Brown landscaped Parkland at Blenheim Palace

When: Daily from 20 April – 3rd June

Admission: Park & Gardens Ticket + Price: £3.50 per adult, £2.50 per child

Blenheim Palace, Woodstock, Oxfordshire, OX20 1PP

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Blenheim Palace Tour

Arguably the most impressive of England’s stately homes, Blenheim Palace is a grand country house in Oxfordshire, home to the current Duke of Marlborough and accidental birthplace of 20th century statesman Sir Winston Churchill.

Let us take you on a private guided tour of Blenheim Palace. This baroque masterpiece was built in the early 1700s as residence to the 1st Duke of Marlborough, whose descendants still live here. The grandeur of the interior includes a 60-metre-long library and a soaring entrance hall, all designed to impress. The interior is lavishly decorated with Old Master paintings, tapestries, priceless furniture, clocks, books and exquisite ceramics.

The gardens are some of the most important in England – beautiful grounds designed by ‘Capability’ Brown that stretch into the distance. Let your private guide tell you stories of fearless Winston, battling Dukes, redoubtable Duchesses and ‘Dollar Princesses’ and epic struggles to tame the landscape.

Visitors can also be taken to Winston Churchill’s grave and Bladon.

Can be combined with Stratford or Oxford.

Admission tickets are also needed for some attractions.

If you require a guide with a private car to conduct your tour please tick above. This will send your request to one of our driver guides who are UK licensed, registered and insured.

If you like this tour, you may also like:

Hereford & herefordshire, worcestershire and the malvern hills tour, peaky blinders locations tour.

Blenheim Palace Guided Tour

Start your morning in oxford exploring the beautiful countryside as we weave our way to the nearby town of woodstock where we visit the home of churchill’s family & one of england’s finest stately homes & gardens – world renowned blenheim palace..

Our friendly guides will take you on a scenic cycling tour to and from the Palace and ensure you get the most out of your visit to Blenheim Palace. We also arrange your tickets to the palace making sure you avoid the queues.

This circular tour provides a safe, fun and easy route to the nearby town of Woodstock, where the world famous Blenheim Palace is situated and the famous prime minister Winston Churchill was born.

This is a circular route that leaves the lively city of Oxford and heads through a large area of common land given to the freemen of the city by Alfred the Great, Port Meadow and which has the River Thames flowing through it.

The route joins the waterway path and you ride along the path where Lewis Carrol first began to spin the tale of Alice in Wonderland. After joining the Sustrans approved cycle paths you head onto a traffic free route towards the town of Woodstock, here the world-renowned Blenheim Palace is situated.

The return journey leaves Woodstock behind and joins the Oxford Canalpath providing a relaxing route all the way back into the city.

Tour Length – 16 miles / 26 km Difficulty – Easy Tour Duration – 6 hours (2 hours cycling at leisurely pace) Suitability – Family Friendly Bikes – All bikes, child seats and trailers available

Adults £105 Children (15 and under) £75 Infant (child seat and trailer) £10 Minimum of 2 people to run tour

Price includes entrance to Blenheim Palace palace and grounds and time allows for exploring both Palace, grounds and having lunch (food not included)

To view a full route description and itinerary please download our brochure.

Download Our Brochure

Meeting Point

Cycle Route

• Port Meadow
• River Thames
• Alice In Wonderland
• Treacle Well
• Godstow Nunnery Ruins
• The Oxford Canal
• Historic Woodstock Town

Blenheim Palace

• Explore 300 years of history and art
• The Churchill Exhibition
• The Palace State Rooms
• The Stables Exhibitions
• Sir Winston Churchill’s birth room
• Explore Blenheim Palace Gardens and Grounds

Blenheim Palace gardens

• Formal gardens
• The Walled garden
• The Marlborough maze!
• The Butterfly house

Bainton Bikes 78 Walton Street Oxford OX2 6EA

When days and times do the tours run? There are no scheduled times for our Blenheim Palace tour, this experience is arranged specifically for you at a time that best suits you and guide availability. Complete the Book Now form with your desired date and time and we will be in touch to finalise payment and confirm booking.

What is included with the tour? Our guide will take you on a scenic safe cycling route to and from Blenheim Palace. Once at the Palace you will have free time to explore the grounds and Palace. Our guide will provide you with recommendations of places to visit to help ensure you get the most from your tour and we will have your entrance tickets to help beat the queues.

Can I bring my Dog? Yes, no problem but let us know so we can book a dog trailer for you. There are also parts of the tour off road where your doggie can roam free. Dogs are not permitted inside the Palace but are allowed in the grounds on a lead – there are plenty of places to walk your dog at Blenheim Palace.

Can I bring a bag with me? Yes, you can either carry your bag or some bikes do have baskets you can fit it in. If you have luggage or bulky bags we can make arrangements for you to leave these at our shop.

What do I need to bring with me? Mostly nothing except yourself! But here are a few ideas to help keep you comfortable (depending on time of year) Suitable clothing for the time of year Camera Sun cream Bottle of water Comfy shoes

Are the tours conducted in English? Our tours are in English, our guides speak various languages and if you would like a tour in another language please contact us to arrange.

Do I need to book tours? Yes, please email us before you come. If we have no guided tours running on your desired date we offer bike hire and self-guided maps for the tour.

What happens if it rains? We don’t want you to have a miserable time if the heavens are falling down we always give the option to cancel or change your date. However rain doesn’t stop us and we recommend bringing your waterproofs if there is a chance of rain.

Do we go inside the museums, monuments and colleges? Not as standard but it is always possible to pop into a college if the group wants to, some colleges charge small entrance fees which would not be included in the price. When booking your tour let us know and we can make suitable arrangements

What are the safety issues? We follow carefully planned routes on our tours, which will keep you away from busy traffic and were possible using pedestrian crossings. Our hire bikes are regular maintained by qualified mechanics. Parents are politely reminded that they are responsible for their children.

How big do the tour groups get? Normally no more than 10 but this may be bigger if there are families with children. We cater for larger groups of up to 100 but these are pre-arranged, contact us for more details if you have a large group.

Are these tours appropriate for children? Our day tours are very much so. We have child seats, trailers and trailer bikes. If your children can cycle let us know their age and we can reserve a children’s bike for them. Holiday tours may not be suitable, please contact us to discuss in more detail.

After a tour can we hang onto the bikes a bit longer would that be possible? If you have been on one of our tours you can keep the bike until the shop closes or the following morning for a small rental fee, we would require a deposit so let us know you beforehand.

How fit do we need to be for a tour? The group will always go as fast as the slowest rider, it is not a challenging ride anyway as you are always stopping to get information from the guide about history. You will not even get out of breath it is designed for all abilities.

How often can we go to restroom? We have a toilet when you arrive and there are public conveniences on route, close to where our guides stop. If you are worried and think you may need to stop outside these breaks tell your guide beforehand and they will point out all facilities along the way. It is very relaxed and in no way a regimented tour, we always stop whenever anyone needs to.

Do you provide helmets? We do keep some helmets in the shop we can lend you but cannot guarantee their safety For safety and hygienic reasons Bainton Bikes do not hire out helmets. Apart from no legal constraints compelling a rider to wear one we also believe we cannot guarantee the hygiene of the prior user or the care given to the helmet. A helmet’s safety is deemed compromised if it has been dropped to the ground as the inner shell must be intact, the only way to know this is through thorough examination using x-ray which we are unable to do after every hire. Please bring your own helmet if you are worried, alternatively we do also sell helmets in our shop.

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The Buggy Tour of the Grounds - Blenheim Palace

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• Blenheim Palace

The Buggy Tour of the Grounds

The large "Golf" type buggy was powered by a petrol driven engine. The exhaust fumes constantly polluted the air inside the buggy especially at the back. A very unpleasant experience which I believe caused me to have a carbon monoxide headache the rest of the day.

Thank you for taking the time to review Blenheim Palace and to share your feedback with us. We're sorry to hear that you experienced a headache after one of our Buggy Tours. Our drivers check each buggy daily before use, and they receive regular services. However, in line with Blenheim Palace’s commitment to the environment, we have already ordered electric vehicles and are awaiting their delivery. Please be assured that if you were to have another Buggy Tour later on this year, we will be using our new fume-free vehicles.

the house, the gardens, the bridge, the lakes and the butterflies are all wonderful. We stayed all day and there was loads to do

Love this place. Truly majestic building commanding awesome views across the sweeping landscape towards the monument and down to the beautiful lake. At times it can truly take your breath away. An annual pass to Palace & Grounds for £25 has to be good value for money! The day we visited, all staff were friendly, welcoming and helpful and the audio guide provided fascinating insights into the deep history of the building and its inhabitants.

If you can get organized enough, I recommend buying tix in advance for the Upstairs Tour - it was very good but limited to a small group, so I don't think you can just show up and get tix for it. The audio guide for the other parts of the palace is a must; bring your own headphones so you don't have to hold the audio up to your ear the entire time (frees up hands for picture-taking, too). The Churchill exhibit in the barn is not worth the time. The grounds are extensive, but not especially well marked - when we were ready to leave we were somewhat trapped - following the map to places where we couldn't actually get out. I don't want to tell you how we got out in the end. Pay attention to where you park, because you'll be tired after spending a few hours on your feet here, and wandering around trying to find your car makes for cranky tourists. We spent about 3 hours here; you can easily spend more time exploring the grounds or listening to the "for more information" sections of the audio guide.

The palace and grounds are absolutely marvelous. The rooms are opulently done. Can easily spend the entire day. The palace cafe was economical. It is great that this residence is open to the public. The special exhibit on Winston Churchill is a treat. I had to force myself to leave at the end of the day. You will not regret stopping here. Take a walk around estate- around the lake, to the cascades, through the fountains, meander through the secret garden, walk across the bridge to the Duke of Marlborough monument. Everything was well maintained.

Almost overwhelming in its expression of wealth and grandeur, but well presented: audio guide uses technology very well for an hour long tour through the major rooms, covering art works and history. The Disney-esque tour (30 minutes) led by a holographic ‘ghost’ is well intentioned but somewhat confused in its design and content; nevertheless, also gives access to more depth and detail on the family and related history. Parklands are superb, with plenty of scope for walks from 30 minutes to a couple of hours.

Tha rate includes: double/twin occupancy, full board catering, excursions as per programme (including local guide services and entrance tickets), accommodation and catering for a guide-interpreter and a driver, transportation services - 4 days (1-2 pax - 1st class car with a/c, 3-9 pax - 1st class mini-van with a/c), services of guide interpreter.

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