Blenheim Palace in the Cotswolds – our family day out review and top tips
We take our children for a day out at Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire
What is it?
Blenheim Palace is a grand historic house and gardens. This World Heritage Site was the birthplace and home of World War Two Prime Minister, Sir Winston Churchill.
It has over 300 years of history and is now home to the 12th Duke of Marlborough.
Where is it?
On the edge of the town of Woodstock in Blenheim, Oxfordshire, eight miles from Oxford.
The Great Courtyard
What did we think?
This is a grand venue and our two were excited to be visiting a ‘palace’. It is set in spectacular grounds with a large lake.
Our Highlights
*Our two really enjoyed having audio guides, which surprised us. There was no separate children’s commentary but we spent much longer inside the palace as a result of these devices, they enjoyed looking out for the portraits that were being shown and talked about on their handheld devices.
*You can walk or catch a little train from the car park to the Family Pleasure Gardens. Sadly, it was pouring with rain when we visited but on a dry day, we would have spent longer in this area which included swings, puzzles on the floor and a maze.
As it was raining we made a beeline for the butterfly house. It warmed us up and the children enjoyed being surrounded by butterflies.
*A 300-year-old cedar tree there, the ‘Harry Potter Tree’, was in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix – Snape was dangling from it in a flashback.
Top Tips
If it is raining, take a towel to dry the train seats and swings etc. And, try to do the inside areas when it is forecast rain – the palace, the butterfly house, the shops/cafes.
Blenheim Palace information
Food: There is a restaurant and three cafes including a pizza café next to the Family Pleasure Gardens. Picnics are also allowed.
Opening hours: The palace is open every day from 10.30am to 5.30pm, park open daily 9am to 6pm.
Cost: Adults £27, children aged five to 16 £16, children under five free, family ticket (two adults, two children), £67.50. The price includes the audio guide.
Best for: Ages six and above.
Time needed: Four hours.
Access and restrictions: The site is largely accessible for wheelchair users and for buggies.
Address: Blenheim Palace, Woodstock, Oxfordshire, OX201UL.
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(We were given complimentary tickets for the purpose of this review, all views are our own).
Pictures © Blenheim Palace 2019