Blenheim Palace today is still the home of the Churchill family. It is currently the home of the Twelfth Duke of Marlborough, Charles James Spencer-Churchill. The land is now owned by the king since the passing of Queen Elizabeth II. The family has paid rent for the land for the past 300 years.
Here is all you need to know to access Blenheim for free, using the 'secret green gate' in Woodstock. It's perfectly legal – you will be using a Public Footpath to enter instead of one of the official entrances.
To help you with your visit all tickets must be purchased in advance; this allows faster entry at the gates, one quick scan and you'll be through. You will also receive our latest information on what's happening and how to make the most of your day at the Palace.
As a privately-owned Estate we receive very little external funding, so it is only through the generosity of our visitors that we are able to undertake vital restoration and conservation projects.
Blenheim Palace: The Hidden Secrets Inside Churchill’s Ancestral Home
Do the Churchills still own Blenheim Palace?
The Monarch still owns the land which Blenheim is built on and they still get paid rent. However, the only payment that is required is a Blenheim Flag – a pretty good deal really! Originally the palace was a gift to John Churchill as a celebration of the Victory won over France in the Spanish Succession.
A masterpiece of Baroque architecture, Blenheim Palace provides an awe-inspiring experience for visitors. Home to the 12th Duke of Marlborough and his family and the birth place of Sir Winston Churchill, Blenheim Palace is a UNESCO World Heritage Site boasting a long and diverse history.
As it is a private estate entry to the Blenheim can be expensive, but a little-known secret is that a number of public footpaths cross the park, so it's possible to enter without needing to buy a ticket, absolutely free.
The palace's iconic parklands were designed by Capability Brown and the home itself is brimming with antiques. The entire estate is open to the public. Today, Blenheim Palace is worth an estimated £180 million.
At Blenheim Palace you will find the 'Harry Potter Tree' which is where the scene containing Snape's flashback was filmed; taunted by James Potter and friends a young Snape was levitated into the air upside down in front of the tree.
How long to allow for a Blenheim Palace visit. Touring the house will take you about 40 minutes using the audio guide. The Churchill exhibition another half an hour. Within the house there is also The Untold Story exhibition which tells stories about the house and the people who lived in it takes another 40 minutes.
Dogs are not permitted in the Walled Garden, Blenheim Palace Adventure Play, Formal Gardens or Palace, with the exception of assistance dogs. Visitors are not permitted to bring food and beverages into the Palace. The use of tripods or selfie sticks is not allowed inside the Palace.
It's bigger than Buckingham Palace, but it's also privately owned by the family that built it over 300 years ago. It's been the seat of the Dukes of Marlborough since 1704 and was the birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill.
Afternoon Tea is available between 1.00 p.m. and 4.00 p.m. daily at a cost of £32 per person with pre-booking required. Please note that afternoon tea reservations include entry to the Blenheim grounds but exclude the Palace, more details here.
Why did Winston Churchill not inherit his father's title?
Winston Churchill's father was Lord Randolph Churchill. The “Lord” was a courtesy title, as Randolph was a younger son of the 7th Duke of Marlborough: Randolph was not himself a nobleman. As the grandson of the Duke, Winston did not even inherit the courtesy title.
Films shot at the exteriors include Spectre while the interior has been used as a filming location for Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation among others.
Although the land and the money to build Blenheim Palace was a gift to John Churchill, Queen Anne wanted something in return. She asked that every year, on or before the anniversary of the Battle of Blenheim, that a replica of the captured French standard should be presented to the ruling monarch at Windsor Castle.
Blenheim Palace was built as a gift for John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough, for his victory at the Battle of Blenheim in 1704, a decisive battle in the War of the Spanish Succession. The land was given by Queen Anne on behalf of a grateful nation, and parliament granted £240,000 for the construction.
Please view our map for further information. The Formal Gardens: A 1.5-mile walk taking 1 hour suitable for wheelchair and buggy users. The Lake: A 0.75-mile circular walk taking 35 minutes. Wheelchair and buggy users are recommended to return via the Rose Garden after reaching the Cascade.
Visit beautiful Blenheim Palace, where Sir Winston Churchill was born and raised. See some iconic filming locations from the popular BBC TV series 'Downton Abbey': the home of Isobel Crawley, the Downton Cottage Hospital, and the village church.
Is the Duke of Marlborough related to Princess Diana?
He is the eldest surviving son of the 11th Duke of Marlborough and his first wife, Susan Mary Hornby. As a member of the Spencer family, he is a distant relative of the war-time Conservative Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill and of Diana, Princess of Wales, born Lady Diana Spencer.
