Blenheim Palace had been on my wish list for over 40 years and now my wish was coming true!
The first sight of the Palace was breathtaking; it commands attention from every viewpoint. Acres of rolling parkland and imposing clusters of huge trees were impressive, made even more magnificent by the strong wind and bright sunshine of the day. ‘Awesome’ is a word I could use, which I have borrowed from my young grandsons.
Inside the Palace was just as amazing, with huge portraits and tapestries, handsome furniture and delicate porcelain. Extremely pleasant guides were there to point you in the right direction and I somehow found myself at the beginning of the new visitor experience, ‘Blenheim Palace: The Untold Story’. This was a series of dimly lit rooms, in which a virtual maid told me about Palace history spanning 300 years. With so much to see and do elsewhere, I exited the tour via a quick shuffle through the remaining rooms.
It was great to get out into the fresh air and saunter along the Water Terrace, through the Lavender and Rose Gardens, then on to the Italian Garden, pausing to wonder at the ancient oak trees growing there.
There was a special event on in the form of a jousting tournament, which enticed lots of people to the Park. As such, there were queues to get into the park, and the Pleasure Garden Café was packed with those seeking a coffee. While we English people have a reputation for willingly forming orderly queues, I would rather have spent the time learning about Churchill’s destiny at the Churchill Exhibit (Sir Winston Churchill was born at the Palace). Next time, hopefully!
This magnificent World Heritage Site must surely be England’s finest treasure and I urge you to put a visit to Blenheim Palace on your wish list, but don’t wait 40 years to tick that box!
Reviewed by Brenda A May
All video enquiries to In Oxford Magazine 01865
742211
