Blenheim Palace

	Address – Woodstock Oxfordshire OX20 1PX
Phone	01993 811091
Opening times	The Formal Gardens are open every day from early February until early December, ring for exact dates. In November and December they are open Wednesday to Sunday inclusive. The Park is open daily (except Christmas Day).
Collection/special features	Look out for the boats, the small scale railway, and the maze
Dog friendly?	Dogs on leads are allowed in the Park but not in the formal garden or house unless they are assistance dogs.
Child friendly?	Yes, as long at they like railways. The boats are fun for children too.
Description	Blenheim Palace, now home to 11th Duke of Marlborough, was the birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill, and is also his final resting place. Set in an astonishing 2100 acres of beautiful parkland landscaped by ‘Capability’ Brown, the Palace itself is set in an exquisite surrounding of sweeping lawns, formal gardens and the magnificent lake which bears a range of boats on which you can travel. There are seven specially themed gardens, including the water garden which was modelled on the grand chateaux of France and Italy, the Secret Garden containing unusual trees and shrubs, the Italian Garden with its mermaid fountain which was once considered quite risqué and the very English Rose Garden which was a favourite of Churchill’s.

Blenheim Palace photograph by gailf548, used under a creative commons licence