Starting 15th February 2025, Blenheim Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, will introduce an exciting new experience for visitors—the Family Treasures extended tour. This exclusive journey
will open a never-before-seen visitor route through the Private Apartments, adding five remarkable rooms to the Palace experience.
Guests will step into the grandeur of Blenheim’s most opulent spaces, following in the footsteps of dukes, duchesses, and their esteemed guests. The tour will take visitors from the Duke’s Bar through the corridor, leading into the Family Dining Room, the Smoking Room, and the Duchess’s Sitting Room. It will culminate in the magnificent Grand Cabinet, a spectacularly decorated room usually reserved for the most intimate family gatherings. From there, visitors will continue through the Palace’s Drawing Rooms, a path once walked by royalty and high-profile dignitaries.
Beyond its stunning beauty, the Grand Cabinet holds deep historical significance. During World War II, it served as a schoolroom for Lady Rosemary Spencer-Churchill, daughter of the Duke of Marlborough and one of the six Coronation Maids of Honour who accompanied Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II at Westminster Abbey in 1953.
The Family Treasures tour extends the Palace visit by 20 minutes and showcases an extraordinary collection of priceless artefacts, including:
Smoking Room Corridor:
- Lalique fire screen
- Portrait of the 9th Duke of Marlborough by Alfred Munnings
- Visitor’s book
Dining Room:
- Chimney piece designed by Vanbrugh
- Experimental 8-day striking clock
Smoking Room:
-18th-century tapestries depicting the life of Alexander the Great, acquired by the 1st Duke
-George Stubbs’ portrait of a tigress, a gift from Clive of India to the 4th Duke
Duchess’s Sitting Room:
- Portraits of Gladys Deacon by Giovanni Boldini and Consuelo Balsan by Ambrose McEvoy, both wives of the 9th Duke
- Two Ladies in a Gondola in Venice by Sir Winston Churchill
- Unusual clock designed by Benjamin Vulliamy (George III, 1787)
Grand Cabinet:
- Savonnerie Carpet (c.1750) from the renowned Parisian carpet manufactory founded under Louis XIII
- A 1759 Sèvres chamber pot painted with fruit and flowers by François Binet, believed to have belonged to Marie Antoinette
New experiences at Blenheim palace in 2025
The Family Treasures tour is one of three exceptional visitor experiences launching this year. Additionally, Blenheim Palace will introduce:
Rooftop View Platform: A ticketed experience offering breathtaking panoramic views of the estate, including the iconic Column of Victory and the Oxfordshire countryside.
Life Below Stairs: A glimpse into the original Palace kitchens, available for a limited time before the commencement of Blenheim’s largest-ever restoration project—the historic roof restoration.
Blenheim Palace first welcomed the public 75 years ago to fund vital roof conservation efforts. Now, the Palace is embarking on a £12M restoration project to safeguard its architectural heritage for future generations.
A legacy of grandeur
Since its construction in 1705, Blenheim Palace has been home to the Dukes of Marlborough. Designed in the grand Baroque style by Sir John Vanbrugh and set within over 2,000 acres of ‘Capability’ Brown-landscaped parkland, it was a gift from Queen Anne to the 1st Duke of Marlborough in gratitude for his victory in the War of the Spanish Succession.
Today, Blenheim Palace remains one of Britain’s most treasured landmarks, housing one of Europe’s most significant art collections. It is also the birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill, whose father once described the Palace’s entrance vista from Woodstock as “the finest view in England.”
Don’t miss the chance to explore Blenheim Palace like never before with the Family Treasures extended tour—an unforgettable journey through history, art, and aristocratic splendor. Photo by Dreilly95, Wikimedia commons.