Formal Gardens

The Formal Gardens of Blenheim Palace owe much to the 9th Duke of Marlborough who, in the 1920s, with the help of the French landscape architect Achille Duchene redesigned the previously uninspiring gardens to provide the Palace with the formal majestic setting that visitors see today. A trip to Blenheim Palace would not be complete without visiting the Water Terraces, Rose Garden, Arboretum, Cascades or the Secret Garden.

Audio Garden Tour

This fascinating audio guide of the Formal Gardens is available to hire from the Churchill Shop at a cost of £3.00 (£10 deposit)

There are three different types of walks available. A long walk which lasts between 60-90 minutes and takes you to the Cascades via the Lakeside, a more sedate walk directly to the Cascades or a tranquil walk through the Secret Garden all of which are magnificent and full of beauty.

On your tour you will discover not only the history and development of the Formal Gardens at Blenheim Palace but also the exterior of the unique Baroque Palace, built to compliment its magnificent setting. The gardens have been affected by fashion and taste over the past 300 years.

The Lakeside walk starts at the Great Court and you move into the Water Terraces which were added in the 20th Century by the 9th Duke of Marlborough, cousin to Sir Winston Churchill and this was designed by Achille Duchene . The path around the lake is fringed with trees covering 150 acres. The landscape was designed by 'Capability' Brown and is regarded as his masterpiece. The boathouse was built by the 8th Duke and this exquisite lake is full of fish and during the summer months water lilies fill the lake. Wisteria blooms in April to May and when you visit the gardens throughout the year you will find they transform with the seasons.

The Cascades are spectacular and picturesque with magnificent trees including copper beeches, cedar Lebanon and cricket bat willows all to be seen in the Arboretum.

The Rose Garden offers vibrant colours throughout the summer until early autumn. The Temple of Diana has a spectacular view of the lake.

The walk directly to the Cascades takes you through the Rose Garden and The Arboretum taking in the beauty of the Formal Gardens on route.

The Secret Garden and will appeal to keen gardeners as it contains horticultural information from our gardeners and visits the more contemporary areas of the Formal Gardens. The entrance to the Secret Garden is to the east side of the beautiful sweeping lawns south of the Palace. The Italian Gardens are also to the east and comprises of fuchsias, geraniums and pink roses. The Secret Garden was created by the 10th Duke and restored in 2004 to mark the tencentary of The Battle of Blenheim. This is a tranquil place with benches to sit on enabling you to admire the diverse types of plants from Japanese maples, bamboos and spiky plants to bulbs bursting into flower. There is a large pond with a small waterfall and the wildlife is plentiful. The Secret Garden is full of tranquillity making it the perfect place to find a spot to rest and take in the surroundings.
It will take you about 40 minutes and is totally accessible.