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A smiling couple stand in the Long Library, with gilded bookcases and portraits lining the walls beneath a decorated ceiling

The Palace State Rooms &
Exhibitions

Discover over 300 years of history at Blenheim Palace

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A State Room hung with the Marlborough tapestries, with gilt and red chairs beneath a chandelier
A man and a woman admire the Red Drawing Room, with crimson walls, a large family portrait and a gilded desk with flowers
An ornate gilt-mounted clock shaped like an urn stands on a mantelpiece in warm light, with a large clock face behind
Four visitors look up at a gilded state room hung with a large tapestry of a battle scene and portraits, beside an open doorway

Over three centuries of history, treasures and stories - all in one extraordinary place

At Blenheim Palace we are proud to welcome you to Britain's Greatest Palace and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Home to the Dukes of Marlborough since 1705 and the birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill, the Palace was a gift from Queen Anne to John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough, in thanks for his victory at the Battle of Blenheim in 1704.

Set within more than 2,000 acres of 'Capability' Brown landscaped parkland, it holds over 300 years of history and one of the most important and extensive collections in Europe.

Step inside to explore our magnificent State Rooms, discover treasures gathered across the centuries, and enjoy our permanent exhibitions, such as Life Below Stairs, The Churchill Exhibition, the Stables Exhibition and The Blenheim Story Exhibition. 

A man and a woman walk along a red carpet through a gilded state room with green upholstered chairs, tapestries and tall windows

The State Rooms

Your visit begins in the Great Hall, rising almost 20 metres to Sir James Thornhill's ceiling of the 1st Duke presenting his Battle of Blenheim plans to Britannia. Explore the State Rooms, including the Saloon, with its Louis Laguerre ceiling. See the Blenheim Tapestries, woven in Brussels to mark the 1st Duke's victories. The route ends in the Long Library - more than 55 metres long, with over 10,000 books and a grand Willis organ. Explore the State Rooms freely using our Archie App or join a free guided tour.

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Discover our Exhibitions

 OPEN 

The Churchill Exhibition

Our Churchill Exhibition features a mix of historic artefacts and new technology, documenting key aspects of the adventurous life of Sir Winston Churchill, the famous wartime leader and writer.

 OPEN 

The Blenheim Story Exhibition

Blenheim Palace has stood for more than 300 years, but why was it first built and who were the first residents of this stunning example of Baroque architecture on the grandest scale?

 OPEN 

Life Below Stairs

Delve into the stories below stairs and explore the immersive hidden world of Blenheim Palace’s servants.

 OPEN 

The Stables Exhibition

Explore our immersive and interactive family exhibition in the Palace’s historic stable block showcasing the importance of horses at Blenheim through the centuries.

A State Room with regimental standards and framed photographs beside a tapestry

Treasures of the Palace

Within its walls the Palace cares for one of the most important and extensive collections in Europe. Among the highlights are the celebrated Blenheim Tapestries, woven to record the 1st Duke's campaigns, and a wealth of fine paintings by masters such as Sir Joshua Reynolds, Sir Anthony van Dyck and John Singer Sargent. The rooms are filled with exquisite carvings by Grinling Gibbons, sumptuous 'Boulle' furniture, rare bronzes and a fine collection of porcelain, including Meissen. A new addition to our visitor route, our Family Treasures Collection opens the doors to the family's private apartments, where the Grand Cabinet displays a rare 1750 Savonnerie carpet alongside generations of Marlborough portraits.

A small bedroom with a brass bed, red carpet, a painting on an easel and walls hung with portraits and landscape paintings

The Birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill

Blenheim Palace holds a special place in the story of Sir Winston Churchill. He was born here on 30th November 1874, the grandson of the 7th Duke of Marlborough, arriving unexpectedly while his parents were guests at the Palace. His ties to Blenheim Palace endured throughout his life: it was in the grounds, at the Temple of Diana, that he proposed to Clementine Hozier in 1908, and he was laid to rest a short distance away at St Martin's Church in Bladon. Today you can stand in the very room where he was born and follow his remarkable life through our dedicated Churchill Exhibition.

Discover more here

Talks & Tours

The marble bust of John, 1st Duke of Marlborough on its inscribed pedestal beneath a domed ceiling
Carved classical masks decorating the cornice above the library bookcases
The marble doorcase and painted walls of the Saloon, looking through to the State Rooms beyond

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