Just returned from a short stay in the Cotswolds with Mary's brother & sister (& associated spouses). We stayed in a converted chapel in the small hamlet of Cleveley. One of the main reasons for choosing this location was the opportunity to visit nearby Blenheim Palace which we did on Friday the 6th June.
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| Photo 1: Blenheim Palace (June 2025) |
Blenheim Palace (originally Blenheim Castle) was built in the early 18th Century and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is home to the Dukes of Marlborough as well as being the birthplace of Winston Churchill. The estate with a smaller house/hunting lodge was given to John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough, by Queen Anne to reward his success at the decisive Battle of Blenheim during the War of the Spanish Succession. The entry price (£41 per adult) includes a 45-50 minute tour of the house which is highly recommended, especially if you are lucky enough to have Richard or Charles as your guide.
The palace is currently having its roof repaired so there is a lot of scaffolding in place (Photo 2) which detracts somewhat from the overall appearance/attraction.
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| Photo 2: Blenheim Palace (June 2025) |
On the plus side, there is public access to the roofline via the scaffolding ...
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| Photo 3: Stairway/Scaffolding |
... that offers unparalleled close-ups of the stonework and far ranging views of the estate parklands ...
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| Photo 4: Rooftop View (June 2025) |
On the day we attended, there was plenty of activity in preparation for that weekend's triathlon event, which meant the Great Courtyard was closed to visitors ...
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| Photo 5: Courtyard Out-of-Bounds |
... as it was transformed into the '
transition' zone where the athletes change from swim-to-bike and bike-to-run.
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| Photo 6: Courtyard Transition Zone viewed from the Roof Scaffolding |
A few more photos of the Palace and formal gardens ...
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| Photo 7: Blenheim Place (June 2025) |
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| Photo 8: Blenheim Palace (June 2025) |
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| Photo 9: Chapel, Blenheim Palace (June 2025) |
Time for a bit of lunch where we were pestered by a couple of mallards ...
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| Photo 10: Aggressive Drake |
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| Photo 11: Aggressive Duck |
There were signs up asking people not to feed the ducks and warning of their anti-social behaviour. They were certainly both fearless & aggressive. One duck even 'bit' Mary in an attempt to get some food.
After topping up the energy reserves, it was time to explore the grounds (see Part 2).
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