Upstairs, Downstairs & Behind Closed Doors | Private Apartment Tours at Blenheim Palace

Blenheim Palace have opened their Private Apartments to the public for 2017, offering visitors an intimate look at Marlborough family life in three exciting tours.

Until 30th October, visitors will have the exclusive opportunity to explore the East Side of the Palace; the Duke of Marlborough's Private Apartments. Discover the opulence of the rooms in which the Marlborough family have lived for generations, and learn about family life at Blenheim Palace.

Duke's Floor Tours

The intimate tour begins with climbing the Main Stairs and peeking into the Dressing Room and through the Duke's Corridor. Taking visitors on an intimate tour of family life, visitors will view the Master Bedroom and Dining Room. Visitors will enjoy seeing the Sitting Room where His Grace and family relax and mixes priceless heirlooms with modern technology.

Walking through the Bar Area, visitors will be led to the Smoking Room which contains full size tapestries from the Alexandra the Great series which were commissioned by the 1st Duke.

In the extended tour, running at 10.45am and 1.25pm, visitors will also be taken around the Grand Cabinet, a room full of opulent history and family heirlooms.  The Visitor's Book will also be on display, turned to the page of Clementine Hozier and Sir Winston Churchill. The signatures are dated directly after the meal that followed their engagement at the Temple of Diana in Blenheim Palace's parkland. On the same page visitors can see Clementine's signature from the first time that she returned to the palace after her marriage.

Upstairs Tour

The 'Upstairs' Tour takes visitors on an exclusive tour of the Blenheim Palace Guest Rooms, none of which have been open to the public before. Previous guests have included Queen Mary, King Edward VIII and Wallis Simpson, as well as Cecil Beaton and Yves Saint Lauren.

Visitors will also see family rooms such as the Blandford Bedroom, the Sunderland Dressing Room and Bachelors' Row in the tour which includes secret corridors, interlinking doors and spiral staircases.

Downstairs Tour 

Servants were essential to the aristocratic way of life. It would have been completely impossible for the family to take care of themselves, to manage the house, look after the children and let alone host a fancy dinner party, without the help of servants.

The 4th Duke had the largest retinue of servants and the number increased each time his wife had a baby. At its largest there were 102 servants to look after the family. However during times of austerity, and particularly during World War I, a handful of staff valiantly managed the Palace, Estate and a temporary convalescence hospital.

Visitors will wander through the network of corridors, see the iconic bell system and learn the gossip and perks of the job from the staff's point of view.

Guests must book at the Welcome Desk or Great Hall on the day; Palace, Park and Gardens ticket is also required.

WHAT:            Private Apartment Tours at Blenheim Palace

WHEN:            Daily until 30 October* some dates excluded

WHY VISIT:   Discover the private side of Blenheim Palace, learn about the 300 years of history in the rooms.

ADMISSION:  Tours £5.00 Adult & £4.50 Concession + Palace, Park & Gardens ticket Adult £24.90, Concession £20.90

WEBSITE:       blenheimpalace.com

ENDS

For more information please contact:

Melodie Manners | melodie@flamingo-marketing.co.uk | 01637 873379 or 07815 709548

Notes to Editors

The guided tours each last approximately 45 minutes and will run daily at regular intervals between 10:30-17:00. Guests must book at the Welcome Desk or Great Hall on the day. Palace, Park and      Gardens ticket is required and additional charges per tour do apply. Please note that Upstairs and Downstairs routes may be subject to change.

*Please note all dates and times are subject to change. Tours will not be running on the following dates:

• 14-19 June
• 2-6 August
• 13-18 September
• 11-15 October

Annual Pass - Buy One Day, Get 12 Months Free!*

Donate your Palace, Park and Gardens admission on arrival to claim a free Annual Pass*. Enjoy entry to our World Heritage Site throughout the year for the price of one day, plus exclusive member benefits.

Enjoy these benefits:

• Free entry to events run by Blenheim Palace including Jousting Tournaments, the Blenheim Palace Food Festival, Blenheim Palace Flower Show and the Blenheim Palace Festival of Transport.
• Discount for family and friends on their first visit when you accompany them.
• A monthly e-newsletter with news of our latest events, offers, and competitions.
• Tickets to a selection of externally run events including the Battle Proms Picnic Concert, BBC Countryfile Live and 'Christmas at Blenheim'.

*Terms and conditions apply

Gift Aid

Founded in 2016 under the auspices of the 12th Duke of Marlborough, the Blenheim Palace Heritage Foundation Charity looks to safeguard the future of our World Heritage Site for centuries to come.

By agreeing to donate a Palace, Park and Gardens admission on arrival visitors can benefit from converting to a free Annual Pass*.

*You are eligible for Gift Aid if you are a UK taxpayer. The process costs you nothing but allows us to claim money back from the government on the tax that you have already paid. This means that for every £1 donated, we receive an extra £0.25, allowing us to invest even more in the upkeep of the Palace, its contents and surrounding Estate.

Blenheim Palace Heritage Foundation

Registered charity 1166164