For National Gardening Week (until 6th May) enjoy a day out at Blenheim Palace and discover beautiful Formal Gardens and over 2,000 acres of 'Capability' Brown landscaped Parkland.

Created over the centuries by esteemed garden designers such as Henry Wise and Achille Duchêne, the Formal Gardens reflect a journey through the horticultural styles of the ages.

The Formal Gardens surround the Palace and they include the majestic Water Terraces, the Duke's Private Italian Garden, the tranquil Secret Garden with all of its hidden treasures, and the beautifully delicate Rose Garden.

Look out for statues and art as you explore the Gardens. As well as temporary visiting pieces, discover permanent fixtures including 'Untitled' by German artist Georg Baselitz.

Family Friendly

The Pleasure Gardens have been especially designed for younger members of the family. Explore the Marlborough Maze, the world's second largest symbolic yew hedge maze and the Butterfly House which is home to hundreds of beautiful butterflies. The Lavender Garden is specifically set out to enhance the native butterflies and you can spot plenty of nectar enriched plants in this area.

Lunch with a View

The Orangery Restaurant overlooks the Duke of Marlborough's private Italian Garden, redesigned in the early 20th century by the 9th Duke of Marlborough on the advice of his architect Duchêne.

Formal symmetrical scrollwork parterres in box and yew replaced the earlier scheme of carpet bedding, and a new bronze fountain by American sculptor Waldo Story was installed.

Look out for the precise nature of The Italian Garden's box-hedges – each one trimmed using spirit-levels, string and many hours of dedication! Enjoy Afternoon Tea in The Orangery or, new for 2019, a savoury High Tea.

The Water Terraces, which were constructed between 1925 and 1930, are reminiscent of the Parterre d'Eau at Versailles. On the lowest terrace stands the scale model made by Bernini for his famous fountain in the Piazza Navona in Rome.

See beds of fragrant 'Pascali' roses, which flower from late May into early Autumn and 12 vast terracotta urns which are decorated each summer with cannas, a deep orange free-flowering lily which stand a metre or so in height.

Visitors can enjoy views across the Water Terraces whilst dining in the adjoining Café, which features a seasonal menu with produce sourced locally, including ingredients grown on the Blenheim Palace Estate.

Stop and Smell the Roses

The Rose Garden which blooms fully in June, is contained within a circular walk, arched over by slender hoops supporting climbing roses of a delicate pink.

The central statue is surrounded by symmetrical beds of roses that form a delightful display of floral beauty. From the Rose Garden, take a short walk past the hidden Temple of Diana, where Churchill proposed to his beloved Clementine, and on to the Grand Cascade - designed by 'Capability' Brown in the 1760s.

Hideaway

The Secret Garden at Blenheim Palace is located to the east of the South Lawn. It was restored by the 11th Duke as part of the Battle of Blenheim tercentenary celebrations in 2004.

While introducing many new features the restoration also retained much of the original layout, originally designed by his father. Discover Japanese Maples, giant cedars, English oaks, horse chestnuts and cornus.

In contrast to the formal gardens and sweeping parkland, the Secret Garden is a secluded area where winding paths lead over bridges of tranquil water. This informal style - and the fact that the plants here are named - provides a welcoming atmosphere for keen gardeners and families alike.

Explore the Parkland

The Oxfordshire UNESCO World Heritage site is set within 2,000 acres of 'Capability' Brown landscape, which was carefully designed so as to appear natural but is in fact 'contrived to pleasing effect'.

Discover landmarks such as the Column of Victory, the Cascades and the Grand Bridge designed by Vanbrugh. There are a number of excellent walks taking you around the Parkland which are perfect for spotting the array of wildlife, scenes from films shot at Blenheim Palace and seeing the beautiful landscape.

Coming Up…

Don't miss the Blenheim Palace Flower Show (Friday 21st June – Sunday 23rd June) which this year is being opened by TV Presenter George Clarke. Star of shows like The Home Show, The Restoration Man and George Clarke's Amazing Spaces, the architect and writer will be taking part in two question and answer sessions in the Garden Talks Theatre at 11am and 1.30pm.

Now in its seventh year the unmissable gardening show returns to the Oxfordshire UNESCO World Heritage Site with a series of exciting new additions and an exciting circus theme!

The horticultural show features over 300 exhibitors located around a Grand Floral Pavilion and as part of the spectacular event members of the National Association of Flower Arrangement Societies will be making circus inspired floral designs using a variety of cut flowers.

For the first time visitors will be able to explore 10 new Plant Borders, created and curated on site by independent gardeners each with their own theme showcasing what can be achieved in a planted border, the perfect inspiration for all gardeners.

Garden History – Quick Facts

• In the early 1700's Henry Wise was in charge of creating Blenheim Palace's landscape. Wise was instructed to plant fully grown trees as the 1st Duke of Marlborough was concerned that he wouldn't live to see the garden mature.

• Henry Wise created the Great Parterre, located where the South Lawn now stands. The Great Parterre was made up of trimmed boxes, yews and hollies, there were lime alleys and on the ground was sand and fine gravel. To make the Parterre the workmen had to dig out 9,907 solid yards of earth, then 7,157 yards of clay. Wise also used 1,120 solid yards of dung to ensure the Great Parterre would grow.

• In 1705 Henry Wise ordered flowers in the range of 1,800 Persian Iris, 51,000 Hyacinths, 5,600 double white narcissus, 18,500 Dutch yellow Crocus, 4,600 Tulips and 1,200 double Jonquills.

• The 4th Duke of Marlborough kept a tiger in his menagerie. A butcher's bill for 1763 includes meat for the tiger. Twenty four pounds of beef was delivered every two to three days at three shillings a time. Sometimes the butcher also delivered a head to keep the tiger entertained.

• William Chambers was responsible for what is now called Bladon Bridge and the Temple of Diana, where Sir Winston Churchill proposed to Clementine Hozier in 1908.

• During the reign of the 9th Duke of Marlborough, the Great Court was restored to its original layout of gravel and cobbles with raised terraces and Capability Brown's lawn was lost.

• When the 9th Duke had his new Italian Garden built to the East of the Palace the paths were all made of crushed brick.

• 'Capability' Brown was the first celebrity gardener and made gardening fashionable for the first time.

• Brown became a Royal Gardener and was in charge of Hampton Court. It took Brown 11 years to complete the landscaping at Blenheim Palace.

For more information please contact: Melodie Manners | melodie@flamingo-marketing.co.uk | 07815 709548 or 01637 873379.

Notes to editors: 

• Blenheim Palace is a member of the Green Tourism Business Scheme.
• Blenheim Palace is a member of the Treasure Houses of England, 10 of the most magnificent palaces, stately homes and castles in England www.treasurehouses.co.uk

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

Donate your Palace, Park and Gardens admission fee to our charity 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 admission to the Palace, Park & Gardens for 12 months from your first visit date.
• 10% discount for family and friends on their first visit when you accompany them.
• A regular e-newsletter with exclusive news, including events, offers, and competitions.
• Free entry to events at Blenheim Palace events such as Jousting Tournaments, Food Festival, Flower Show and the Festival of Transport.
• Discounted tickets to a selection of externally run events including the Battle Proms Picnic Concert, BBC Countryfile Live and Christmas at Blenheim Palace.

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

*Terms and conditions apply