What is Blenheim Palace?
Blenheim Palace is a monumental country house in Woodstock, Oxfordshire, and the birthplace of Winston Churchill. It is the only non-royal, non-episcopal country house in England to hold the title of palace and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The palace was built between 1705 and 1722 as a gift from Queen Anne and the nation to John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough, after his victory over French and Bavarian forces at the Battle of Blenheim in 1704.
It was designed by Sir John Vanbrugh in the English baroque style, with grand state rooms, a long library and elaborate ceilings.
Churchill's birthplace
Winston Churchill was born at Blenheim on 30 November 1874. The room where he was born is part of the visitor route, and an exhibition tells his story. He proposed to his wife, Clementine, at the Temple of Diana in the grounds.
Churchill is buried at nearby St Martin's Church in Bladon.
The parkland was landscaped by Capability Brown, who created the large lake. The palace has been used as a filming location for many films. In 2019, a solid gold toilet artwork was stolen from the palace during an exhibition, making headlines around the world.
Blenheim hosts events such as concerts, a Christmas light trail and horse trials. It remains the home of the Dukes of Marlborough.