Blenheim Palace Reviews 

Website problems with ticket purchasing solved by Lorna from customer services for me who went above and beyond! Looking forward to our visit in September.

Having already paid £697 for 3 persons to enjoy a Paltinum Experience, upon arrival at the entrance gates we were advised that we could not access the Platinum Experience until we shelled out an additional £120 to enter the Game Fair. No option but to pay it as we had travelled a reasonable distance to get there. In the Platinum Experience dining area we were invited to order pre-meal drinks. We enquired as to what non alcoholic beverages were available as we do not need intoxication to enjoy an event, and were rather helpfully informed that mmmmmmm warm tap water was available FREE OF CHARGE!!!
So without creating a life story on this abject rip off I shall willingly concede that I shall never visit again.
Allen B.

We went to Blenheim palace in June and had a great day out. Staff at the palace were so helpful and accommodating to myself and my husband as we are disabled and were on mobility scooters. Most of the palace was accessible except for the second floor but I understand there are plans to make tha available to mobility users too. The fashion show was on when we went and that was great to see although it did invade the the ability to take photos of some things without getting the fashions in the picture. But it didn’t spoil our visit and we will be going back as ticket lasts a year and you can go as often as you want in that year. Highly recommend going.

I love Blenheim Palace, my family has spent time here for generations, and I love the idea of sharing it with my kids. I have an annual pass and am beginning to regret it. The core of the issue is attitude. I have two kids, and Blenheim markets itself as a family friendly pace. My pass also pays for access to the new play park.
We noted there was already a free to use play park which they dismantled to then charge you to access another, the old one could have been kept, still the kids love it.

For the last 3 visits, we arrive at check in, and ask if the car park next to the walled gardens (where the play park is) is open, we are always told no and to park in the main car park, this means a 30 min walk juggling two young kids walking on the road with cars. Each time we made it, we found the car park was open. We usually arrive before 10am, the gates open at 10. When we arrive the gate is always left open, we walk in to book in and we are then told to wait outside. We wait patiently, with no further information only for someone to arrive late, say nothing and make no eye contact, to then start scanning people in meeting people in the middle of the queue, so as the people at the front were ignored we all just walked in. Arriving at the park after a further walk, the runners don’t acknowledge the growing crowd until I ask if we can enter or not. It seems like an ongoing issue, we’re treated like we’re not welcome there, like we’re an inconvenience. This is an attitude that sadly bleeds into the main building, as it’s always the demeanour of speaking to us as if we are lesser when we have interactions with most staff (a couple have been really nice I will point out), it is like we should be thanking them for their presence if that makes sense. The building should welcome all, it has been in my family for generations but I don’t feel owed anything as if it’s my right to be there, I can’t comprehend the pompous attitudes still persisting today.

To be family friendly, communicate, approach with a smile at least. To make it friendly to all, work on the attitude that does affect an otherwise beautiful location, a location that should welcome all that have a good attitude.

Wishing Blenheim Palace and all its staff the best and I hope this is helpful.

Very disappointed to find I couldn't make gift purchases as I only had cash. Till only took card payments. Be prepared

Amazing place, but having paid £125 for the family to get in, and given gift aid, we got to the adventure playground and were told it would be an additional £29.

Far to expensive Palace visit at £38 per person plus charging for small train transport to the palace and not informing visitors there is FREE tractor trailer transport provided from the car park .

5 stars is just not enough for the mind blowing experience we've just had. We went to the sleeping beauty and illumination experience and both are excellent in presentation and content. The sleeping beauty exhibition captured the essence of the fable in charming dioramas. The outdoor illumination experience aas phenomenal blending modern lighting and using the natural backdrop as a canvas. Thank you so much.

Afternoon tea is very basic, tiny portions and seriously overpriced. I took my mum to the Christmas market, light trail and house. I decided to splurge out and also book the afternoon tea. Big mistake. There was a tiny portion of ham sandwich which was stale and 2 tiny rolls. To be fair the scone with jam and cream was amazing but the other 4 tiny cakes on top were cheap and sickly. We left still hungry, after paying £68 we were really unimpressed. Total rip off. Not worth the money.

Blenheim Palace lights.
My parents traveled from the other side of the country to visit and to go and see the lights with me and my partner. Only to find out that that Blenheim decided that afternoon that they have cancelled because of a little bit of wind.
Incredibly disappointed and didn’t realise how poorly managed the light trail was.

There are NOT ENOUGH STARS TO APPLAUD THIS MAGICAL EXPERIENCE. The Sleeping Besuty theme throughout the ground floor of this wonderful piece of architecture, Home, Monument, piece of history, museum, and any other epithets that cannot do justice to describe it , but todays experience of the inside surpassed only by the outside Light experience just cannot be surpassed from our book, particularly at this time of the year . Go. Enjoy while it’s still on . Great value.

How I agree with the visitor who posted a comment on the 25th of November 2022. It seems nothing has changed in 12 months.We visited almost exactly one year later ( Nov '23 ) and were astonished to learn we had to pay £12 just to park , despite having an annual pass which cost us £33.00 each. The member of staff at the car park entrance was downright rude when we queried this charge - perhaps some training in dealing with such situations ( and I'm sure there must have been many similar objections to this "hidden" charge ) might be useful. We came to visit the Christmas market which turned out to be deeply disappointing . No atmosphere, no attempt to "dress up " the cabins with a Christmas theme - dull, drab and dreary. We won't visit again at this time of year. Oh, while I'm at it, please ask your staff in the gift shop to at least pretend that they are happy to be there - I know they are busy, particularly at this time of year , but on the recent occasions I have made purchases staff have acted as if they are doing me an enormous favour by taking my money ! And please consider taking cash !!

Trying to take money at every point
Over the top!
Have to pay to take kids to a playground 😂
Pleasure garden now a money making scheme
If you go be prepared!

Went to the boathouse and took a rowing boat out. The people there were so helpful and organised. One of them came out on a paddle board and took photos of us so we had some memories of the experience too. Really lovely time and run by some lovely people.

I went to Blenham Palace for the day l am disabled the staff we’re really good they looked after me over and above the call of duty. I had a wonderful day l will give the staff 10/10.

We bought an annual pass for the second time, but we won't do it again.
First, everything was closed during the lockdown, then when the area opened (not the palace and not the garden!), I asked the customer service if they would extend the annual membership for the missing 2 months, and I was refused.
During Halloween, I paid my child to carve pumpkins, which we parents also helped them with. One of the assistants gave us knives, with which we made good progress, and then after about 15 minutes the other assistant came, who took the knife from my husband's hand and gave us a few pounds worth of a plastic something that could not be used to make any progress... We expressed our displeasure. , to which the woman answered in a raised voice. Rather, we left all 3 pumpkins there and left disappointed (and angry).
I read on the website that anyone who buys an annual pass before the end of October gets free play in Adventure Play. Since we currently have an annual pass (until January 2024), I asked the customer service whether holders with existing annual passes will also receive one, but I was told that when I bought it (January 2023 ), then this sale was not available (I note that there was not even Adventure Play at that time...), so it does not apply to us. I think this is unfair, they could give members with an annual pass at least a one-time entry.
This year, there were much fewer (free) events in the area, which in the previous period was very worthwhile to redeem the membership (we don't live in the area, the place is not available for us for weekend walks).
In summary: The palace is wonderful (the Christmas decorations are amazing), the garden is also very beautiful and well-kept, BUT the staff and customer service kill it all.

I was visiting with my 2 grandchildren just to go to the adventure playground. The car parking person was informed about my zimmer frame but showed no interest or customer care. He just pointed to where we should park despite me saying we were only visiting the adventure playground. We had a long walk over fields - very difficult. The car park outside the adventure park had lots of spaces. They need some customer care and disability training.

So if you go to the palace, dont take dogs as the grounds are great, but you pay the same amount as people with no dogs, you then find out that dogs are not aloud at most of the places,what are they scared of , to be fair my dogs and the people with dogs are great people, the kids are alot more of a problem,i understand dogs cant go every where, so surely its time to treat us the same so maybe some one can answer why can i not go in the walled garden with a dog.

Went to the Paddington show then the playground. Awesome playground, kids had a lot of fun, great pizza, friendly staff.

Blenheim need to boast about having an EV charger!

It made our life so easy, we could enjoy our day without having range anxiety.

The Palace itself was fantastic, the staff were knowledgeable and friendly.

The cafe was also very reasonably priced and are doing their best to ensure sustainability.

The gift shop was wonderful and the lady working next to the Penhaligons stand in the gift shop on Wednesday 19th July 2023 (i’m so sorry i didn’t get her name) gave us the best customer service we’ve experienced in a long time. She’s an asset to Blenheim!!

The grounds were breathtaking and so well kept.

Can’t wait to visit again in the future!