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Behind the scenes at Blenheim Palace

You see the Sunderland Bedroom as part of the Upstairs Tour at Blenheim Palace, behind the scenes, private apartments, tours, Oxfordshire, Duke of Marlborough — You see the Sunderland Bedroom as part of the Upstairs Tour. Credit: Blenheim Palace

Take a peek into the private lives of the Duke of Marlborough and his family and guests on a behind-the-scenes tour at Blenheim Palace

The Baroque masterpiece of Blenheim Palace is a sight to behold – particularly when approached via the Woodstock Gate where you are granted uninterrupted views across Capability Brown-designed parkland towards architect John Vanbrugh’s Grand Bridge – but have you ever wondered what it is like to arrive as a guest of the Marlboroughs?

WIN TICKETS TO BLENHEIM PALACE

The grand north corridor east. Credit: Blenheim Palace, behind the scenes tours, private apartments, Duke of Marlborough — The grand north corridor east. Credit: Blenheim Palace

Until 30 October, visitors to Blenheim Palace, the family seat of the Duke of Marlborough, can join one of three tours of the Duke of Marlborough’s private apartments to get an insider’s view of the family’s life away from the public glare, and how their (often illustrious) guests are taken care of during their stay.

The family once played table tennis in the fragile China Room. Credit: Blenheim Palace, Oxfordshire, Blenheim, Duke of Marlborough — The family once played table tennis in the fragile China Room. credit: Blenheim Palace

The tours include a Duke’s Floor Tour, which takes in the family’s sitting room, dining room and the master bedroom; an Upstairs Tour, which showcases guest rooms interlinked by secret corridors; and a Downstairs Tour, which gives a glimpse into life behind the green baize door, such as how staff endeavour to lay food on the dining room table 34 seconds after it has been served up by the Michelin-starred chef one floor below. Downstairs you can also see special areas such as the China Room where the family once (rather recklessly) played table tennis.

The Planner

Getting to Blenheim Palace

Direct trains to Oxford Parkway from London take just over an hour. Oxford Stagecoach operates a bus service from the station to Woodstock, which takes 20 minutes.