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There’s not much I love more than beautiful travel destinations… but getting in places for free is a strong contender!
Blenheim is a place I visited loads growing up as it’s only a short drive from my family home. It’s absolutely massive and even bigger in my mind which I find is always the way with places you visited when you were little. I’ll always have fond memories of family picnics and walks there and it’s somewhere I often visit when I’m home.
It can be a pricey day trip if you don’t know the local area (AKA the free entry gates) so hopefully my guide will fill you in and save you some pennies.
Where is Blenheim Palace and why should you go?
Blenheim is one of England’s most gorgeous stately homes with 2,000 acres of grounds. The route I’m about to suggest is one of the best walks in Oxfordshire. Blenheim is typically English and will have you dreaming of Downtown Abbey and days gone by. It’s also a UNESCO World Heritage Site and was a filming location for the Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix film.
Blenheim is beside Woodstock, one of the prettiest towns near the Cotswolds which is 10 miles from Oxford.
Fun fact – Winston Churchill was born at Blenheim and his grave is around the corner.
(I never thought I’d use the words ‘Winston Churchill’ and ‘fun’ in the same sentence, or ‘grave’ for the matter, and now I’m reconsidering how fun I am).
House, grounds and park
A full ticket with entry to the stately rooms, Churchill exhibition and pleasure gardens will set you back £26.
The Park and Gardens pass (the same one minus the house) will cost you £16. Both these tickets can be bought online or at the main gate in Woodstock.
However there are a few gates where you can get in for free. Keep reading & I’ll tell you where to find them.
Blenheim Palace free gate & recommended walking route
You won’t be able to tour the house or sculptured gardens via the Blenheim Palace free gates but you will be able to admire them from the outside and explore 2,000 acres of grounds which are great for picnics and walks. At a festival there when I was 18, I went days without even seeing the house so you can guarantee the grounds are massive (either that or I was really drunk and lost).
If you have access to a car, head to ‘Combe Lodge’ where you can park up for free.
If following directions, the full address is Combe Lodge, East End, Combe, Witney, OX29 8ND or easier still, I’ve pinned it here for you.
This is the gate you need to enter:
Once inside, turn LEFT and follow the path for about 10 minutes.
You’ll soon come to a clearing. You can stay on the road as it turns left – but don’t do this! You’ll still make it but I think the other route is nicer. Instead, go right over the field and you’ll come to the lake. Walk along the path with the lake on your right.
Eventually, you’ll turn a corner and see this beautiful bridge and the house ahead.
Just before the bridge you’ll pass ‘the Harry Potter tree’ where a scene in the Order of the Phoneix was filmed. Since the Whomping Willow in Hertfordshire has fallen down this is now the main Harry Potter tree that fans can visit.
Note – if you take this free route I’ve described you’re not reeeeally meant to go further than the bridge. On the odd weekend day in the summer you’ll see someone on the bridge selling tickets but 360 days of the year you can walk right up to the house without paying.
Blenheim Palace free gates (Woodstock & Bladon)
The other Blenheim Palace free gate is in Woodstock, the village beside Blenheim.
To find the gate, head over to the Black Prince Pub (a 5-minute walk from the centre of town) where you’ll find a big green gate on the other side of the road. The exact Google location is ‘the Causeway’ which I’ve pinned right here. Yes it looks slightly like you’re breaking and entering but no worries – it’s a public footpath for everyone to use. If you can’t park nearby, use the Woodstock town car park or any side streets.
Locate this green gate with a gold 95 on the front. Walk into the
There’s another Blenheim Palace free gate in small village, Bladon, but there’s hardly any parking.
Not got a car? Never fear!
If you’re coming from London, catch a 1-hour train from Paddington or Marylebone to Oxford Parkway which is a station on the outskirts of Oxford. Then jump on the number 7 or 500 bus which will take 13 minutes to Woodstock (you can catch them, plus the S3 bus, from Oxford city centre but it’ll add an additional 10 mins to your journey time).
Get off the bus at the Blenheim Palace stop and boom – you made it. That’s the paid entry gate so if you’re not bothered about going inside the house, walk 5 minutes to the free Woodstock gate (here’s the location again).
Staying over?
If coming by public transport it’s a bit of a lengthy return day trip from London and other UK cities so you could consider staying over. Woodstock has some lovely B&Bs and English pubs; I like the Woodstock Arms which is good for healthy food as well as traditional pub grub and has rooms from £95 per night.
Woodstock has inflated Cotswold prices because it’s so small and there isn’t loads of competition. Oxford has more options right down to budget backpacker hostels.
Read next: How to spend a weekend in Oxford
Events at Blenheim Palace
If you’re visiting in the winter, check out the Christmas at Blenheim lights trail. They also put on a Chinese New Year event in February you could consider timing your visit around lion dances and Kung Fu demonstrations.
Where to go after Burford?
If you’re travelling in the area, check out my Cotswolds itinerary for cute Cotswold villages, walks and lots of cosy pubs. Top places to see include Burford, Broadway, Lacock and more.
What to bring
- Comfortable footwear
- An extra layer in case it gets cold
- A fold-up raincoat
- Water since the only place to buy it is near the house. I bring a reusable water bottle with me everywhere
- A camera – I use a Sony Digital Compact Bridge Camera which I think is one of the most affordable options based on the zoom and quality of photos
- A GoPro if you’re into making videos – I use the HERO7 Black
- Solo travel pick: a tripod or mini GorillaPod to get yourself in the shot – I use the Manfrotto tripod and Joby GorillaPod
- Related reading: Lonely Planet Oxford & The Cotswolds
Thanks for reading!
Check out my other England posts:
- Backpacking the UK on a budget
- Oxford archives
- Cotswolds blogs
- London blogs
- Wittenham Clumps walk in Oxfordshire
- The best walks in Oxfordshire
- 10 things not to miss in Bath
- Day trip guide to Brighton
- A 2 day Lake District itinerary
- The
perfe ct Margate day trip from London
See you next time for more adventures,
Rose
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Ps. Pin this for later!
Fantastic! Are you able to get to the high lodge this way?
Fantastic info. Just what we were looking for.
Is there parkong at combe lodge. What do we need to look for? Is ir just along the road or something else?
Hey Tom. Yes, it’s just along the road outside. It gets a bit backed up in summer but there’s always somewhere!
You are wonderful, Rose. This saved me some quids and allowed me to explore with confidence. God bless you on your future travels. Keep writing such informative blogs and helping along the way.
Awesome, always happy to save people money & time! Hope you enjoyed Blenheim
Hi Rose
We used your great info to visit and explore Blenheim. Amazing thankyou.The walks were beautiful aswell as the Palace. I did spend in the gift shop,which I couldn’t have done if we had to pay full entry fees. Safe travels
Hello! Thanks for reading 🙂 glad you enjoyed Blenheim and saved some money for gifts!
Hey Rose! Thanks very much for all the info. Can u see the grand cascade with this free route?
Yes, although in the suMmer months when they occasionally check tickets on the approach to the house on Vanbrugh’s Grand Bridge, you ay want to take the bladon gate
Hi Rose, this is so helpful, thank you. Do you know if the side gates get locked overnight, I’m hoping to go for a photoshoot early in the morning before it gets busy. Thanks in advance x
Hi Natasha, I have a feeling it does close overnight but I imagine it opens early. Sorry to not be more specific! Rose
at combe lodge don’t leave any bags in the car because your window will get smashed and they’ll get nicked
Hello. Oh no, sorry to heat this is still happening!