BLENHEIM PALACE
WEBSITE: WWW.BLENHEIMPALACE.COM
LOCATION: WOODSTOCK OX20 1PP, UNITED KINGDOM
NEAREST AIRPORTS: HEATHROW AIRPORT, 1 HOUR DRIVE
Blenheim Palace is one of the largest houses in the UK and the only residence outside royal ownership to be officially designated a palace. Monumental in scale, it was built to rival Versailles, not only in the grandeur of the house itself but also in the vastness of its surrounding estate. Located near Oxford, it is set within two thousand acres of legendary British countryside green. It is also the birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill, a fact you will be reminded of at almost every turn, and the interiors are rich with Baroque drama. The palace has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987.
Blenheim Palace exterior with landscaped parklands designed by Capability Brown.
So why does Blenheim Palace feature on a site devoted to modern and contemporary art destinations? The answer lies in the launch of the Blenheim Art Foundation in 2014, inaugurated with an exhibition by Ai Weiwei. Since then, the palace’s stately rooms have served as ornate gallery spaces for contemporary art, with Capability Brown’s celebrated landscape providing a dramatic outdoor backdrop. While attracting new audiences is often the primary motivation for such initiatives, the driving force here is Lord Edward Spencer-Churchill, brother of the 12th Duke of Marlborough and an avid art collector himself. The exhibitions are staged annually, each running for two to three months, with six editions having taken place at the time of writing.
Maurizio Cattelan exhibition views, 2019. Courtesy of Blenheim Art Foundation.
Given the scale and visual dominance of the architecture, artists must compete fiercely for attention. The exhibitions therefore need to be bold enough to avoid being absorbed into the scenery. The most recent announcement was an exhibition by painter Cecily Brown, delayed due to Covid-19. Previous artists include Maurizio Cattelan, whose gold toilet installation was famously stolen during the exhibition and attracted widespread media attention, as well as Yves Klein, Jenny Holzer, Michelangelo Pistoletto, Lawrence Weiner, and, as mentioned, Ai Weiwei.
Ai Weiwei exhibition views, 2014. Courtesy of Blenheim Art Foundation.
When you visit, allow a full day to do the site justice. Walk the grounds and enjoy the lake, take a ride on the mini train, lose yourself in the Marlborough Maze, explore the state rooms, and join the downstairs tour at a relaxed pace. There are several dining options on site, including the elegant Orangery Restaurant, as well as three café style eateries, one specialising in pizza, which are more family friendly and budget conscious.
Yven Klein exhibition views, 2018. Courtesy of Blenheim Art Foundation.
For those who watched The Favourite starring Olivia Colman, did you find yourself wondering, at the moment Queen Anne gifted Blenheim Palace to her lover Lady Marlborough, why you had never received such a present? Well, at the very least, you can visit and see what you should reasonably expect for your next birthday.
Jenny Holzer exhibition view, 2017. Courtesy of Blenheim Art Foundation.