Blenheim Palace has announced a summer programme of family activities, with a new mini farm, Pip and Posy trail, horse displays, dinosaur sculptures and savings on admission during the school holidays.
At a glance
| Venue | Blenheim Palace, Woodstock, Oxfordshire, OX20 1PP |
| Summer savings | Reduced admission prices for visits between 25 June and 1 September 2026 |
| New family highlights | Marlborough Mini Farm, Pip and Posy’s Treehouse Trail, Dinosaurs Are Forever and Horses at Blenheim Palace |
| Best for | Families, animal lovers, dinosaur fans, young children and visitors looking for a full summer day out |
| Booking | Tickets and visitor information are available through Blenheim Palace |
Blenheim Palace is adding several new family experiences to its summer programme, giving visitors more to explore across the Palace, gardens, Walled Garden and Adventure Play.
The UNESCO World Heritage Site in Woodstock says families visiting between 25 June and 1 September can take advantage of Great British Summer Savings, with reduced admission prices across entry ticket types.
The summer line-up includes the first Marlborough Mini Farm, a new Pip and Posy trail in Adventure Play, weekend horse demonstrations, the Dinosaurs Are Forever sculpture exhibition and the return of family favourites including the Marlborough Maze, Butterfly House and Rowse Honey Hive.
Some activities are included with a Palace, Park and Gardens ticket or pass, while Adventure Play requires a Palace and Play ticket or pass. Visitors should check the correct ticket type before booking.
What is new for families this summer?
| Experience | Dates | What families can expect | Admission note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marlborough Mini Farm | 21 July to 1 September | Farm animals in the orchard beyond the Walled Garden, including rare native breeds. | Free with a pass or Park and Gardens day ticket |
| Pip and Posy’s Treehouse Trail | Open daily | A family trail in Adventure Play helping Pip and Posy find Piggy and discover the new treehouse. | Included with a Palace and Play Pass |
| Horses at Blenheim Palace | Weekends from 25 July to 30 August | Horse displays and opportunities to learn about the role of horses at Blenheim. | Free with a pass or day ticket |
| Dinosaurs Are Forever | 11 August to 1 November | Five full-scale Megalosaurus sculptures in the Palace Gardens. | Included with a pass or Park and Gardens ticket |
| Walled Garden attractions | Open through the summer | Marlborough Maze, Butterfly House, Rowse Honey Hive, miniature train, pizzeria and gardens. | Included with relevant admission, with miniature train charged separately |
Marlborough Mini Farm brings rare breeds to the Walled Garden
Animal lovers will be able to meet a new collection of farm animals at Marlborough Mini Farm from Tuesday 21 July to Tuesday 1 September.
The mini farm will be based in the orchard beyond the Walled Garden and will include Berkshire pigs, Buff Orpington chickens, Cotswold sheep and English goats.
Blenheim Palace says the breeds are recognised by the Rare Breeds Survival Trust and are native livestock breeds being monitored for conservation.
The experience is designed to give families a chance to see the animals up close and learn more about what makes each breed distinctive.
Horses return to the Stables and West Courtyard
Horses will also form part of the summer programme, with displays and demonstrations taking place at weekends from Saturday 25 July to Sunday 30 August, according to Blenheim’s current event listing.
Visitors will be able to meet horses in the stables and see how they are prepared for work.
The programme is expected to include a First World War cavalry display exploring the role of the cavalryman and his horse, as well as family storytelling through Cinderella in the Stables, bringing the fairytale to life with horses, carriages and stable scenes.
The horse activities add to the existing Stables Exhibition, which explores the importance of horses in Blenheim Palace’s history.
Pip and Posy trail opens in Adventure Play
Younger visitors can follow a new Pip and Posy trail in Adventure Play, inspired by Pip and Posy’s Treehouse Mystery.
Children will be asked to help find Pip’s missing toy, Piggy, by completing playful actions and challenges as they move through Adventure Play.
The trail ends at a new treehouse, where families can enjoy imaginative play, storytelling sessions and the discovery of Piggy, along with a new friend she has met along the way.
Adventure Play already includes tunnels, bridges, cargo nets, slides, zip lines, giant carrots and water play along the Winding River. Blenheim Palace says it is open every day during the summer holidays, with all tickets needing to be purchased in advance.
Dinosaurs Are Forever arrives in August
From Tuesday 11 August, families will be able to explore Dinosaurs Are Forever, a new outdoor exhibition in the Palace Gardens.
The exhibition will feature five full-scale Megalosaurus skeleton sculptures created by British artist Jay Jay Burridge through Future Fossils, in partnership with Oxford University Museum of Natural History and Blenheim Palace.
The show has a strong Oxfordshire connection. Megalosaurus was the first dinosaur to be scientifically named, after fossil remains found at Stonesfield were studied by William Buckland in the early 19th century.
Families will also be able to meet a costumed Victorian explorer guide as part of the exhibition, adding a character-led element for younger visitors.
What families can do in the Walled Garden
The Walled Garden remains one of Blenheim Palace’s main family areas.
Visitors can take Winston the miniature train between the Palace and the Walled Garden, then explore the Marlborough Maze, Butterfly House, Rowse Honey Hive and Kitchen Garden.
The Marlborough Maze is made from two miles of yew trees and is inspired by the history of the Palace. The Butterfly House gives families the chance to see butterflies at close range, while the Rowse Honey Hive is an interactive space exploring the role of bees.
The Walled Garden also includes food options, with the pizzeria serving woodfired pizzas, lasagne, salads and dough balls.
Summer savings on admission
Blenheim Palace says visitors booking for dates between 25 June and 1 September can use its Summer VAT Saving, with reduced admission prices across entry ticket types.
The saving forms part of the Government’s Great British Summer Savings scheme, which temporarily reduces VAT to 5 per cent on eligible family attractions and children’s meals during the summer holiday period.
Blenheim Palace says it is passing 100 per cent of the tax saving on to visitors.
| Ticket type | Regular adult price | Summer saving adult price | Regular family price | Summer saving family price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Park and Gardens Day Ticket | £31 | £27.13 | £85 | £74.38 |
| Palace, Park and Gardens Pass | £41 | £35.88 | £110 | £96.25 |
| Palace, Park and Gardens plus Adventure Play | £51 | £44.63 | £165 | £144.38 |
Ticket prices can change, so families should check the live booking page before travelling.
How to choose the right ticket
Families planning a visit should think about what they want to include before booking.
A Park and Gardens ticket gives access to the wider grounds, gardens, Walled Garden attractions and included seasonal events such as Marlborough Mini Farm and Dinosaurs Are Forever.
A Palace, Park and Gardens Pass includes the Palace as well as the gardens and parkland. Blenheim Palace treats these tickets as charitable donations and converts them into annual passes at no extra cost unless visitors choose otherwise.
Families who want to use Adventure Play should choose the Palace and Play option or a single-entry Adventure Play ticket where available.
Which ticket do families need?
| For Marlborough Mini Farm | Pass or Park and Gardens day ticket |
| For Dinosaurs Are Forever | Pass or Park and Gardens ticket |
| For Horses at Blenheim Palace | Pass or day ticket |
| For Pip and Posy in Adventure Play | Palace and Play Pass or Adventure Play access |
| For the Palace State Rooms | Palace, Park and Gardens admission |
| For Winston miniature train | Admission required, with the train charged separately at £1 each way |
Why families may want to return more than once
The programme is spread across the summer rather than concentrated into one weekend.
That means a family visiting in late July could meet the rare breeds at Marlborough Mini Farm and see the horse programme, while a family visiting in mid-August could add the dinosaur sculptures to the Walled Garden and Adventure Play.
The annual-pass model also means many visitors can return later in the year for other included events and exhibitions, depending on the ticket they buy.
Blenheim Palace says admission income and donations are reinvested into caring for the Palace, its collections and its landscape.
Planning your visit
| Address | Blenheim Palace, Woodstock, Oxfordshire, OX20 1PP |
| General opening | Blenheim Palace currently lists opening hours as 10am to 5.30pm, although times can vary for specific attractions and events |
| Adventure Play | Open every day during the summer holidays, with tickets needing to be purchased in advance |
| Getting there by bus | Stagecoach S3 and S7 services run from Oxford city centre to Woodstock, with stops near the Palace entrance |
| Parking | On-site parking is normally included with admission, but event-specific parking rules can apply |
| Booking | Book through Blenheim Palace |
FAQs
What new family experiences are at Blenheim Palace this summer?
New and seasonal family highlights include Marlborough Mini Farm, Pip and Posy’s Treehouse Trail in Adventure Play, Horses at Blenheim Palace and the Dinosaurs Are Forever exhibition.
When is Marlborough Mini Farm open?
Marlborough Mini Farm runs from Tuesday 21 July to Tuesday 1 September 2026.
Where is Marlborough Mini Farm?
The mini farm will be in the orchard beyond the Walled Garden.
When is Dinosaurs Are Forever?
Dinosaurs Are Forever runs from Tuesday 11 August to Sunday 1 November 2026 in the Palace Gardens.
Is Pip and Posy included with normal admission?
Pip and Posy’s Treehouse Trail is in Adventure Play and is included with a Palace and Play Pass. Families should check the correct Adventure Play ticket before booking.
When can visitors see horses at Blenheim Palace?
Blenheim’s current event listing says Horses at Blenheim Palace runs at weekends from Saturday 25 July to Sunday 30 August 2026.
What are the Great British Summer Savings?
The Great British Summer Savings are a temporary Government VAT reduction for eligible family attractions and children’s meals between 25 June and 1 September 2026. Blenheim Palace says it is passing the saving on through reduced admission prices.
Where can families book tickets?
Tickets and visitor information are available through blenheimpalace.com.
