Blenheim Palace has announced a busy summer programme of exhibitions, concerts, garden activities and family days out, with reduced admission prices available during the school holiday season.
At a glance
| Venue | Blenheim Palace, Woodstock, Oxfordshire, OX20 1PP |
| Summer programme | Events, exhibitions, garden activities, talks, music and family attractions running across June, July, August and September |
| Summer savings | Blenheim Palace says reduced admission prices will apply across ticket types from 25 June to 1 September 2026 |
| Major exhibitions | Life Through a Royal Lens and Dinosaurs Are Forever |
| Major events | Blenheim Palace Flower Show and Blenheim Palace Festival |
| Booking | Tickets and visitor information are available through Blenheim Palace |
Blenheim Palace is preparing for a packed summer season, with visitors promised a mix of royal photography, dinosaur sculpture, music, flowers, history and outdoor activities.
The UNESCO World Heritage Site in Woodstock has set out a programme running through the main summer months, including two major exhibitions, garden workshops, seasonal trails and large-scale events.
Between Thursday 25 June and Tuesday 1 September, Blenheim Palace says visitors will also be able to take advantage of Great British Summer Savings, with reduced admission prices across ticket types.
The wider Government scheme temporarily reduces VAT on eligible attractions and family activities during the summer, although visitors should check Blenheim’s booking page for the live ticket price before travelling.
What is new at Blenheim Palace this summer?
The summer programme has been designed to give visitors more reasons to return across the season, rather than treating Blenheim as a single one-off day out.
For families, the biggest new arrival is likely to be Dinosaurs Are Forever, an outdoor exhibition of large-scale Megalosaurus sculptures by artist Jay Jay Burridge.
For history and photography fans, Life Through a Royal Lens will bring more than 100 royal photographs to the Palace, including formal portraits and more personal images of the Royal Family off duty.
The gardens will also be a major focus, with seasonal planting, watercolour workshops, summer walks and character-led activity in the Formal Gardens during August.
Major exhibitions
| Exhibition | Dates | What visitors can expect | Admission |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life Through a Royal Lens | Sunday 12 July to Sunday 27 September 2026 | More than 100 royal photographs, including iconic images and informal off-duty portraits, displayed inside the Palace. | Included with a pass |
| Dinosaurs Are Forever | Tuesday 11 August to Sunday 1 November 2026 | Five monumental Megalosaurus skeleton sculptures by Jay Jay Burridge, displayed in the Palace Gardens. | Included with a pass or Park & Gardens ticket |
Royal photography comes to the Palace
Life Through a Royal Lens will be displayed at Blenheim Palace from Sunday 12 July to Sunday 27 September.
The exhibition, first launched at Kensington Palace, brings together more than 100 photographs of the Royal Family, from formal state occasions and royal tours to more intimate portraits away from official duties.
Set inside the Palace, it is aimed at visitors interested in photography, heritage and royal history.
Dinosaurs in the gardens
From Tuesday 11 August, Blenheim Palace Gardens will host Dinosaurs Are Forever, a new outdoor exhibition created by artist Jay Jay Burridge and Future Fossils in partnership with Oxford University Museum of Natural History.
The exhibition centres on Megalosaurus, the first dinosaur to be scientifically named. Fossils discovered in the Oxfordshire village of Stonesfield were studied by William Buckland, who named Megalosaurus in 1824 before the word dinosaur existed.
The five sculptures are not traditional museum reconstructions. Blenheim Palace says they are contemporary interpretations built using advanced materials and engineering techniques, with each sculpture designed to reimagine Megalosaurus for the 21st century.
The exhibition will run until Sunday 1 November and is included with a valid pass or Park & Gardens ticket.
Summer in the gardens
Visitors heading outdoors can follow seasonal displays across the gardens and parkland, including wildflower planting from the Rockery to the Chute borders, along Churchill’s Walk, Cherry Avenue, the Rosarium, Crab Apple Avenue, the Temple of Flora and into the Arboretum.
Throughout August, visitors will also be able to meet a Victorian Explorer in the Formal Gardens, adding a character-led element to the summer programme.
The gardens remain one of Blenheim’s main draws, from the Water Terraces and the Secret Garden to the lakeside views shaped by Capability Brown.
Local artist Rod Craig is also leading Formal Gardens Watercolour Workshops between May and September. Blenheim Palace lists the workshops at £35 per person, or £30 for pass holders.
Flower Show and festival dates
| Event | Dates | Admission note |
|---|---|---|
| Blenheim Palace Flower Show | Friday 19 to Sunday 21 June 2026 | Included with a pass or Park & Gardens ticket |
| Armchair Talks | Next listed talk: Tuesday 23 June at 6pm | Included with a valid pass, or £5 on the door for non-pass holders |
| Blenheim Palace Festival | Saturday 27 June to Saturday 4 July 2026 | Separately ticketed event |
| Formal Gardens Watercolour Workshops | Running May to September | £35 per person, or £30 for pass holders |
The Blenheim Palace Flower Show returns from Friday 19 to Sunday 21 June, with floral displays, growers, garden exhibitors and shopping opportunities across the site.
The new Blenheim Palace Festival will follow from Saturday 27 June to Saturday 4 July, bringing major open-air concerts to the Great Court.
The festival line-up includes Pete Tong Ibiza Classics, Alanis Morissette, Teddy Swims, Katy Perry and Michael Bublé. The concerts are separately ticketed and visitors should check event-specific arrangements, including parking and access information, before travelling.
Inside the Palace
Visitors who want to explore Blenheim’s history can spend time inside the Palace, where collections include portraits, furniture, sculpture and the Marlborough Tapestries.
The Long Library, one of Blenheim’s best-known rooms, is lined with thousands of books, while other experiences explore the lives of the dukes and duchesses, Sir Winston Churchill and the people who worked behind the scenes.
The Family Treasures collection is open daily and gives visitors access to an opulent world of family objects and historic rooms. The Life Below Stairs experience explores the stories of servants and staff who kept the Palace running.
From Saturday 12 July, Blenheim Palace says butler and maid actors will add to the Life Below Stairs experience, helping visitors step further into the working life of the historic household.
The Duke’s Tour also runs daily and offers a look at modern life inside an 18th-century Palace, although separate charges apply.
Family activities and return visits
For families, the Walled Garden, Butterfly House, Marlborough Maze and Adventure Play remain part of the wider Blenheim visit, depending on ticket type.
The Palace & Play Pass gives access to Adventure Play, while standard Palace and Park & Gardens tickets cover different areas of the estate. Visitors should check which ticket best matches what they want to see before booking.
Blenheim Palace says every ticket purchased helps support the estate’s conservation work, including urgent roof repairs and long-term care for its buildings, artworks and landscapes.
Planning your visit
| Address | Blenheim Palace, Woodstock, Oxfordshire, OX20 1PP |
| Opening | Blenheim Palace currently lists opening hours as 10am to 5.30pm, although times can vary for events |
| Getting there by bus | Stagecoach S3 and S7 services run from Oxford city centre to Woodstock, with buses stopping outside the main entrance |
| Parking | On-site parking is normally included with admission, but separate event parking rules can apply for some third-party or festival events |
| Summer savings | Reduced admission prices are expected from 25 June to 1 September as part of Great British Summer Savings |
| Payment options | Blenheim Palace lists Klarna split payments for bookings over £100 |
| Booking | Book through the Blenheim Palace website |
What to check before booking
Some summer activities are included with a pass or standard admission, while others require separate tickets.
The Flower Show is included with a pass or Park & Gardens ticket, while the Blenheim Palace Festival is separately ticketed. Life Through a Royal Lens is listed as included with a pass, and Dinosaurs Are Forever is included with a pass or Park & Gardens ticket.
Because event access, parking, dog policies and opening times can vary, visitors should check the official Blenheim Palace website before travelling, especially on concert or major event days.
FAQs
What is happening at Blenheim Palace this summer?
Blenheim Palace’s summer programme includes exhibitions, garden activities, watercolour workshops, the Flower Show, Blenheim Palace Festival, Armchair Talks, Palace experiences and family attractions.
When is Life Through a Royal Lens at Blenheim Palace?
Life Through a Royal Lens runs from Sunday 12 July to Sunday 27 September 2026.
When is Dinosaurs Are Forever?
Dinosaurs Are Forever runs from Tuesday 11 August to Sunday 1 November 2026 in Blenheim Palace Gardens.
Is Blenheim Palace Festival included with normal admission?
No. Blenheim Palace Festival is a separately ticketed event running from Saturday 27 June to Saturday 4 July 2026.
What are the Great British Summer Savings?
The Great British Summer Savings are a temporary summer VAT reduction for eligible attractions and family activities. Blenheim Palace says it will offer reduced admission prices from 25 June to 1 September 2026.
Can visitors use public transport to reach Blenheim Palace?
Yes. Stagecoach S3 and S7 buses run from Oxford city centre to Woodstock, with stops near the Palace entrance.
Where can people book tickets?
Tickets and further visitor information are available through blenheimpalace.com.
