19 January 2018
I went to Blenheim Palace in Woodstock just outside Oxford on the day before Christmas and for the light show on Christmas Eve. Blenheim Palace is so impressive—it is one of England’s largest houses, a World Heritage Site and was built between 1705-1722.
It is the residence of the Duke of Marlborough and was a gift to the first Duke due to his triumphs against the French and Bavarians during the war of the Spanish Succession, culminating in the 1704 Battle of Blenheim. It was designed in the rare English Baroque style and it is the birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill. The gardens are massive and there is hardly enough time to see everything. It has a grand bridge and a lake that has waterfalls and beautiful spots to picnic.
The palace was in the Christmas spirit with Christmas trees and fairy lights everywhere. When I walked into the main entrance hall, there was an orchestra playing Christmas carols and fireplaces to stand next to – it was perfect and it gave me goosebumps being in such a grand place hearing such beautiful music! I self toured and walked around the impressive bedrooms to drawing rooms to the great library with a large organ at the end.
I was impressed by the Churchill exhibition. He was an excellent orator and it was at Blenheim that he proposed to Clementine and he is buried not far from the palace.
The palace features in the following films: Spectre, Transformers, The Young Victoria, and Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. There is a tree that featured in Harry Potter when Snape, the Potions master, has a flashback where he is being bullied by Harry’s father James and Sirius Black, who cast a spell that dangles him upside down from the top of the tree.
After the palace closed for the day, I went on the walk to see the Christmas lights – it was amazing! My favourite part was the small floating boats that changed colour and moved in sync to beautiful music (“On Christmas Day in the Morning”) There were also massive Christmas decorations, tunnels of light, an elf house, snowflake patterns, carpets of moving lights, fire above a waterfall, hanging lights, and a spot where you could buy hot drinks, soup and marshmallows.
I also stopped in Stratford-upon-Avon to take photos of the Christmas lights. It was a very memorable and special experience.
Natasha, MSc International Business and Emerging Markets