Spring has arrived at Blenheim Palace, where a new seasonal programme will take place, featuring gardens in bloom, an Easter Eggstravaganza, a food festival, a flower show and a medieval jousting tournament, offering visitors a range of activities and experiences. The gardens are in a continuous state of change, finely curated by Head Gardener Andy Mills, who is drawing on the gardens’ extensive heritage to bring rediscovered treasures to the forefront for visitors.
Garden highlights to enjoy include:
- Take in the displays of over 70,000 daffodils on the South Lawn to create the perfect springtime scene with the backdrop of the Palace, as well as in the grassy areas of the Arboretum, and next to the new Rockery area in the Water Terraces.
- The Secret Garden has been refreshed with shade‑loving hellebores, epimediums, bergenias, rhododendrons and drumstick primulas, alongside a new stump garden and a Fedge, a living, woven willow tunnel structure that can be walked through.
- A new cherry tree avenue leads towards the Rose Garden, which is being prepared for the arrival in 2027 of 200 period rose varieties. This season, visitors can enjoy a sea of 8,000 spring alliums, including ‘Gladiator and Mount Everest’ as the area undergoes its incredible restoration.
- Ornamental crab apple trees now frame the path between the Rose Garden and the Temple of Flora, creating a seasonal corridor of blossom.
- The 18th‑century Walled Garden’s kitchen garden has doubled in size as it works towards full self‑sufficiency by 2027, with new fruit trees planted along the historic walls.
- The Potager Garden will showcase an abundant display of squashes, pumpkins and gourds during late summer. There will also be a striking hot border of fiery-coloured flowering plants.
Other spring activities and events at Blenheim Palace include:
- Easter Eggstravanganza – across the Easter weekend (3 – 6 April), enjoy circus skills workshops, traditional fairground rides, and close‑up encounters with weird and wonderful creatures in Zoolab’s Egg-citing Encounters live animal shows.
- Jousting – The popular Jousting Tournament returns to Blenheim Palace (2- 4 May); a thrilling spectacle where gallant knights do battle in a display of bravery and pageantry.
- Blenheim Palace Food Festival – A gastronomic extravaganza (23 – 25 May) from a line-up of celebrity chefs and experts, food and drink from gourmet delights to street food.
- Blueprints of Power – this major interactive exhibition at Blenheim Palace (now on display) showcases the bold and fascinating life of the designer of the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Sir John Vanbrugh (1664–1726).
- Blenheim Palace Flower Show – from 19 – 21 June, enjoy stunning displays, inspiring horticultural showcases, and wonderful experiences for visitors of all ages – whether you’re an experienced gardener, a lover of nature, or simply searching for a beautiful day out with friends and family.
Adventure Play – children can experience a world of excitement featuring zip lines, twisting tunnels and giant carrots. They can follow the Pip and Posy Rainbow Treasure Hunt, inspired by an episode from Pip and Posy Magic Light Pictures’ popular pre-school series. Don’t forget your wellies and wet weather gear so you can splish and splash along the Winding River for an extra burst of fun.
Admission to the Formal Gardens and Parkland are included with a valid Palace, Park & Gardens Ticket or Palace and Play Pass, which grants access to both Blenheim Palace and Adventure Play for a full year, to enjoy all that Britain’s Greatest Palace has to offer. A Palace and Play Pass is available at £165 for a family of four (two adults and two children) and at £51 per adult and £41 per child for individual day passes.
Please note that the above experiences are available on select dates and times. For opening hours, ticketing and more information on spring days visit: www.blenheimpalace.com/whats-on/spring/. For more things to do during the Easter holidays, go to https://www.blenheimpalace.com/whats-on/easter-holidays/.
