Lined with art galleries, boutique shops and historic pubs, Woodstock is a picturesque market town with landscaped parklands and honey-coloured streets. Its crown jewel is Blenheim Palace, an extravagant 18th-century Baroque masterpiece that was the birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill.
Things to do in Woodstock
Home to the 12th Duke and Duchess of Marlborough, Blenheim Palace is a UNESCO World Heritage Site with over 800 hectares of lush parkland and formal gardens. Explore 300 years of history in its interior, where grand staterooms feature giant oil paintings, opulent tapestries and priceless china.
Complete your Blenheim Palace experience with lunch or afternoon tea at The Orangery Restaurant. Overlooking The Duke of Marlborough’s private Italian Garden, it serves a seasonal menu of British food with produce sourced from the Blenheim Estate.
Learn more about local history at The Oxfordshire Museum, where you’ll find historic artefacts ranging from Victorian Oxfordshire to a Roman Gallery. The kids will enjoy exploring the interactive Dinosaur Gallery with its “feed the dinosaurs” activity and dinosaur puppet theatre.
Take a day trip to nearby Oxford, nicknamed the “city of dreaming spires”, which is famous for its prestigious Oxford University. Wander around the narrow cobbled lanes and admire the city’s historic architecture, then hire a punt for a relaxing cruise through the waterways or grab a pint at the Eagle and Child pub where C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien once drank.
Getting around Woodstock
The best way to get around Woodstock’s compact streets is by foot while renting a car will offer the greatest flexibility in traveling further afield. There are frequent buses that connect to Oxford 12 kilometres away and there are also rail services to London and Manchester.