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The Magical Blenheim Palace Christmas Lights 2023

Spectacular, stunning and breathtaking are all words I have used when describing the Blenheim Palace Christmas lights to friends and family.

Maybe it was because we were giddy with excitement at being able to go to a Christmas event after lockdown restrictions eased, but the Blenheim Palace Christmas trail really blew us away.

It really is the jewel in the crown of all of the Blenheim Palace events and one of the best Christmas lights displays in the UK.

Here’s a quick snapshot of our visit to give you an idea of what to expect from Blenheim Palace Christmas 2022.

The video will give you a much better idea of what to expect and really bring the beautiful sound and light show at Blenheim Palace to life.

This post contains affiliate links. If you click on one and book or buy something, we may earn a small commission but this is at no extra cost to you.

Where is Blenheim Palace?

Blenheim Palace is a beautiful, 300 year old World Heritage Site set in the Oxfordshire countryside. It is located just outside of Woodstock, only 8 miles from Oxford and about 60 miles from London.

It is ideally located for a day trip from London with kids.

Address: Blenheim Palace, Woodstock, Oxfordshire, OX20 1UL.

Can’t get to Blenheim Palace right now? Take a virtual tour!

Visiting Blenheim from Hertfordshire? Here are some more ideas of Christmas events in Hertfordshire.

If you can’t visit the Blenheim Palace Christmas lights at all because it is too far, there are lots of similar Christmas light trails all around the country. Just look up ‘Christmas light trails near me’.

Some of the more famous Christmas illuminations are at Kew Gardens, Stourhead, Dunham Massey and Christmas at the Botanics in Edinburgh.

Christmas illuminations at Blenheim Palace.

How to get to Blenheim Palace

By train

The closest train stations to Blenheim Palace are Oxford, Oxford Parkway and Long Hanborough and are served by Great Western Railway and Chiltern Railways.

Trains from London to Blenheim Palace depart from London Paddington and London Marylebone stations to the nearest stations to Blenheim Palace.

They take from around 90 minutes depending on the service. From the stations, there are several bus services running to the palace or you can take a taxi.

If you’re looking for lovely day trips from London by train at Christmas, Blenheim Palace is a great choice.

Blenheim Palace offer 30% discount on Palace, Park & Garden tickets if arriving by train or bus. You can contact [email protected] for your discount code to use when booking your train ticket.

By car

Blenheim Palace is located just off Junction 9 of the M40 (and is signposted from here). Use postcode OX20 1UL in your SatNav.

More information can be found on the ‘Getting here‘ page on the palace website.

Parking at Blenheim Palace

Christmas at Blenheim Palace is a big affair with lots of visitors but don’t worry – there is plenty of parking.

As you drive into the grounds through the main entrance you will see large parking areas on either side of the drive.

Parking costs £10.00 and you can add it to the price of your entry ticket (see below).

Delicate flower lights at Blenheim Palace.

Blenheim Palace Christmas tickets

When you visit Blenheim Palace at Christmas you can choose to book the Blenheim Palace Illuminated Trail or The Kingdom of the Snow Queen – or both. Blenheim Palace Christmas 2022 ticket prices are:

Illuminated Trail ticket prices:

Adult: £25.00 (£35.00 with parking)

Child: £18.00 (Under 2 free)

Family ticket (2 adults & 2 children) with parking: £84.00

The Kingdom of the Snow Queen ticket prices:

Adult: £32.00 (£42.00 with parking)

Child: £18.50 (Under 2 free)

Family ticket (2 adults & 2 children) with parking: £94.00

Combined ticket prices are:

Adult: £57.00 (£67.00 with parking)

Child: £36.50 (Under 2 free)

Family ticket (2 adults & 2 children) with parking: £176.00

You can get your tickets here. Christmas at Blenheim Palace is on from 18th November 2022 to 2nd January 2023.

Just visiting Blenheim Palace? You can buy your entry tickets here (does not include Christmas extras).

The Blenheim Palace Christmas lights

I guess it should actually be called the Blenheim Palace Christmas lights and sound show to be more accurate because so many of the light displays are set to music.

Once through the main entrance, you’ll see Christmas food stalls, fairground rides and then the palace itself. You’ll be treated to Christmas music on a loop lasting around 8 minutes.

During this time, Blenheim Palace is lit up with a beautifully co-ordinated light show.

Blenheim Palace Christmas lights.

The Blenheim Palace illuminated trail doesn’t actually start here. You walk on another 300 metres or so before you reach the start of the trail.

The ground is even and suitable for wheelchairs and pushchairs but it can get quite muddy in places.

The Blenheim Palace light trail will take you between one and two hours to take it all in, especially if you want to stop all the time to take photos.

There are over 1,000,000 lights in the display afterall! We visited with children aged 6 and 8 and it was just about the right distance for them.

Although the Blenheim Palace Christmas lights change each year, I don’t want to give too much away so I’ll only include a few pictures.

Highlights were the tunnel of light and the amazing sound and light show that cascades down the hill towards the waterfall.

And just to let you know, you might catch a glimpse of Father Christmas towards the end of the trail.

Enjoying the Blenheim Palace Christmas light displays.

We thoroughly enjoyed seeing the Blenheim Palace lights. We are huge fans of Christmas lights and we were so impressed that we took a trip to London the following weekend – one of the best UK cities to visit with kids at Christmas.

We went to see the London Christmas lights and the London Christmas markets. They’re our favourite things to do at Christmas in London with kids.

Final thoughts on visiting the Blenheim Palace Christmas lights…

The illuminated light trail is something very special to do at Christmas. We recommend booking in advance because tickets can sell out fast.

We also recommend wrapping up warm because it is all outdoors and wear appropriate footwear.

Souvenir photo of the Blenheim Palace Christmas light show.

What else is there to see Blenheim Palace at Christmas?

In 2022 there will be the The Kingdom of the Snow Queen which will see the rooms throughout the palace transformed into a fairy tale land.

There are also a few vintage fairground rides at the Blenheim Palace Christmas fair and the Christmas market is returning for 2022.

If you are visiting during the day, don’t miss out on the Marlborough Hedge Maze, the second largest hedge maze in the world.

Vintage fairground rides at Blenheim Palace at Christmas.

Food at Blenheim Palace

There are a number of snack stalls to choose from and they are located at various places around the palace grounds. The main places to get food are:

  • just outside the main entrance
  • just inside the main entrance
  • just at the start of the light trail
  • half way round the light trail

There are all sorts of snack foods available from burgers and fries to Make sure to grab a luxury hot chocolate or a mulled wine to warm you up after the walk.

Snack stalls at Blenheim Palace Christmas.

Blenheim Palace accommodation

There is no accommodation at the Palace itself but here are a few options nearby if you are looking for somewhere to stay near Blenheim Palace.

The Macdonald Bear Hotel

The Marlborough Arms

Killingworth Castle

Home Farm Cottage – 2 bedroom holiday cottage

Woodstock Manor House – 7 bedroom holiday home sleeping 18 people

Restaurants near Blenheim Palace

If you don’t feel like eating the snack food at the palace, you can stop at one of the places to eat near Blenheim Palace before the light show.

We recommend the Killingworth Castle in nearby Wootton, one of the best pubs near Blenheim Palace.

Other things to do near Blenheim Palace at Christmas

If you are spending a few days in the area, we can highly recommend a visit to Oxford. It’s one of the best cities in the UK to visit at Christmas.

You could also look into the Polar Express train ride at Cholsey and Wallingford. It offers one of the best Santa train experiences in the UK.

You might also like…

Christmas events in Suffolk

Christmas events in Norfolk

Ultimate Guide to the Blenheim Palace Christmas lights.

2 replies
  1. Nicola Beeton says:
    September 7, 2023 at 8:24 pm

    Hello sir

    I’m deaf and autism. Please may I want
    cares and 2 adults and 1 child 9 year old.

    It’s interested a Christmas lights.

    How much cost tickers sleeping & beauty and trail includes dinner.

    How much is Father Christmas cost?

    We’ve would like booking on Saturday 16th December after 3pm.

    Please contact to me soon.

    Regards of kinds

    Nicola Beeton

    Reply
    • Jacs says:
      September 8, 2023 at 10:03 am

      Hi Nicola – thank you for reaching out. If you have any questions about the event and booking tickets, please contact Customer Service. Admission to the Palace for Sleeping Beauty is £35 per adult and £20 per child. There is no dinner included in the light trail but there are food options there. The light trail is £26.50 for adults and £19.50 for children. There are combined tickets for the Palace and the light trail which makes it a bit cheaper.

      Reply

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Flashpacking Family.

Hi! We’re Ed, Jacs, Ernie and George. We’re passionate about adventurous family travel, and by sharing our detailed itineraries, travel tips and inspiration, we hope to provide you with the confidence to leap into the world of adventurous travel with kids too.



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