The stately home(s) of England...

Monday 4th April 

Off to Blenheim Palace, the home of the Churchill's (i.e. Winston's parents), and a gift from Queen Anne, after the Duke of Marlborough (John Churchill),  had a victory at the Battle of Blenheim, in Bavaria.

Some gift!!! When you approach, you know you are coming on to a grand estate, but the size is amazing. The landscaping was by Capability Brown.

 

As seniors, we got cheaper entry, but it was still GBP15 each. Then, when you walk through the archway, and through to the front of the "house", it is like some huge movie set, and it is all one house and one family lived in it. (I thought I had taken a movie to give an idea of scale, but must have pushed the wrong button!)

The interior is stunning, but you can't take photo's, so we bought the obligatory book. Gardens are lovely, and include an Italian Garden, and a parterre with ponds, and the most beautiful Secret Garden. One of the lawns could house a 36 hole golf course, and it is all soooo green and lush, and beautifully maintained.

We spent some time there and had the required morning coffee, and then back to the hotel.
(By the way, our entire house would have fitted inside the entrance hall!!)

On to Nottingham tomorrow and cousin Ann...