DAY OUT: Blenheim Palace, Oxfordshire
Realm of the Snow Queen
Discover a ‘land of snowflakes’ inside 300-year-old Blenheim Palace before exploring the illuminated gardens, where artisan gifts, delicious food and hot drinks await, says Tanya Jackson
When the winter frost turns Blenheim Palace and its parkland into a sparkling, misty Narnia, there aren’t many visitors who wouldn’t give up their hearts immediately to the Snow Queen. Of course, she owes a huge debt to Capability Brown, as his idealised landscape is utterly bewitching in winter and definitely worth a day trip.
There’s a pretty 6.5-mile walk from the nearby town of Woodstock that takes you over the River Glyme, through an ancient settlement and down into the palace parklands. Or for shorter routes, why not park at the palace and stay within the grounds? There’s a 4.6-mile perimeter walk that takes you across the Great Lake, alongside the parklands and up through the woods before dropping down into the formal gardens. Both walks offer superb views.
PALACE FIT FOR A QUEEN
Warm up inside the palace, taking in the splendour of the lavish state rooms, priceless Baroque furniture and centuries-old oil paintings that take up entire walls.
This Christmas, each room will be heavily decked out, with the theme ‘Kingdom of the Snow Queen’; highlights will include the sparkling Land of Snowflakes and Kingdom of Ice – a crystal-studded winter wonderland inside the 300-year-old palace and UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Children will enjoy the story quest that runs throughout.
GARDEN DELIGHTS
Outdoors, the magic continues as the park and gardens are filled with millions of lights. With glimmering tunnels, colour-lit trees and large-scale illuminations, the effect will be rather like walking through a giant Christmas tree. By now it’s surely time to get your hands around a cup of mulled wine – buy one (or a hot chocolate) from a vendor before you stroll along the trail at your own pace.
Head to the Great Court – featured in many films, including The Young Victoria, Doolittle and James Bond: Spectre – for the market. Wander among the atmospheric wooden chalets, where you can pick up artisan gifts with a difference and chat to the craftspeople and food producers, almost all of whom are local.
About the market: Blenheim Palace Christmas Fair and Market, 18 November 2022 – 2 January 2023. Trail tickets from £25; palace tickets from £32. blenheimpalace.com
Don’t miss our feature on Oxfordshire in winter.
Tanya Jackson is digital editor of countryfile.com.