Located about 13 km northwest of Oxford , the small, quiet town of Woodstock  grew up as a coach stop around the Royal Hunting Lodge, which later became Blenheim Palace.

After John Churchill, the first Duke of Marlborough, defeated the French at the Battle of Blenheim in 1704, Queen Anne gave him the Manor of Woodstock and had this palatial house built for him. It was also the birthplace of Winston Churchill in 1874, who was descendant of the Dukes of Marlborough, and houses an exhibition with displays on the life, work, paintings and writings of the former British Prime Minister. Today Blenheim is home to the 12^th Duke.

Visitors can wander through 300 years of history in splendid rooms full of tapestries, paintings, china and statues. Capability Brown designed parts of the beautiful landscaped gardens and park,  which include a yew maze, lakes, a rose garden, arboretum and the Grand Bridge designed by Vanbrugh.