A Trip to Blenheim Palace

Just outside Oxford lies Blenheim Palace - or better known as the birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill, born here in 1874. We luckily chose the one sunny day on my last trip to take a visit to this beautiful palace. The gardens are perfect for an idle stroll, spotting man made waterfalls and wandering around the edge of the lake. Arriving by bus we experienced the walk up to the sprawling palace and gardens, once you see the glint of the gold detailed gates your breath is taken away. 

The Palace has some unusual details such as the six eyes on the ceiling of the entrance!

There was an exhibition on Winston Churchill himself at the beginning, featuring numerous letters, photographs and memorabilia, my favourite being the letter below from Harrow detailing a fall from a tricycle. 

 The bed were Churchill was born!

 That little flag on the mantlepiece is a sign that the owners have paid their 'rent' to the Queen!

 Blenheim is a must visit, combining beautiful gardens, architecture, history, art and fun. Men played cricket on the lawn, there was an organ recital, we got to see coronation gowns and there was an especially interesting exhibition on the Great House at War which featured interesting details on the role of women during the war. Blenheim's long and illustrious history is covered in numerous exhibitions throughout the Palace and stables. The beautiful portraits and photographs of times gone by show how decadent and beautiful the lives of the inhabitants were. 

We spent the whole day at the palace, and still didn't manage to see everything. We were extra lucky to receive an annual pass for the same price as a single visit, which means that I will definitely be returning for a sojourn during the summer! The bus to Woodstock (the S3) stops right outside the Ashmolean and only takes about twenty minutes to get to Blenheim, with the driver announcing the stop! 

Exploring Oxford Colleges: New

"Manners Makyth Man"

New College, Oxford

Harry Potter fans rejoice! New College was used as a location in The Goblet of Fire. When we decided to visit I had completely forgotten that New was another 'Potter College', but the minute you see the Cloisters you'll recognise it immediately from the film. Under the tree in the centre of the Cloisters is where a certain character gets turned into a ferret! New has a lot to offer for visitors, and is very distinct from other colleges. It has a 'lived-in' feel about it, when you walk through the Cloisters it feels centuries old, unlike a lot of the other colleges.There is something very atmospheric about New, like behind the stairwells, the creaky corridors and deserted Cloisters are hundreds of years of secrets and stories, all very impressive! New was founded in 1379 by William of Wykeham, and was referred to as New due to the fact that Oriel was also a college dedicated to the Virgin Mary. New College has one of the most prestigious and impressive choirs in the world. The chapel is beautifully ornate, with a wall of statues of saint's, beautiful stained glass windows (some by Joshua Reynolds) , and a huge organ. Another great feature of New was the garden. The garden quad is rumoured to be based on Versailles and there are parts of the old city walls surrounding it. The first thing you will notice is a huge cluster of trees in a circular shape right in front of you. This is the mysterious 'Mound'. The second thing you will notice is the sign saying the mound is off limits! A stone stairs leads up into the Mound, looking like an ascent to heaven with the surrounding trees blurring half the stairs. One day I plan on seeing what is on top of that Mound! The gardens are very well kept and we visited at the perfect time, with splashes of vibrant greens, pinks and reds blooming, pink blossoms glittering on the paths, and luscious greenery at every corner. 

http://www.new.ox.ac.uk/