Outdoors
Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials
Four days of international eventing in the park at Blenheim Palace in mid-September: dressage, cross country and showjumping at CCI4*-Long level, with a shopping village. Next 16 to 19 September 2027.
The Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials are four days of top-level eventing in the park of Blenheim Palace at Woodstock, in mid-September. The next are from Thursday 16 to Sunday 19 September 2027. In 2026 they ran from 17 to 20 September, after the first horse inspection on the Wednesday afternoon, with gates opening at 8.30am on the Thursday and Friday and 7.30am at the weekend. The trials are a separately ticketed event, booked through the organisers rather than the palace. Children under 12 go free, though everyone needs their own grandstand seat.
What you see
The main competition is a CCI4*-Long, the level below the five-star events such as Badminton, run over the three phases of eventing: dressage on the Thursday and Friday, the cross country on the Saturday, and showjumping on the Sunday. Alongside it run a class for eight- and nine-year-old horses, competitions for retrained racehorses and team showjumping. The cross country is the day most people come for, walking the course to watch horses take the fences and the water. Away from the arena there is a large shopping village, food and bars, family activities and grandstand seats sold separately.
Dogs are welcome on a lead, including in the members' area and the grandstands, and a dog crèche on site, supervised by a vet, takes them for sessions of three or four hours.
Getting there and parking
Blenheim is on the A44 at Woodstock, 8 miles (13km) north-west of Oxford; for satellite navigation use OX20 1UL. General parking is free, with paid upgrades to in-show or lakeside parking, and free Blue Badge parking through Hensington Gate. Stagecoach's S3 runs from Oxford city centre to Woodstock four times an hour, the S7 every half hour from Oxford Parkway and from Witney via Bladon, and the 233 links Hanborough station with the palace. Bring waterproof boots: the park is grass and can be wet in September.
The trials' story
The trials have been held at Blenheim every year since 1990, apart from 2008, when bad weather stopped them, and 2020. Blenheim hosted the European Eventing Championships in 2005, when Zara Phillips won individual gold, and again in 2025. On a quiet day the Blenheim park circuit goes round the park past the Column of Victory; the town is in the guide to Woodstock.
Offers from businesses near this event
Offers are published by the businesses themselves, which pay to be listed here. We have not checked them, and you deal with the business directly.
Where to stay for Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials
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The Bear Hotel
Hotel · Woodstock
A Macdonald hotel in a Grade II* listed old inn on Park Street, Woodstock: 54 rooms with four-posters and suites, a restaurant, afternoon tea and dogs welcome, a short walk from Blenheim.
Dog-friendly · Wedding venues
Verified Nov 2026
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The Star Inn
Pubs · Woodstock
A Grade II inn on the north side of the Market Place in Woodstock, serving pub classics and burgers all day without bookings, with cask ales and four rooms.
Family-friendly
Verified Oct 2026
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The King's Arms
Inn · Woodstock
A Fuller's inn with 15 rooms on the corner of Market Street, Woodstock, in a Grade II listed building, with dogs welcome and breakfast included.
Dog-friendly · Car-free
Verified Oct 2026