Christmas at Blenheim Palace

Christmas at Blenheim Palace runs from Friday 13 November 2026 to Sunday 3 January 2027 at Blenheim Palace in Woodstock, from 10am to 8pm. After dark a light trail of more than a million lights winds through the gardens and grounds, past lit treetops and waterfalls, with Father Christmas along the way.

What is on inside the palace

Inside, the palace tells the story of Cinderella room by room: it starts at a tall Christmas tree in the Great Hall, and each of the State Rooms takes a chapter. In the Great Court, the Great Skate is a covered ice rink, and the Christmas Market has wooden chalets of food and gifts, open until Sunday 20 December 2026; the Orangery serves afternoon tea, booked separately.

Tickets and booking

Capacity is limited and entry is timed, so every ticket is for a chosen date and time. A combined ticket covers the trail and Cinderella in the palace, and a Cinderella ticket can be turned into an annual pass at no extra cost. Blenheim's usual discounts do not apply to Christmas tickets, and prices are shown when you book.

Parking, access and dogs

Parking is charged and must be booked in advance by every visitor. Blue Badge parking is at Hensington, and mobility scooters cannot be hired for the trail. Only assistance dogs may go inside the palace. Dogs are allowed on the trail only on the palace’s dog-friendly nights: in 2026, 18, 24 and 25 November, 1, 2, 8, 9, 15, 16 and 29 December. They need no extra ticket but must be on a short lead (no extendable leads), with no more than two dogs a person; on other nights only assistance dogs go on the trail.

Where to stay in Woodstock

The palace is on the edge of Woodstock, a short walk from the Bear Hotel, the Feathers and the King's Arms; there are more in where to stay in Woodstock. By day, the walk round Blenheim Park from Bladon passes the Column of Victory, and the Woodstock town walk takes in the old town. For the history of the house, see country houses and castles of the Cotswolds.