Blenheim Palace Lodge Retreat

Blenheim Palace Lodge Retreat is your chance to stay within the 12,000-acre estate that surrounds Winston Churchill’s birthplace. If you’re planning on visiting Blenheim Palace when you’re in Oxfordshire, these rather nice self-catering lodges may just be the base you’ve been looking for. And if you weren’t planning on visiting Blenheim, they are still a terrific place to stay. In any case, this Baroque palace is a Unesco World Heritage Site and houses gilded state rooms and an impressive collection of art, furniture and tapestries that has to be seen to be believed. While the lodges may not be quite as impressive as their stately neighbour, they are comfortable places to stay in a prime position to explore it. And they’re not far from Oxford either; a mere 20-minute drive.

But what of the accommodation itself? Each lodge is self-contained, single-storey and timber-clad. They sit together in a countryside setting and connect guests to what’s outside the window thanks to sliding doors and a patio. There are one-, two- and three-bedroom options to suit couples, families or small groups – and the two+ bedroom lodges have a pair of bathrooms. The living space is open plan and airy combining kitchen, living and dining space. The layout is different depending on size, but what they all have in common is colour, style and equipment.

The lodges are largely decorated in tastefully neutral colours; whites, greys and light timber with muted greens and blues in the kitchens. There, you’ll find pretty much everything you’re used to at home: a proper oven, a fridge-freezer, a dishwasher and all the pots, pans and utensils you’ll need. These lodges are very well equipped. There’s a Smart TV and Wifi, along with electric car charging at every lodge. You’re welcomed here at reception which doubles as a village shop.

Beyond the gates of Blenheim Palace Lodge Retreat, real village life awaits. Woodstock, technically a market town, is just along the road. It has cafes, pubs, and some lovely independent shops and plenty of honey-coloured stone. This is the edge of the Cotswolds, after all. To the west, there are plenty more pretty villages to explore and to the east, it’s just 12 miles to Oxford. But, of course, the jewel in the crown is practically on your doorstep: Blenheim Palace itself. Its grand entrance is in Woodstock, and to top it all off you’ll get 20% off an annual pass as a lodge guest.