I visited Blenheim Palace this year with friends. We all left the children at home for a festive girls day out.
I have previously been to the Illuminated Light Trail with Daisy a few years ago so rest assured it’s entirely buggy and child/baby friendly. It’s also worth noting that we saw lots of wheelchair users managing the trail and I did see a few mobility scooters so not sure if you can hire or borrow them.
I’ll break our trip down for you all so keep reading to find out more.
DATES
The Christmas Market is on until 15th December 2019.
Illuminated Light Trail until 1st January 2020.
Alice in The Palace until 5th January 2020.
TRAVEL & PARKING
We travelled from Newport Pagnell and it would usually be around a 1 hour journey however as we were travelling on a Friday afternoon we allowed 1.5 hours which was pretty accurate. Parking per car costs £10 which is prebookable when you purchase your tickets online. We car shared to keep costs down.
From the carpark it’s a short walk to the entrance. They put down a makeshift path however be very careful. We went on a cold day and the path was very slippy, we saw two people fall over. I’d steer clear if I’m honest and walk along the side of the road whichever is safest at the time.
WHATS THERE?
Apart from the Light Trail itself and the Palace there is a cafe, gift shop, toilets, Christmas market, a couple of children’s fair rides and food and drink stalls. The amount of hot chocolate stalls astounded me! I would have been in my element if I didn’t have Gestational Diabetes. They had everything from Baileys hot chocolate to Nutella, dreamy.
Some of the stalls at the Christmas Market included hand painted wildlife Christmas cards by Something a bit different. Candles, CBD oil, Woodwork, Fudge and Cakes, Jewelry, Sausages and Cheeses.
The food stalls I spotted had Loaded Fries, Steak Burgers, Churros, Crepes and Yorkshire Pudding Wraps.
ALICE IN THE PALACE
We booked at 4pm slot which was perfect. They stagger your entrance so you may have to queue for a few minutes while they drip feed you into the Palace.
I thoroughly enjoyed Alice in The Palace however I’m glad I didn’t take Daisy who’s 2.5 years old. Toddlers are unpredictable and I’m not sure she would have enjoyed being in her buggy for the duration OR enjoyed being able to walk and not touch a thing. I would still take your child though but just know you may not be able to take in the full beauty of the Palace.
It took us 45 minutes to walk around with different themed displays along the way. The displays were absolutely beautiful. They had interactive mirrors which we had a giggle at, some making us extra tall and slim and some making me look like a sack of spuds! They also had a real Alice in Wonderland at the end who you could take a free photo with.
We all really loved Alice in The Palace but I wouldn’t take a child who wasn’t interested in Alice in Wonderland if you had to pay for them as a child over 5 costs £16 which I think is pricey if they won’t enjoy it. Children under 5 are free.
ILLUMINATED LIGHT TRAIL
The light trail was absolutely fantastic and we all loved it. The Trail took us around an hour but you could walk slower and stop for photos if you wish. We booked the trail for 5:30 which allowed us time to see the Christmas market between Alice and the lights.
There were a couple of steep hills and a few muddy puddles.
The lights were stunning. Make sure you’re looking ahead of course but also look behind you too. This sounds silly but I looked back at the green strobe lights and a puff of smoke went right through them and it looked so magical. What also made the lights so beautiful was the music that was playing all the way around. It really set the scene and made it all the more festive.
Once you’re through the light trail and you walk through the lights you think it’s over BUT then you get to one of the best bits.
There’s a light show onto the Palace with the best soundtrack. It’s wonderful.
COST
The part you’re all waiting for.
Alice in The Palace
Adults £27.
Children over 5 £16. Under 5s free.
Family of 4 (2 adults, 2 kids), £16.88 each person.
Illuminated Light Trail
Adults £20.
Children over 5 £14.50. Under 5s free.
Family of 4 (2 adults, 2 kids),, £16.50 each person.
Combined Alice & Lights
Adults £42.50
Children over 5 £27.50. Under 5s free.
Family of 4 (2 adults, 2 kids), £30.
Parking per car £10. Parking isn’t always available when you visit.
For more details or to book, click here.
Blenheim Palace members gain access to the Alice in The Palce for free and a discount on entrance to the Light Trail.
IS IT WORTH IT?
It’s an expensive day out. I would definitely recommend you visit but if you have a child over 5 I think it gets very expensive. It really does depend on you and how much you think your child would appreciate the experience. Money is a very personal thing.
I would take Daisy next year and she thoroughly enjoyed it when I took her before. It’s such a wonderful sensory experience for children.
If you want to go, I’d advise booking ASAP as it’s very popular.
If you want to see all the videos and photos from my trip visit my Instagram and view my highlights, click here.