Blenheim Palace crowned Large Visitor Attraction of the Year
Beautiful South awarded Blenheim Palace Gold in its Large Visitor Attraction of the Year category at the annual Beautiful South Tourism Awards 2024-2025.
The ceremony hosted by Toby Anstis from Heart Radio took place at The Grand Brighton on Tuesday 10th December and recognised organisations that deliver truly memorable visitor experiences and demonstrate excellence across every aspect of the business.
This accolade follows a string of prestigious award wins for Britain’s Greatest Palace as the attraction was recently named one of the UK’s Top 100 employers on the list of Best Large Companies to Work For 2024, achieving one of its major 10-year goals, three years ahead of schedule. The Oxfordshire UNESCO World Heritage Site was also listed amongst the Best Companies to Work For in the South East; and 14th in the rankings of Leisure and Hospitality’s Best Companies to Work 2024.
Blenheim Palace was also crowned Sustainable Tourism Provider of the Year at UKinbound’s Awards for Excellence ceremony in September and more recently achieved Gold Standard Internship Host in recognition of its innovative Archive Internship Programme. Blenheim Palace’s £2 million restoration project of its historic Orangery has also just been shortlisted for a prestigious national conservation award which will be announced in January.
Heather Carter, Managing Director at Blenheim Palace said, “The whole team is beaming with pride with news of this achievement. The award truly means a lot to us, particularly as we were crowned amongst such an impressive list of visitor attractions creating fierce competition.
“We’re gearing up for one of our most exciting years to date in 2025 with upcoming milestone anniversary celebrations, incredible new experiences and our most ambitious restoration initiative to date. To end this year on such a high note is testament to the hard work, dedication and passion of each and every department that makes Britain’s Greatest Palace all that it is today. ”
Blenheim Palace is set to celebrate its 75th anniversary since opening to the public next year whilst embarking on its most ambitious restoration project in its history, the full repair of large sections of the Palace roof.
Alongside the restoration works, the attraction has announced three unique new visitor experiences set to launch next year including an all-new Roof Top View platform, The Life Below Stairs experience, which will give visitors the opportunity to see the original Palace kitchens as well as unseen Family Treasures of the private apartments in extended State Room Tours that will offer a journey through some of the grandest rooms including the Dining Room, Smoking Room, Drawing Rooms, and Grand Cabinet.
Next year, will also see Blenheim’s renowned gardens undergo a stunning transformation with new features to be explored every season.
For more information, visit www.blenheimpalace.com/whats-on/events/new-for-2025
ENDS
Issued on behalf of Blenheim Palace. For more information please contact Cab Campaign blenheim@cabcampaign.co.uk
About Blenheim Palace
Home to the Dukes of Marlborough since 1705, Blenheim Palace was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987. Set in over 2,000 acres of ‘Capability’ Brown landscaped park and gardens, it was designed by Vanbrugh in the Baroque style and is also the birthplace of one of Britain’s most famous leaders, Sir Winston Churchill.
With over 300 years of history to share and one of the most important and extensive collections in Europe, the magnificent stately home has a rich variety of cultural highlights and an extensive programme of special events and exhibitions.
The total Estate expands into a further 10,000 acres outside of the designated UNESCO World Heritage Site and focuses on care for the land through sustainable means, pursuing net zero, the growth of the local economy, the provision of affordable homes, apprenticeship training and supported community groups as part of its ambition to make this part of Oxfordshire a fairer and better place.
