Blenheim Palace and Oxford

Big program for today. Up early and met Mike and Jo at the tube station. Heading for Marylebone to catch a train to Oxford. Bit of a hint when the tubes are still on night service and we have to get an Uber from Oxford Circus to the station because the Bakerloo line hasn’t started yet! Made the train fine and headed out to Oxford. The plan today was to start with Blenheim Palace, the family home of Winston Churchill. After a short bus ride and an extended walk up the front drive arrived just as the rain started.

The Palace and its grounds are very impressive. We started with an

explore of the stables which had a display on Winston and the origional fire engines on the estate and then went for a walk through the grounds which are massive. Spent time at the Temple of Diana Churchill garden and then wandered past the waterfall and down the lake. The formal gardens are superb.

We then toured through the palace itself. Obviously full of history and stories. I didn’t know that Churchill’s name was actually Winston Spencer-Churchill and that Lady Diana was a descendant. Special displays on him as well as beautiful rooms crammed with history.

This is a definite recommendation if you are in the area. Back on the bus and headed into Oxford. First up I conduced a highlights of Oxford tour for those who had not previously been there (RB and Helen) which included the Bridge of Sighs, the Bodleian Library (11 million books), the Radcliffe Camera and concluded with a climb up St Mary’s. Can see my next career coming on.

A key reason for us coming to Oxford was to catch up with Michelle (Janet’s step sister), Ben and their daughter Imogen. Ben is a member of the faculty at Jesus College and we were very privaliged to be given a tour by him through the college. It’s pretty unreal sitting in the teaching fellows common room looking at the betting book which goes back 200 years or visiting the library which is 100’s of years old. A special visit much appreciated.

After a final drink with Michelle and Ben back on the train to London and then a late dinner at home