twk,

The amount of time you should allow for Blenheim depends on your interests.

The Palace opens at 10:30 and the formal gardens at 10:00. There are guided tours available for the Palace and they last about 40 minutes. I would think that a 40 min. tour plus an additional 40/45 minutes on one's own would be sufficient for most people.

The time it will take to tour the gardens will depend to some extent on the weather. On a glorious day an hour might be enough time, but if it's pouring down rain, 20 minutes may seem too long.


You should be back in Oxford about 1:00 which would give you plenty of time to see most of Oxford.



Blenheim is only 20 mintes by car, but will take a bit longer using public transportation. I would think 30 to 40 minutes at the most.

You can catch the 320 bus from Gloucester Green at 5 minutes past the hour or 25 minutes to the hour.

Sorry I hit the wrong key. That should be the #20 bus.

historytravele: Thanks for the info. I had surmised that it was possible from some other posts, but am glad to see specific confirmation.

Do read Joe Tro.

Many colleges, especially in term time, don't allow visitors after 1600. So arriving in Oxford at 1300 limits you.

The bus saves a bit of money. It inevitably takes longer than the train, especially during any rush hour, and I wouldn't bet that the roadworks at the city's eastern approaches - which have added up to an hour to road journey times - will be satisfactorily completed by next June.

If you want to see Oxford and Blenheim in a day, the bus is a false economy.

This is true, but alot of colleges do not admit the public until 14.00 either. Merton certainly doesn't midweek plus Jesus, Balliol, St Johns, Magdalen, Lincoln and Exeter also spring to mind as open only in the afternoons.
Nevertheless there are a good number of colleges open all day, mainly the ones charging an entrance fee.