We would like to travel by train from London to Blenheim Palace. Would the Hanborough station be the best for arrival? Also, how many hours should we plan on to see the Palace and the grounds? Thanks so much.

"Would the Hanborough station be the best for arrival? "

No. It's an unpleasant 2-ish mile walk, mostly along quite busy roads, and there's no convenient bus service

The easiest way is to train to Oxford, then get the S3 bus from outside Oxford station (half hourly: about a 30 min journey). There IS a railway station for Blenheim: Coombe, but only one train a day from London stops there - timed for commuters coming home, and therefore no use at all for visitors.

"how many hours should we plan on to see the Palace and the grounds?"
In my view about 2.5 seconds. Then get the next bus back to Oxford, which is worth visiting. Others, I understand, have a different view.

We spent about half a day at Blenheim, maybe a bit longer. The grounds are huge and beautifully laid out. The ground floor of the house is wonderful but I didn't enjoy the upper floor, they'd done some sort of Disneyfied electronic displays and I thought it jarred with the rest of the place.

It was summer when we went and they had a falconry and jousting display on the lawns which was colourful and a bit of fun. If I went back, I'd consider just seeing the grounds, which is cheaper. We drove there so can't help with buses etc.

Kay

Thanks for the information, Flanneruk and Kay.

I made a day trip to Blenheim/Oxford in 2007 (click on my name and read my trip report if you like). If I could add a further suggestion:

If you want to take the train, the cheap same day return fares for Oxford don't allow you to leave London until 09:30. You can arrive in Oxford earlier, and get to Blenheim when the palace opens, by taking the Oxford Tube bus from one of its stops near Victoria Station or Marble Arch in London, at around 07:45. This will get you to the bus station in Oxford around 09:30, and you simply walk over a few bays to catch the appropriate bus to Blenheim (Woodstock). It will also be a little bit cheaper to do it this way, and, if you are so inclined, you can spend some time in Oxford before going back to London.

Not sure if this would be what you are after, but London Walks offer a day trip there by train. We have done lots of guided walks with them in London, all interesting and good value. You don't need to prebook which is good in case of awful weather or if you change your mind.

Look at www.walks.com and click on 'Stonehenge, Oxford, Bath' on the left for details.

Kay

London Walks are really terrific - but the short-time visitor has to make do w/ what is offered while they are in London. The out-of-town tours are only on a very few days a year -- like Blenheim for instance - only 3 times. Two were in May and June and the next/last isn't until the end of October.

Oxford & The Cotswolds; Bath; and Stonehenge & Salisbury are offered about once a week - but the others much less frequently.

So while it would be great if that is when you are in the UK -the chances are pretty slim.

Assuming your visit doesn't coincide w/ London Walks - taking the train to Oxford and a bus or taxi to Woodstock is the easiest/best way to get there from London.

Janisj, you're right, we won't be in London on the dates that London Walks has the Blenheim trip........plus we like to spend more time at a destination than tours generally allow. So I think we'll take the train ourselves to Oxford and the bus to Blenheim. Thanks, everyone, for your help.