Oxford and Blenheim Palace in one day?
Jun 7th, 2010, 05:11 AM
#1
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Oxford and Blenheim Palace in one day?
I am wondering whether it is feasible to see Blenheim Palace and Oxford in one day.
My son would very much like to see Oxford, so it is the more important of the two. We would like to take a walking tour, which are scheduled at 11, 1 and 3 pm. This tour visits New College, Exeter College, Hertford College and the University Library. Although not on the tour, we want to see Christ Church college as well. I think given time restraints, punting will be out of the question. Am I missing anything in Oxford?
Blenheim Castle made it on "the list" in part due to the fact that entry is covered on the GBHP we have purchased. We like castles and ruins, but furnished "homes" less so. (And we will have seen Versailles earlier in the trip.) I hate to skip it entirely, partly because we would likely never pay full entry price to get in, and partly because I have a feeling I might be undervaluing it's beauty....(?) The palace and gardens only open at 10:30. The park (not sure what this is, woodlands and green space presumably) opens at 9am.
We will be sleeping in the Banbury area, so in theory it makes sense to go to Blenheim first. However, I would hate to arrive in Oxford too late to see what my son really has his heart set on. If it makes more time sense to start earlier in Oxford and then double back to Blenheim, I am okay with that. In any case, we are sleeping in Bexleyheath that evening so I will leave the area only around 7pm, hoping to avoid rush hour traffic around London.
Should I go to Oxford first, and then see if we have time for Blenheim? Or is it completely feasible to see both in one day and start with Blenheim, as it is closer.
Thanks for your help.
My son would very much like to see Oxford, so it is the more important of the two. We would like to take a walking tour, which are scheduled at 11, 1 and 3 pm. This tour visits New College, Exeter College, Hertford College and the University Library. Although not on the tour, we want to see Christ Church college as well. I think given time restraints, punting will be out of the question. Am I missing anything in Oxford?
Blenheim Castle made it on "the list" in part due to the fact that entry is covered on the GBHP we have purchased. We like castles and ruins, but furnished "homes" less so. (And we will have seen Versailles earlier in the trip.) I hate to skip it entirely, partly because we would likely never pay full entry price to get in, and partly because I have a feeling I might be undervaluing it's beauty....(?) The palace and gardens only open at 10:30. The park (not sure what this is, woodlands and green space presumably) opens at 9am.
We will be sleeping in the Banbury area, so in theory it makes sense to go to Blenheim first. However, I would hate to arrive in Oxford too late to see what my son really has his heart set on. If it makes more time sense to start earlier in Oxford and then double back to Blenheim, I am okay with that. In any case, we are sleeping in Bexleyheath that evening so I will leave the area only around 7pm, hoping to avoid rush hour traffic around London.
Should I go to Oxford first, and then see if we have time for Blenheim? Or is it completely feasible to see both in one day and start with Blenheim, as it is closer.
Thanks for your help.
Jun 7th, 2010, 05:44 AM
#2
An easy two-fer.
Go to Blenheim first. Plan on being there before the Palace opens but 9AM isn't necessary, maybe 9:45-10:00. Wander around the grounds/lake take exterior photos. Go inside as soon as they open the doors. You can be totally finished by noon. Then you can head to Oxford right away and catching the 1PM walking tour -- or not rush so much maybe pop over to Bladon to see Churchill's gravesite. And still be in Oxford by 1:00-1:30-ish and have plenty of time to wander around before the 3PM walking tour.
Go to Blenheim first. Plan on being there before the Palace opens but 9AM isn't necessary, maybe 9:45-10:00. Wander around the grounds/lake take exterior photos. Go inside as soon as they open the doors. You can be totally finished by noon. Then you can head to Oxford right away and catching the 1PM walking tour -- or not rush so much maybe pop over to Bladon to see Churchill's gravesite. And still be in Oxford by 1:00-1:30-ish and have plenty of time to wander around before the 3PM walking tour.
Jun 7th, 2010, 05:58 AM
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Thank you janisj. It's very helpful to know I was sweating it out over nothing!
Do you think I am missing out on anything in Oxford? Is Christ Church college worth the almost 18 pounds it costs to get in? My kids have seen one or two Harry Potter movies, and may recognize the setting, but neither one is a big fan.
Do you think I am missing out on anything in Oxford? Is Christ Church college worth the almost 18 pounds it costs to get in? My kids have seen one or two Harry Potter movies, and may recognize the setting, but neither one is a big fan.
Jun 7th, 2010, 06:11 AM
#5
Why £18? A family Ticket is £12 -- or if it is just you and your son it would be £10.50
If you take the 3PM walking tour you wouldn't get to CC before it closes. I'd play it by ear on the day.
If the weather is nice you can squeeze in some punting too. When is your trip? I think most of them run until dusk and in summer dusk is pretty late. So after all the touring/walking around the city - you can take an hour to go on the river.
If you take the 3PM walking tour you wouldn't get to CC before it closes. I'd play it by ear on the day.
If the weather is nice you can squeeze in some punting too. When is your trip? I think most of them run until dusk and in summer dusk is pretty late. So after all the touring/walking around the city - you can take an hour to go on the river.
Jun 7th, 2010, 06:28 AM
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You are correct about the pricing of Christ Church. I had a Frommer's book open and it had the prices quoted pp, but no family rate. I already know that the tour doesn't cover this college, and we will have to go ourselves before 3 pm.
We will be in the UK at the end of June, early July, so lots of daylight (hopefully). I don't want to leave it too late however, as we have to get to Bexleyheath and find the hotel. According to viamichelin, it is 1h42 minutes from Oxford.
We will be in the UK at the end of June, early July, so lots of daylight (hopefully). I don't want to leave it too late however, as we have to get to Bexleyheath and find the hotel. According to viamichelin, it is 1h42 minutes from Oxford.
Jun 7th, 2010, 06:40 AM
#7
I reckon these guys are wrong, Oxford can take a lot of time so you are going to constrain yourself by limiting yourself to one day.
Ashmolean museum, Christchurch meadow, Magdalen (deer park)and the walk along the Cherwell and that is just two colleges
The Parks, the High, Shelley's tomb, The Bodlein tour
Blackwells
The covered market and I bet you want lunch some time
Ashmolean museum, Christchurch meadow, Magdalen (deer park)and the walk along the Cherwell and that is just two colleges
The Parks, the High, Shelley's tomb, The Bodlein tour
Blackwells
The covered market and I bet you want lunch some time
Jun 7th, 2010, 07:05 AM
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1. You're never going to get from central Oxford to Bexleyheath - never mind find a hotel there - in 100 minutes. If there's no real traffic, we can get from Bexleyheath to the Peartree P&R in about that time. For the bus from central Oxford, plus M25 traffic: at least another hour.
2. It's not at all clear how you've factored in the time for travelling between central Oxford, the P&R, Blenheim and the Woodstock bus stop. They all add up
3. If you're no interest in furnished houses, a large part of Blenheim's dubious charms are irrelevant to you anyway. The interior is mediocre, bombastic and of zero historical interest: the park is of fasr more interest because of the role played by its designer, Capability Brown, in the evolution of landscape design in general and English gardens (one of our great contributions to world culture) in particular. The flannerpooch and I walk it frequently: though the landscaping destroyed the countryside it was built on, it's an excellent example of what it is. Arriving by 0900, seeing the house from the outside (which avoids being exposed to the interior horrors) and taking a turn around the park will mean you can be on your way to Oxford by 1000 and in the centre by 1045.
4. For things to see in Oxford, more or less what bilboburger said (though Blackwell's is a more impressive bookshop in the memory of alumni of a certain age than to people familiar with any decent big-city US bookstore, and it looks downright pathetic in its range, and absurdly over-commercialised, to anyone familiar with Powell's of Portland). I doubt the walking tour will show you more than the outside of the Bodleian Library and the Radcliffe Camera. The good stuff is inside, and badly needs a separate tour.
2. It's not at all clear how you've factored in the time for travelling between central Oxford, the P&R, Blenheim and the Woodstock bus stop. They all add up
3. If you're no interest in furnished houses, a large part of Blenheim's dubious charms are irrelevant to you anyway. The interior is mediocre, bombastic and of zero historical interest: the park is of fasr more interest because of the role played by its designer, Capability Brown, in the evolution of landscape design in general and English gardens (one of our great contributions to world culture) in particular. The flannerpooch and I walk it frequently: though the landscaping destroyed the countryside it was built on, it's an excellent example of what it is. Arriving by 0900, seeing the house from the outside (which avoids being exposed to the interior horrors) and taking a turn around the park will mean you can be on your way to Oxford by 1000 and in the centre by 1045.
4. For things to see in Oxford, more or less what bilboburger said (though Blackwell's is a more impressive bookshop in the memory of alumni of a certain age than to people familiar with any decent big-city US bookstore, and it looks downright pathetic in its range, and absurdly over-commercialised, to anyone familiar with Powell's of Portland). I doubt the walking tour will show you more than the outside of the Bodleian Library and the Radcliffe Camera. The good stuff is inside, and badly needs a separate tour.
Jun 7th, 2010, 07:14 AM
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We did both in one day, poutine.
Our favorite part of Blenheim was actually walking by the lake and back around through the gardens before the palace opened.
As to Christ Church, I was really look forward to it. MY DS was a big HP fan at the time and we paid our tickets and waited around for the next tour to the dining hall to open. When they let us in, it took less than a minute to walk through the dining hall while my son said, "Is this it? I'm so disappointed." We did like Christ Church Cathedral, though.
Our best memories of Oxford are the panoramic views from the tower of St. Mary the Virgin, the covered market, having a pint in the Bear Tavern with its tie-covered walls and an hilarious hour of punting on the River Cherwell.
I think the colleges themselves all started to blend together in our minds by the end of the day. I had researched many of them ahead of time, so it had more meaning as we were wandering around; but the rest of my family was soon very bored. I think one would have to spend more time there to do them each justice. If you miss actually going in one or two on a first-time impression tour, I don't think that's any big deal as there are other unique aspects to the city. Moreover, you do get a real sense of the history and architecture just by walking around.
I was sorry to have missed the Botanic Garden and Magdalen Deer Park -- both of which were closed by the time we made it to that side of town.
Our favorite part of Blenheim was actually walking by the lake and back around through the gardens before the palace opened.
As to Christ Church, I was really look forward to it. MY DS was a big HP fan at the time and we paid our tickets and waited around for the next tour to the dining hall to open. When they let us in, it took less than a minute to walk through the dining hall while my son said, "Is this it? I'm so disappointed." We did like Christ Church Cathedral, though.
Our best memories of Oxford are the panoramic views from the tower of St. Mary the Virgin, the covered market, having a pint in the Bear Tavern with its tie-covered walls and an hilarious hour of punting on the River Cherwell.
I think the colleges themselves all started to blend together in our minds by the end of the day. I had researched many of them ahead of time, so it had more meaning as we were wandering around; but the rest of my family was soon very bored. I think one would have to spend more time there to do them each justice. If you miss actually going in one or two on a first-time impression tour, I don't think that's any big deal as there are other unique aspects to the city. Moreover, you do get a real sense of the history and architecture just by walking around.
I was sorry to have missed the Botanic Garden and Magdalen Deer Park -- both of which were closed by the time we made it to that side of town.
Jun 7th, 2010, 07:37 AM
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Thanks for your responses everyone. We will have a car, so will need to park and bus into Oxford, and take that time into account.
Flanner, so you think it will take almost 3 hours to get from central Oxford, to the car, to Bexleyheath?
Sap, thanks for letting me know what your family enjoyed most. Did you punt yourselves, or have a punter punt you?
Flanner, so you think it will take almost 3 hours to get from central Oxford, to the car, to Bexleyheath?
Sap, thanks for letting me know what your family enjoyed most. Did you punt yourselves, or have a punter punt you?
Jun 7th, 2010, 07:41 AM
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We also(with sons 15 and 12) are deciding about a tour of Oxford. I e-mailed the custodian at Christ Church and was informed the cathedral was closed for weddings the last Saturday June; you may want to check to see what exactly is open before you make your decision if you were planning to be there on the week end.
Jun 7th, 2010, 07:49 AM
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My teen daughter punted while my DS and I laughed and gave "advice" and kept trying to push the boat away from the river's edge. She is quite the athlete and dexterous, so she was sure it would be a piece of cake. Instead, she was practically fuming by the time we got back to the dock. She soon calmed down, though and started laughing about it, too. Like I said, it ended up being a highlight -- but not one of those leisurely champagne afternoon activities you see in the movies! (DH wisely stayed behind and took pics.)
Jun 7th, 2010, 07:59 AM
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sap, any other activities your family particularly enjoyed while you were in the UK? Did you write a trip report for this voyage?
I think punting would have to be left to my husband for the most part. He might take up the challange, as he feels he is a mighty canoeist (not the same thing I know).
I think punting would have to be left to my husband for the most part. He might take up the challange, as he feels he is a mighty canoeist (not the same thing I know).
Jun 7th, 2010, 08:09 AM
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"so you think it will take almost 3 hours to get from central Oxford, to the car, to Bexleyheath?"
No. I said "allow an extra hour"
I can't possibly predict how long it'll take you to find the bus stop or wait for the bus, how long the bus will take (yours isn't the only stop), what the traffic's going to be like round the Oxford ring road, on the M25 or across the Dartford Crossing (though I think the Dartford Crossing on the clockwise M25 will be faster than the M4-M3 stretch on the anticlockwise one).
Neither can you: neither can anyone else. That's the whole point of driving here and why American after American is constantly puzzled why journeys turned out to take longer than they expected.
No. I said "allow an extra hour"
I can't possibly predict how long it'll take you to find the bus stop or wait for the bus, how long the bus will take (yours isn't the only stop), what the traffic's going to be like round the Oxford ring road, on the M25 or across the Dartford Crossing (though I think the Dartford Crossing on the clockwise M25 will be faster than the M4-M3 stretch on the anticlockwise one).
Neither can you: neither can anyone else. That's the whole point of driving here and why American after American is constantly puzzled why journeys turned out to take longer than they expected.
Jun 7th, 2010, 08:45 AM
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Sorry, I never posted a trip report for England.
The Cotswolds was hands-down our favorite area, followed closely by Bath and its surrounds. We were disappointed in Stonehenge (the crowds were a huge detraction and we were stressed as it was our first day driving on the other side). We also liked the two out-of-town Shakespeare sites near Stratford-on-Avon: Mary Arden's Farm and Anne Hathaway's house. Stratford was overrun and DH just wanted out of there fast. The kids & I liked Warwick Castle, but DH thought it was too Disneyesque, though we had a great tea there in town. We all liked Windsor more, especially the boat ride on the Thames. I would have liked to spend more time in the Thames Valley towns like Henley and Marlow as we drove through that area rather quickly between Oxford and Windsor.
Relative to London, we liked it all very much and plan to return several more times to see what we missed. Highlights were the National Gallery, the Tower, Somerset House and Hampton Court as a day trip, plus pubs & more pubs.
I had most looked forward to the British Museum, but we were all grumpy with sore feet on that rainy day even before we lost the youngest in the crowd for 1/2 an hour, so it rather spoiled our enjoyment.
I was sorry to have missed the Sir John Sloane museum, Regent's Park and Regent's Canal, while DH wants to go back to spend more time among the antiquarian booksellers in Bloomsbury and Cecil Court.
I'm sure I'm forgetting things, too. My notes have long since been buried somewhere.
The Cotswolds was hands-down our favorite area, followed closely by Bath and its surrounds. We were disappointed in Stonehenge (the crowds were a huge detraction and we were stressed as it was our first day driving on the other side). We also liked the two out-of-town Shakespeare sites near Stratford-on-Avon: Mary Arden's Farm and Anne Hathaway's house. Stratford was overrun and DH just wanted out of there fast. The kids & I liked Warwick Castle, but DH thought it was too Disneyesque, though we had a great tea there in town. We all liked Windsor more, especially the boat ride on the Thames. I would have liked to spend more time in the Thames Valley towns like Henley and Marlow as we drove through that area rather quickly between Oxford and Windsor.
Relative to London, we liked it all very much and plan to return several more times to see what we missed. Highlights were the National Gallery, the Tower, Somerset House and Hampton Court as a day trip, plus pubs & more pubs.
I had most looked forward to the British Museum, but we were all grumpy with sore feet on that rainy day even before we lost the youngest in the crowd for 1/2 an hour, so it rather spoiled our enjoyment.
I was sorry to have missed the Sir John Sloane museum, Regent's Park and Regent's Canal, while DH wants to go back to spend more time among the antiquarian booksellers in Bloomsbury and Cecil Court.
I'm sure I'm forgetting things, too. My notes have long since been buried somewhere.
Jun 7th, 2010, 07:50 PM
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You should be able to do both in one day, though I share Flanneruk's opinion of Blenheim - ostentatious house, lovely grounds. But Mr. Pickle wanted to go there.
If you or your son are Tolkien fans, you can go by Merton College - it's near Christ Church - and maybe have lunch at the Eagle and Child, where the Inklings (Tolkien, C. S. Lewis, Charles Williams, etc.) met to read their works-in-progress to each other.
Lee Ann
If you or your son are Tolkien fans, you can go by Merton College - it's near Christ Church - and maybe have lunch at the Eagle and Child, where the Inklings (Tolkien, C. S. Lewis, Charles Williams, etc.) met to read their works-in-progress to each other.
Lee Ann
Jun 8th, 2010, 07:17 AM
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Poutine: Mrs. Pickle's suggestion about the Eagle and Child (nicknamed the Bird and the Baby) is a very cool idea, except for one small problem. I really wanted to go there,too, but discovered to my dismay that it is one of the few pubs that don't allow kids -- even with their parents -- below a certain age. (I think our son was about 10 then.) Depending upon your son's age, it may not work, but it's worth checking out just in case they've changed their rules, or your son is old enough to sidle in.
Jun 8th, 2010, 08:23 AM
#20
"<i>If you have a car, why would you have to take the bus to Oxford?</i>"
Driving/parking in Oxford is a pain in the butt (<i>not</i> an exaggeration). The city fathers/mothers started the anti car movement back in the 70's and have a LOT of time to perfect things
Yes, there are a few car parks in Oxford - but most locals will use the park and rides. On a Sunday - maybe drive into the city, but otherwise, unless you really know your way around, I wouldn't.
But that does mean you have to factor in more travel time.
Driving/parking in Oxford is a pain in the butt (<i>not</i> an exaggeration). The city fathers/mothers started the anti car movement back in the 70's and have a LOT of time to perfect things
Yes, there are a few car parks in Oxford - but most locals will use the park and rides. On a Sunday - maybe drive into the city, but otherwise, unless you really know your way around, I wouldn't.
But that does mean you have to factor in more travel time.
