Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire is inviting visitors to take a peek into the Private Apartments of the Duke and Duchess of Marlborough on a newly launched guided tour.
The behind the scenes experiences of some of the Palace's most luxurious rooms provide an exclusive look at life in the UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The rooms, which are normally off-limits to visitors, offer an insight into family life at the palace with a mix of precious antiques, tapestries and artworks amongst modern living items and family photos.
From priceless art to Churchill’s china set
The tour begins with climbing the main stairs, viewing the dressing room and onwards through the Duke's corridor, taking visitors on a tour of family life, with views into the master bedroom and dining room.
The tour also takes in the sitting room where priceless heirlooms and modern technology sit side by side.
Walking through the ornate corridors, visitors will then be led to the smoking room which contains full size tapestries from the Alexandra the Great series, which were commissioned by the 1st Duke.
The smoking room is also home to the famous Stubbs Tiger painting, which is based on a real tiger which lived at Blenheim Palace from 1763 and was gifted to the 4th Duke by Lord Clive, Governor of Bengal.
Visitors will then be taken around the grand cabinet, a room of historical artefacts and family heirlooms.
Amongst many rare and historical artefacts, visitors will be able to see His Grace's dining room laid with Winston Churchill's own private china set. Churchill, who was born at Blenheim Palace in the West Wing, regularly used the Spode Copeland and Spode Maritime Rose, set which dates from 1891 to 1900.
Group bookings
The new tours will be available on selected dates throughout the year from 10th February.
Group organisers are advised to call 01993-815600 to find out what dates the tours are available.
Find out what else is new for Blenheim Palace this year here.
For more information, visit www.blenheimpalace.com.
