Areas of Blenheim Palace that have remained hidden from public view for centuries will be opened for the first time this month as part of an immersive new attraction.
‘Life Below Stairs’, launching on 29th March, will give visitors unprecedented access to the original Victorian working kitchens and service areas of the Oxfordshire stately home, birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill and seat of the Dukes of Marlborough since 1705.
The new experience allows visitors to explore six previously inaccessible areas including the Delivery Room, Ale & Wine Cellar, Scullery, Kitchen, Butler’s Pantry, and Servants Hall, offering a glimpse into the working life of a grand country house during the Victorian era.
Kate Ballenger, Head of Visitor Experience at Blenheim Palace, said: “This is one of the most significant additions to our visitor offering in decades. While the State Rooms tell the story of the Churchill family and their distinguished guests, ‘Life Below Stairs’ reveals the equally fascinating lives of those who kept this enormous household running.”
Royal Visit Preparations
Visitors will be immersed in the atmosphere of November 1896, when staff were frantically preparing for a visit from the Prince and Princess of Wales (later King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra).
Through creative use of soundscapes and sensory elements, guests are invited to imagine themselves as new members of staff from a nearby village on their first day of work at the palace. As they move through the service areas, they’ll hear conversations between existing staff members that reveal the realities of working life in a grand household.
Characters encountered during the experience include Clara Dolley, the palace cook with a spirited relationship with the French chef, and John Farrence, the Butler who can be found discussing wine orders or checking on meal preparations.
Multi-Sensory Experience
Unlike traditional museum displays, ‘Life Below Stairs’ engages all the senses. Visitors can smell herbs drying in the Butler’s Pantry, handle authentic objects, play period card games in the Servants Hall, and examine wine lists and menus from the era.
“We wanted to create something that goes beyond the typical ‘look but don’t touch’ approach,” Ballenger explained. “By engaging all the senses and making the experience interactive, we hope to give visitors a genuine feel for what life was really like for the dozens of staff who worked here.”
The new attraction comes as Blenheim Palace undertakes its most ambitious restoration project to date – a £12 million initiative to restore a significant section of the palace roof.
Visitors can now also access a new Roof Top View platform, offering previously unseen vistas across the 2,000-acre estate landscaped by ‘Capability’ Brown, including the famous Column of Victory.
Digital Innovation
Alongside the new physical experience, Blenheim has launched a state-of-the-art app called ‘Archie – your interactive guide’, named after the palace’s former Administrator and first Chief Guide, Archie Illingworth.
The app allows visitors to customize their experience and access over 300 years of stories, including many that have never been shared before. Several narratives are told directly by current staff members, adding authenticity to the heritage experience.
Heritage expert Dr. Simon Thurley described the development as “an important step in how we present historic houses to the public.”
“For too long, stately homes have focused almost exclusively on the lives of the aristocratic families who owned them,” Thurley said. “By opening up the service areas and telling the stories of the many people who worked ‘below stairs’, Blenheim is helping to present a more complete picture of our social history.”
Conservation Funding
The opening of ‘Life Below Stairs’ continues a tradition that began 75 years ago, when Blenheim Palace first opened to the public specifically to fund essential roof conservation work.
That mission continues today with the current roof restoration project, which aims to ensure the UNESCO World Heritage Site remains protected from the elements for generations to come.
The Duke of Marlborough commented: “Opening more of the palace to visitors not only enhances the experience we offer but also helps generate the funds we need to maintain this extraordinary building. It’s a virtuous circle – by sharing more of our heritage, we help to preserve it.”
‘Life Below Stairs’ is included with standard admission tickets or Annual Passes to Blenheim Palace. Visitors are advised to book in advance through the palace’s official website, particularly during peak periods.
The experience is expected to be particularly popular with fans of period dramas like Downton Abbey and those interested in social history, potentially attracting new audiences to the historic site which already welcomes over 900,000 visitors annually.
