Experience ‘Life Below Stairs’ at Blenheim Palace: all-new visitor experience unveiled

One of the most significant additions to Britain’s Greatest Palace, this experienceoffers visitors a glimpse into the day-to-day workings of a grand country house. Life Below Stairs is a recreation of a Victorian Kitchen and its adjacent quarters, with visitors entering into the Delivery Room, with views into the Courtyard, before being guided through the Ale & Wine Cellar, the Scullery, the Kitchen, the Butler’s Pantry and the Servants Hall with the Housekeeper’s Desk. The new route will be self-guided with Palace Guides stationed at various sections.

Through immersive soundscapes, visitors will be encouraged to imagine that they are a new member of staff from a local village being inducted on their first day of work at Blenheim Palace. This experience shows the perspective of the entire staff preparing for a visit from the Prince and Princess of Wales at the end of November in 1896 – an extravagant affair. Whilst the staff are busy preparing, they are not shy in talking to their newest recruit about what working at Blenheim Palace is truly like. 

The experience is a sensory one, with each room incorporating items to see, touch, smell and read, to learn more about what it was like to work there during this time. Visitors can smell the herbs drying in the Butler’s Pantry, play card games in the Servants Hall and flick through wine lists in the Ale & Wine Cellar. 

Life Below Stairs will feature a host of background sounds and characters to bring the experience to life, including Clara Dolley, the cook, and John Farrence, the Butler. Miss Dolley’s character is found in the kitchen and has to deal with the perfectionist French chef of which she has a feisty, but still respectable, relationship with. In the Ale & Wine Cellar, Mr Farrance can be found, where he’s speaking to the wine distributors about bottles he’s ordered in. He can also be found in the kitchen checking on lunch progress with the French chef.

Designed to showcase Britain’s Greatest Palace like never before, Life Below Stairs is a unique new visitor experience, coinciding with the launch of Blenheim Palace’s most ambitious restoration initiative to date, the historic roof project and an all-new ticketed Roof Top View platform, providing visitors with never seen before breathtaking views over the Estate including the famous Column of Victory.

As well as these experiences, visitors to Blenheim Palace can now enjoy personally tailored tours, thanks to a new state of the art app, ‘Archie – your interactive guide’, named in honour of the Palace’s former Administrator and first Chief Guide, Archie Illingworth, who worked there from 1950 to 1972, and retired after the death of the 10th Duke.

‘Archie – your interactive guide’ allows visitors to choose exactly what they would like to see and hear, and allows them to delve into over 300 years’ worth of stories – many of which have never been told before – with several of the narratives shared directly by staff members, giving authenticity and depth to the cultural heritage experience.

Blenheim Palace first opened its doors to the public 75 years ago to raise funds for essential roof conservation work to preserve the architecture and safeguard the heritage for generations to come. This pivotal £12 million project is centred on restoring a significant section of the roof of Britain’s Greatest Palace, ensuring it remains resilient against the elements that threaten its historical integrity.

To experience Life Below Stairs, visitors must have a valid Blenheim Palace Annual Pass or day tickets.

For information on the new visitor experiences at Blenheim Palace and to book tickets, visit www.blenheimpalace.com/whats-on/events/new-for-2025

To find out more about the roof restoration project, visit www.blenheimpalace.com/restoration