Pip and Posy at Blenheim Palace!

Last week, for the start of half term, we were very kindly invited to hang out at Blenheim Palace and having not been before, but taking a look at their new Pip and Posy themed playground on their website, we couldn’t wait!

The palace is huge and the things to see are so varied and vast, it meant we had to be really decisive over what we wanted to see so I asked a couple of people working in the gates what they thought we should prioritise, aside from the play ground, and we ran with it!

The walk in the grounds that we took was simply stunning. Honestly, it took our breath away and we constantly exclaimed “wow” while pointing things out. Gloriously beautiful and what a way to spend a couple of hours in the sunshine. There’s lots of focal points of interest both the natural and the placements of interesting artefacts and decoration, not to mention the landscaping which is, again, just jaw dropping. I would hand on heart every member of our family appreciated the time we spent in the gardens from our tiny 4 year old, to the fifteen year old and two boys (who couldn’t give a monkeys about gardens other than playing football in them usually) in between. We loved it!

Deciding what to see inside the palace felt even more difficult than choosing which way to walk, not wanting to miss out on anything, but on advice we plumped for the Winston Churchill Rooms and the Below Stairs exhibition, both were close to each other and both fairly short and sweet which was perfect for the attention span of the little ones. My eldest had ensconced herself in the cafe by the time we went to the palace because she needed to revise (the cafe looked lovely – but it was expensive and £4.50 for one coffee meant she had to make it last) but the rest of us enjoyed this part of the day very much. Museums are often stuffy but this was just about on their level, things to see which were more than just objects, more a coming to life of the rooms is how I’d explain it and we’d very much recommend both of these to other families.

But where the children’s minds were really set, was, of course, the brand new Pip and Posy playground which has just opened at Blenheim Palace. Now, I have so many brilliant things to say about the play ground but I’m going to start with the things I found a little annoying. Firstly, I think you have to pay to get into the park separately, or buy a ticket which includes the play as part of it but I can’t for the life of me work out the best way to do this, cheapest option or even if I’m right about that? Buying tickets on line seems as confusing as the fact you have to show your tickets multiple times a day as there’s many exits and entrances. It’s a small thing but I can’t 100% say how much it costs to use the play ground, if this is an add on to your ticket or how much it will cost you.

I can say it’s a LONG walk form the palace but there is a land train you can get on to go from one to the other. This does cost £1 per person each way though and with 6 of us, a £12 return journey didn’t feel inviting. As it stands we’d have only needed one way as where we’d parked was close to the play area and so we wouldn’t have needed the train back but… I’d think about factoring in that potential cost (and you can’t take a buggy on it unless folded down).

However, we walked to the park (it took about 20 minutes) and once you get there (and show your tickets again), it is utterly, utterly tremendous! One of the best play areas I have ever been to and it felt so super safe. There’s lots of places to sit, or perch while the children play and actually, I’d say you could make the park a full day out on its own. We loved it. Pip and Posy themed made it perfect for our Posie but actually, even Jimmy at age 13 had a brilliant time playing here (and in the maze just outside). There’s water play, lots to climb on, or in, zip wires and slides and so much fun to be had. Like I said, this could be the full day out on its own and there’s even another cafe inside, a Pizzaria just next door and lots of places to picnic!

We had such a great time at Blenheim and I’d definitely make a beeline to go back for that park! If you’d like to get more of a feel for it then check out our Instagram reel!