Blenheim Palace launches foreign languages in ‘Archie – your interactive guide’ for international visitors
Groups from all over the world visiting Blenheim Palace can enjoy personally tailored tours, thanks to a new state of the art app, ‘Archie – your interactive guide’ – which is now available in English, Spanish, French, Italian, Dutch, German, Finnish, Mandarin, Japanese.
The free to download app, ‘Archie’ was 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.
The new multimedia platform has been created through Culturati, a groundbreaking Horizon Europe RIA project, for which Britain’s Greatest Palace is the UK pilot site.
‘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.
Some of the fascinating stories contained within the interactive guide include:
- Learn how the Long Library was used as a convalescence hospital during World War I, for soldiers recovering from a variety of ailments and injuries, from gunshot and shrapnel wounds, to shock, pneumonia, and dyspepsia
- Hear how the grounds of Blenheim Palace were used during World War II to test the guns on Spitfire fighter aircraft
- Imagine what it was like as Archie Illingworth shares his own memories of welcoming the House of Dior to Blenheim in 1954, for the first of two fundraising fashion shows organised by the 10th Duchess in aid of the Red Cross
With the launch of the new platform, there are now a reduced number of audio guides available. These must be pre-booked at a charge of £3 per handset.
Whether groups are drawn to Blenheim Palace’s breathtaking architecture, stunning gardens, or world-class exhibitions, the UNESCO World Heritage Site promises an extraordinary experience for all. Today it houses one of the most important and extensive collections in Europe, which includes portraits, furniture, sculptures and tapestries that can be explored throughout the Palace State Rooms.
Step into the Birth Room of Sir Winston Churchill, and then continue the journey throughout the Palace, Park and Formal Gardens on the Walk in Churchill’s Footsteps to find his favourite and most cherished places. Become immersed in nature with some of the top walks including The Formal Gardens, The Lake, The Queen Pool, and The Park Perimeter.
2025 prices for group visits start from £39 for a Palace, Park and Gardens adult ticket and must be booked in advance. Blenheim Palace offers discounts for group bookings of 15+ and free admission for one group leader. There is also free all-day coach parking, a free admission voucher for commercial coach drivers plus a £5 voucher for them to use in the onsite cafés.*
The Blenheim Palace Group Sales team are on hand to help with all group bookings and the Partnerships team are available for pricing agreements. To make visits more enjoyable and efficient, it operates a cashless system in all areas across the site. This includes, but not limited to, ticket desks, The Palace Shop and catering outlets.
For more information on booking, contact the Groups team directly on 01993 815600 or email [email protected].
The Partnerships team are available at [email protected].
For information on Blenheim Palace as you’ve never seen it before and the new visitor experiences for 2025, visit www.blenheimpalace.com/whats-on/events/new-for-2025
* Further information around capacity and pricing for the new experiences will be announced soon.
ENDS
For more information, contact Campaign, A Cab Studio – [email protected]
About Blenheim Palace
Home to the Dukes of Marlborough since 1705, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Blenheim Palace is set in over 2,000 acres of ‘Capability’ Brown landscaped parkland and is the birthplace of one of Britain’s most famous leaders, Sir Winston Churchill.
With over 300 years of history to share and one of the most important and extensive collections in Europe, Blenheim Palace is not only an iconic part of history, but also a living, changing experience with a wealth of sporting and cultural events, themed exhibitions and tours all year around.
A short miniature train ride away from the Palace is the Walled Garden, which boasts interactive areas entirely dedicated for families to explore including Adventure Play and the Rowse Honey Hive, The Marlborough Maze and Butterfly House. With curated events, an exciting programme of annual activities, entertainment and dedicated eateries for families, these areas guarantee a memorable family day out.
Beyond the grounds and an array of Formal Gardens, the total Estate expands into a further 10,000 acres and focuses on care for the land through sustainable means, pursuing net zero, the growth of the local economy, the provision of affordable homes, apprenticeship training and supported community groups.
Blenheim Palace is Britain’s Greatest Palace.
