Partner Press Releases

Blenheim Palace among the UK’s greenest attractions

Blenheim Palace has retained its Gold Award from Green Tourism, making them one of the UK’s ‘greenest’ tourist attractions. To achieve gold status, the Oxfordshire UNESCO World Heritage Site was assessed under 15 different categories including energy saving, waste minimisation, health and wellbeing, awareness and community and achieved a total score of 83%. As well…

Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons announces 2023 Summer Garden Party

Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons, A Belmond Hotel, is pleased to announce the return of its famous annual Summer Garden Party. Returning for the 39th year, in celebration of Bastille Day on 14 July, Le Manoir invites guests to this exclusive event, hosted by its two Michelin-starred Chef Patron, Raymond Blanc. A Provençal-style event deeply rooted…

Award-winning Oxfordshire distillery, Sky Wave Gin, Opens Gin & Cocktail Bar at Bicester Heritage

New boutique Sky Wave Gin and Cocktail bar opens 31st March at Bicester Heritage, offering a new destination for drinks. The intimate venue seats 20 people inside its beautifully designed bar and will offer seating outside in warmer months. It’s anticipated the stylish venue will become a much loved destination for after work drinks, date…

Westgate Oxford to host interactive climate art installation this Easter

An interactive climate art project, initially trialled at the UK’s biggest contemporary print fair (pictured above), is coming to Westgate Oxford from 1st – 16th April. The installation, called Swarm, has been commissioned to bring alive the importance of bees in our world and inspire the public to take small positive actions to protect them….

Palace’s Starring Role in Endeavour Exeunt

Blenheim Palace had a starring role in ‘Exeunt’ the last ever episode of the highly popular Inspector Morse prequel Endeavour at the weekend. It was a fitting place to end the ninth series of the show as the UNESCO World Heritage Site has played an integral role in the history of both the original Inspector…

Historic Orangery to Undergo £2m Conservation

Blenheim Palace is embarking on a ground-breaking £2m conservation project – the first of its kind at a Grade 1 Listed World Heritage Site – in an effort to combat the effects of climate change. In 2023 the Oxfordshire UNESCO World Heritage Site will be removing the glass ceiling of its 18th century Orangery and…

Put a spring in your step by bouncing along to our city centre events

With March 20 marking the first official day of Spring, it’s time to circle a date in the diary and plan a nice family day out with an array of fun city centre events to choose from. From the Covered Market’s iconic Easter Egg Hunt to a free family nature day at the Museum of…

Travelling Storyteller to headline Blenheim Palace’s Easter Eggstravaganza

A travelling storyteller is heading to Oxfordshire as part of Blenheim Palace’s Easter Eggstravaganza taking place Friday 7 – Monday 10 April. Mr Alexander’s Travelling Show is a ‘unique outdoor vintage variety show’, which involves magic, illusion, music and a cascade of skills. There will be three different shows running each day for the Easter…

Easter 2023 at Fairytale Farm

Fairytale Farm‘s unique Easter event is back for 2023, and they have loads of new attractions for visitors to see throughout the Easter holidays. Farm owner, Nick Laister, says: “As always we have lots going on over Easter, with some changes for 2023. We have various activities running right through the entire Easter holidays (1st…

Celebrate Mother’s Day with The Alice in Oxford

This Mother’s Day, The Alice – Oxford’s all-day dining restaurant and bar set within The Randolph Hotel by Graduate Hotels® – is celebrating the occasion with an array of foodie offerings. Executive Chef Rhys Grayson, has created a Mothering Sunday Roasts and Afternoon Tea menu, the perfect treat for any mother this year. To mark…

Mollie’s Dishes up an even Greater Diner Menu

Mollie’s Latest Menu adds a range of exciting new dishes to popular American classics Frickles, jalapeno cheese puffs, Spatchcock chicken, crinkle-cut chips, a classic Knickerbocker Glory….Mollie’s (mollies.com) has jazzed up its classic Diner menu with a collection of exciting new dishes.  And there is more to come – Mollie’s plans to dish up more delicious…

Wellbeing Walks Offer Lifeline for Vulnerable People

An innovative social prescribing scheme which utilises Blenheim’s stunning parkland to provide guided wellbeing walks and activities for vulnerable people is proving a great success. To date more than 130 people have benefited from the project, which is a joint partnership between the UNESCO World Heritage Site and Oxfordshire charity Aspire. Aspire provides support to…

Have a “Hoppy” Easter at Tumblestone Hollow

Stonor Park’s annual Easter Trail is returning to Tumblestone Hollow this spring, bringing friends and families together for some outdoor fun throughout the Easter school holidays. Open from 1st to 16th April, the nature themed clues lead visitors through Stonor’s beautiful gardens and parkland and the magical woodland play area of Tumblestone Hollow, near Henley-on-Thames….

Blenheim Palace Flower Show

Celebrating its 10th anniversary year, the Blenheim Palace Flower Show returns to the beautiful grounds of Blenheim Palace from Friday 23rd to Sunday 25th June 2023. Featuring more stands and entertainment than ever before, this year’s show also welcomes the return of the magnificent Grand Floral Pavilion, as well as incredible outdoor floral displays in…

Chatty Bus Returns to Help Reduce Loneliness

Oxford Bus Company has announced Chatty Bus is set to return, with a difference, to help tackle loneliness and social isolation. It has arranged a free trip on its City Sightseeing Oxford open-topped bus tour of the city for the elderly. Chatty Bus volunteers from Oxford Bus Company, with support from Age UK Oxfordshire, will…

Sole-surviving Blenheim Bomber to fly in for Bicester Heritage’s Flywheel event

Exactly 79 years to the day since a Bristol Blenheim last flew out of RAF Bicester in active service, Bicester Heritage can confirm that the sole-surviving airworthy Blenheim will be leading the aviation display at its flagship Flywheel event on the 17th and 18th of June. The aircraft is the last Mk.I Blenheim known to…

Blenheim Palace Podcast launches new Book Club series

‘The Blenheim Palace Book Club’, the second series of the UNESCO World Heritage Site’s successful podcasts goes live on Friday 24 February, providing a look at the books inspired by Britain’s Greatest Palace. The new series includes episodes on the extraordinary life of Gladys Deacon, some more unusual aspects of Sir Winston Churchill’s life and…

Mollie’s Bristol and Oxfordshire evolves into the Cooperate Market offering Affordable space for team meetings, away days and more

Mollie’s (mollies.com), the fast-growing hotel and diner concept, moves into the business space with a range of corporate packages – available at Bristol, Oxfordshire and, later this year, Manchester (the group’s third hotel opens in autumn 2023). Mollie’s for Business aims to appeal to corporate travellers seeking overnight-stay packages, meeting and reception spaces, lunch locations…

Flywheel event makes triumphant return to Bicester Heritage

Bicester Heritage is primed to welcome its flagship Flywheel event back to its storied site for 2023 on the 17th and 18th of June, bringing two jam-packed days of action celebrating all things wings, wheels and motion – a suitably spectacular tribute for the former WW2 RAF bomber base’s ten-year anniversary celebrations. With a total…

Award-winning Photographer Goes Behind the Lens at Blenheim Palace

Award-winning photographer Pete Seaward is giving visitors the chance to go behind the lens as part of a new exhibition at Blenheim Palace. ‘Behind The Lens – a Palace for all Seasons’ is on display in The Stables Café and features images he has captured of the Palace, Estate and especially the abundant wildlife found…

Bus Operators’ Welcome extension of £2 Fare Cap

The Oxford Bus Group has welcomed the Government announcement it has extended its £2 bus fare cap scheme. Launched on New Year’s Day the scheme means single fares across England are no more than £2 irrespective of distance. The three-month initiative was due to expire at the end of March but will now run until…