Treasure Houses Win at Hudson's Heritage Awards 2014 - Blenheim Palace Win the Award for BEST SHOPPING

WINNER:  Blenheim Palace, Oxfordshire
BEST SHOPPING sponsored by Spear’s, the luxury lifestyle media brand

Blenheim Palace Gift Shop

Blenheim Palace won a Commercial Innovation Award here last year, in recognition of a major investment programme which has reinvigorated many of the visitor areas with new buildings, restoration and redevelopment. What impressed the judges is how this programme is continuing with more innovation and continuing attention to detail. 

The team at Blenheim run 3 shops.  The newest is The Children’s Shop, selling pocket money toys, treats and fancy dress that will appeal to kids.  There is a shop selling high quality arts and crafts from the immediate surrounding area, though for 2014 this will be a World War 1 shop specialising in First World War memorabilia to support the major exhibition in the house.  And of course there is an exemplary gift shop which sells a range of items including many carrying the attraction’s own brand. The judges particularly liked a new range of items inspired by the working lives of the household staff, called Below Stairs. And if you need the Valet’s Shoe Polishing Kit or the Housemaid’s Bannister Brush, you can now order it online and have it posted direct.

2014 Hudson's Heritage Award Winners

About Hudson's Awards

The Treasure Houses Of England

The Treasure Houses of England are 10 of the most magnificent palaces, houses and castles in England today. Together they attract in excess of 2.8 million visitors annually.

Members are Beaulieu, Blenheim Palace, Burghley, Castle Howard, Chatsworth, Harewood, Hatfield House, Holkham Hall, Leeds Castle and Woburn Abbey.

One of the most compelling features of the Treasure Houses of England is that they all offer the visitor a living history. Most are still homes to the great families who have owned them for generations. Others keep their heritage alive by re-creating scenes and events that have dominated and shaped England from the 9th century to the present day.

Between them they house some of the most important art collections in the world with famous works from artists such as Van Dyck and Gainsborough. The connoisseur of fine furniture, porcelain and china will find priceless examples of Chippendale, Wedgwood and Meissen.
Each house is an architectural masterpiece surrounded by beautiful parklands and gardens.

The Right Honourable David Cameron MP Opens New Visitor Centre at Blenheim Palace on 6th July 2012

·         The 11^th Duke of Marlborough,
The Right Honourable David Cameron

In the largest development for over 200 years at Blenheim Palace, Friday 6th July 2012 marked the formal opening of a stunning new visitor centre at the World Heritage Site in Oxfordshire. The East Courtyard Visitor Centre was officially opened by The Right Honourable David Cameron, MP for Witney, and Prime Minister.

The new visitor centre is part of a major project that commenced in December 2011 to improve the retail and catering facilities in response to the dramatic increase of visitors to the Palace following the introduction of the ‘free Annual Pass’ ticket offer in 2009. Blenheim Palace now receives an additional 200,000 visitors per year, reaching an annual footfall of over 550,000.

The extensive redevelopment project, led by the Blenheim Estate Construction team, involved the covering in of the former Palace laundry drying yard in the East Courtyard to create a new retail area and visitor reception facilities, and converting the old laundry, which in the recent past has been used as a storage space, into new and expanded toilet facilities.
The East Courtyard Visitor Centre will include a dedicated visitor welcome desk, a new café called The Oxfordshire Pantry, and a stunning new shopping area. The developments took place in line with the appointment of our new catering partner, Searcys, in 2012, bringing new expertise and refreshed offerings to the Oxfordshire Pantry, in addition to a new Champagne bar in the Water Terraces Café, and the new Pleasure Gardens Deli.

The Right Honourable David Cameron said: “There are many reasons to celebrate this year in Great Britain, with the Diamond Jubilee, and the forthcoming London 2012 Olympics. Blenheim Palace is one of the foremost visitor attractions in the UK, and in competitive times it is wonderful to see the palace opening up new spaces for customers to enjoy. Blenheim Palace commemorates victory at great battles and is a vital part of history. I am very glad to celebrate the opening of the new visitor centre which is both a part of history and the future.”

His Grace The 11th Duke of Marlborough comments: “This exciting project is the most significant development since the Palace was originally built. I am delighted that the Prime Minister, David Cameron, who is our local constituency MP, has officially opened this superb new space for the enjoyment of our visitors this year, and for many years to come”.

Blenheim Palace is home to the 11th Duke and Duchess of Marlborough, and is the birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill. The Palace was created a World Heritage Site in 1987, in recognition of its architectural importance.

Set in over 2,000 acres of Capability Brown parkland in the heart of the Oxfordshire Cotswolds, Blenheim Palace is a world-renowned visitor attraction and a superb venue for weddings, banqueting and conferences. Blenheim Palace is “Britain’s Greatest Palace”.
For more information visit www.blenheimpalace.com