Spending a week in the grounds of Blenheim Palace, the seat of the Duke of Marlborough, would be spectacular, given the English Baroque style of the only non-royal palace in the country and the stunning gardens surrounding the house. Darwin Espaces is now making that a possibility with the opening of the Blenheim Palace Lodge Retreat.
Right on the edge of the Cotswolds, Blenheim Palace Lodge Retreat contains 36 luxury one, two and three-bedroom lodges, each designed and built to the highest standards.
“We wanted as much natural light as possible, which we have let in using large windows with views over the blooming meadow,” explained Harriet Lazzeri, interior designer at Lazzeri Creative Interiors.
The lodges are oriented to the west to allow guests to enjoy more of the sun in the morning and afternoon — you’ll be visiting the palace or nearby Woodstock village during the day. Watching the sunset over the palace and grounds will be a spectacular way to round off a busy day.
A split roof design in a slate colour, with cedar cladding and Cotswold stone, leaves the lodges looking welcoming and classy and a world away from the traditional views of a holiday park. Each is well equipped, with a full kitchen, electric heating, wifi and even an electric car charging point. Nine of the lodges are pet friendly, with a fenced-in garden to ensure your pets don’t wander off.
Even the landscaping has been subjected to a premium touch, with Darwin Escapes investing £400,000 into ensuring it looks as smart as possible.
“The whole site has been made with a palatial feel,” added Lazzeri. “These lodges are designed to be durable and last. We want to sustain high quality while being able to keep up with high turnaround occupancy.”
The birthplace of Winston Churchill, Blenheim Palace also contains a mausoleum and national monument, as well as being the family home of the 12th Duke of Marlborough, Charles James Spencer-Churchill. The retreat touches on this history, with some nods towards its famous guests.
“There are references to Blenheim Palace and Winston Churchill and hints of the local flora and fauna in all of the interiors across the lodges and reception,” said Lazzeri. “I wanted to create something very British. I love the bowler hat light fixtures and the coffee table made of vintage cigar boxes.”
This level of luxury doesn’t come with an unobtainable price tag, though. Book early enough, and you can get four nights in a one-bedroom lodge for as little as £270
, which is about the same as you would pay at the nearby Mollie’s Motel and Diner. A lodge for a family of four during the October half term is currently available from £659 for a Monday to Friday stay.
Dominic Hare, chief executive officer at Blenheim Palace, added: “I see no reason why this project won’t be a great success and help us reach our goals for the Palace. It’s a huge opportunity, and we see this being a great partnership. We see the extraordinary hospitality that Darwin Escapes provides. We are thrilled to be working with Darwin Escapes and call them a partner.”
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