From 14th January 2025 Blenheim Palace is inviting visitors to go beyond its grand façade with its all-new Lust & Laudanum Trail that will uncover the secrets, scandals and whispers from the past inside the Palace walls where history’s juiciest tales come to life.
Lust & Laudanum invites visitors to Blenheim Palace to embark on a journey through the Palace’s most tantalising historic secrets, filled with lust, intrigue and forbidden passions. Step into the scandalous world of historic figures and discover affairs, clandestine romances and shocking betrayals that shaped the Estate.
The new experience promises to unveil the whispers of Sarah Churchill’s intimate bond with Queen Anne and the seductive allure of laudanum. Get ready to be captivated by the stories with highlights of the trail including:
Sarah Churchill: 1660 – 1744 – Step into the scandalous world of Queen Anne’s court, where power, passion and politics intertwine!
Henrietta Churchill: 1681 – 1733 – Sarah and John’s eldest daughter, whose life was a whirlwind of passion and scandal.
William Godolphin Marquess of Blandford: 1699 – 1731 – Relive the tumultuous world of William Godolphin, where privilege meets rebellion.
Lady Di, Daughter of the 3rd Duke: 1734 – 1808 – Lady Di’s marriage to the notorious Viscount Bolingbroke ended in a sensational divorce by Act of Parliament. But the drama was just beginning!
George Spencer-Churchill, 5th Duke of Marlborough: 1766 – 1840 – This bibliophile extraordinaire amassed a fortune in rare books, including a £2,260 Boccaccio that would make modern collectors swoon.
Consuello Vanderbilt: 1877 – 1964 – Uncover the world of the 9th Duke of Marlborough and his American bride.
Gladys Deacon: 1881 – 1977 – An American socialite known as the most beautiful woman of her time, she captivated intellectuals like Proust and Rodin with her brilliant mind and fluent French.
Entrance to the Lust & Laudanum trail is included with Blenheim Palace tickets and Annual Passes.
This year, Blenheim Palace is celebrating its 75th anniversary since opening to the public and embarking on its most ambitious restoration project to date, the full repair of large sections of the Palace roof.
Alongside the all-new Lust & Laudanum trail and the planned vital restoration works, Blenheim Palace has announced three unique new visitor experiences this year including an all-new Roof Top View platform, The Life Below Stairs experience, which will give visitors the opportunity to see the original Palace kitchens as well as unseen Family Treasures of the private apartments in extended State Room Tours that will offer a journey through some of the grandest rooms including the Dining Room, Smoking Room, Drawing Rooms, and Grand Cabinet.
Blenheim’s renowned gardens will also undergo a stunning transformation with new features to be explored every season.
For more information on the new trail visit, www.blenheimpalace.com/whats-on/events/lust-and-laudanum-trail To purchase an annual pass and for information on the new experiences on offer this year, visit www.blenheimpalace.com.
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