Blenheim Palace gears up to reveal its ‘Glow Up’ following £12m two-year restoration

For the past two years, Blenheim Palace, one of Britain’s most iconic landmarks, has been undergoing its ambitious restoration project to date, the major repair of the Palace roof. This monumental £12 million undertaking aimed to preserve Britain’s Greatest Palace’s historic architecture and safeguard its heritage for future generations. 

With the project coming to an end, Blenheim Palace is gearing up to reveal its ultimate ‘Glow Up’, as the scaffolding is taken down and the UNESCO World Heritage Site is restored to its former glory following the extensive renovation.

The prominent statue of Britannia can be seen once again standing atop the Palace on the Oxfordshire skyline, and the Great Court’s columns are exposed, allowing visitors to see the recognisable view of the 300-year-old Palace.

The Saloon will slowly be revealed in mid-August, with history-lovers having the opportunity to observe the final conservation works taking place on the lower wall paintings in September. At this time, a tunnel will be installed in the Great Hall to enable the covering and scaffold to be safely removed over the following weeks.

The final part of the restoration works happens out on the South Lawn, where the Louis XIV statue will sit entirely clear of wrap and scaffold, with the Blenheim Palace roofline rising gold behind it. 

The restoration work over the past two years has brought together incredible craftsmanship and intricate workmanship, including re-leading the roof, retaining and replacing slates across the Heights, Galleries, and Saloon, increasing the capacity of the gutters by over 300%.

Last restored in 2008, a stark transformation includes an element on the North Portico roof, a collection of eyes commissioned by Gladys Deacon, the second wife of the 9th Duke of Marlborough, and painted by Colin Gill (1892-1940). Gladys had blue eyes and, from her note written underneath a photograph of the artwork referring to ‘our eyes’, it was concluded that the brown ones are the 9th Duke of Marlborough’s.

Skilled conservators removed years of dirt and cobwebs which dulled the detail of the painting. Conservators carefully surface-cleaned the area by hand, cleaned the gilding, secured any flaking paint, and softened the discolouration, restoring the clarity and character these details deserve.

Heather Carter, Managing Director of Blenheim Palace, said: “The success of this project is the result of an exceptional collaborative effort across a whole team of specialists,  from our conservation engineers, architects and consultants to our project managers, heritage, operations and maintenance teams, all working together behind the scenes to protect and restore this extraordinary building for future generations. It’s been a massive effort. 

“The project is not just about preserving our past; it’s about creating new ways for visitors to engage with our history now and well into the future. We’re looking forward to welcoming visitors to see Blenheim Palace’s ‘Glow Up’ and celebrate this monumental restoration. We are so grateful for the continued support of our visitors, whose contributions are vital to the success of the initiative.”

Blenheim Palace first opened its doors to the public 75 years ago to raise funds for essential roof conservation work. This pivotal £12m project ensured Britain’s Greatest Palace remains resilient against the elements that threaten its historical integrity. Every penny of visitor funds contributes directly to this vital conservation effort.

Discover more with Summer VAT Savings, reducing admission prices to enjoy all that Britain’s Greatest Palace has to offer. Blenheim Palace also offers Klarna split payments for its ticketing over the value of £80 to help visitors plan ahead.

For more information about the Glow Up and to book tickets, visit here.