Blenheim Palace

This dignified market town has historical links to nobility and royalty, as Woodstock Manor was the birthplace of the eldest son of King Edward III and was where Queen Mary I was imprisoned for a time by Elizabeth I. 

The Oxfordshire Museum can fill you in on the town’s fabled history, while the plush centre of Woodstock more than merits a saunter for its regal townhouses, clad with ivy and wisteria.

But the biggest attraction around Woodstock is the UNESCO-listed Blenheim Palace, and what could be the most prestigious country house in Britain.