Blenheim Palace, Cotswolds

We were in the area, and never been to Blenheim palace.. somewhere Sue had wanted to visit for a while.
It was on our way home so we joined the hordes of others and parked in the car park, before walking up the long drive. to the front gatehouse - in reality on the side of the complex.

The inside courtyard - very much like a parade square.

The queue to get into the state apartments was huge so we looked at the Turner exhibition first then came back as it died down a little.
The state apartments (accompanied by an audio tour guide on tablet phone) was of its time, and large rooms with expensive furniture in them, all was diluted by the crowds pushing and shoving around.
Outside the gardens were more serene... first the formalised gardens leading down to the lakes.

and the large lawns and "secret" garden next to it.

On the opposite side to the large lawned area was the classic view down to the bridge and up to the monument.
We had shied away from the queues in the coffee shops and went for a walk over the bridge and around the lake and back to the car, through the parkland.

The classic view of the bridge and palace

Through the village gate to get back to the car. Then the snacks we had there before the trail home.