Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Tilbury Lodge This unassuming red-brick home on the outskirts holds
one of Oxford's secret gems, a B&B with fresh, modern decor, new bathrooms, and
spacious rooms. It's the extras that make this special: Bathrobes, foot-massage
machines, and a bevy of sweet treats baked by the affable owners, Stephan and
Melanie. Expect homemade fudge, cookies, tea and coffee, and warm scones on
arrival. The breakfasts are hard to beat, a wonderful spread of fresh fruits, yogurts,
homemade breads, muffins, and tasty cooked plates. The city center is just 10 min-
utes by bus (the bus stop is on the corner).
5 Tilbury Lane, Oxford OX2 9NB. www.tilburylodge.com. &   01865/862138. 9 units. £85-£100 double.
Rates include English breakfast. MC, V. Bus: 4C, S1. Free parking. Amenities: Conservatory lounge.
In room: TV, CD player, hair dryer, Wi-Fi (free). From Oxford, take the A420 then Westway to Botley,
turn right onto Eynsham Rd. (B4044) and look for Tilbury Lane (first right). Closed Dec-Jan.
Side Trips from Oxford
WOODSTOCK
The small country town of Woodstock, 8 miles northwest of Oxford, was the birth-
place in 1330 of the Black Prince, ill-fated son of King Edward III. Today it's a pictur-
esque collection of 18th-century stone houses and the gateway to Blenheim Palace
(see below), home of the dukes of Marlborough since the early 1700s. There's little of
interest in the town itself, though the Oxfordshire Museum, Fletcher's House, Park
Street ( &   01993/811456; www.tomocc.org.uk), is worth a quick look; it chronicles
the history, culture, and crafts of Oxfordshire and has an attractive garden with a full-
size replica of a megalosaurus—kids will love this. The museum is open Tuesday to
Saturday 10am to 5pm and Sunday 2 to 5pm; admission is free.
Bus S3, operated by Stagecoach ( &   01865/772250; www.stagecoachbus.com),
leaves Oxford about every 10 to 15 minutes during the day. The trip to Woodstock
takes a little more than 30 minutes. If you're driving, take the A44 from Oxford. The
Tourist Information Centre, located inside the Oxfordshire Museum ( &   01993/
813276; www.oxfordshirecotswolds.org), is open Monday to Saturday 10am to 5pm
year-round.
Blenheim Palace HISTORIC SITE The extravagantly baroque Blenheim
Palace is England's answer to Versailles. Blenheim is still the home of the Dukes of
Marlborough, descendants of the first duke John Churchill, an on-again, off-again
favorite of Queen Anne, and victor of the Battle of Blenheim (1704), a crushing defeat
of Britain's archenemy Louis XIV. The lavish palace of Blenheim was built for him as a
gift from the queen in the 1720s. The family, virtually bankrupt, hung on to the palace
thanks to the brutally commercial marriage of Charles, 9th Duke of Marlborough
(1871-1934) to Consuelo Vanderbilt, heiress to the wealthy American railroad dynasty.
Blenheim was also the birthplace of the 9th duke's first cousin, Sir Winston Churchill.
The room in which he was born in 1874 is included in the palace tour, as is the
Churchill exhibition: four rooms of letters, books, photographs, and other relics.
The palace was designed by Sir John Vanbrugh, who was also the architect of
Castle Howard; the landscaping was created by Capability Brown. The interior is
loaded with riches: antiques, porcelain, oil paintings, tapestries, and chinoiserie. The
present owner is the 11th Duke of Marlborough (b. 1926), whom you may see wan-
dering around. The duke had a small cameo in Kenneth Branagh's movie Hamlet
(1996), which was filmed at Blenheim.
Insider tip: Marlborough Maze, 540m (1,800 ft.) from the palace, is the largest
symbolic hedge maze on earth, with an herb and lavender garden, a butterfly house,
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