Woodstock
About Woodstock
Welcome to the Woodstock edition of The Oxford Magazine.
Woodstock, an old English word meaning “clearing in the woods”, is a picturesque historic town in Oxfordshire draped in history.
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 town grew up as a coaching stop around the Royal hunting lodge, which later became the site of Blenheim Palace, home of the Dukes of Marlborough since the early 1700s, and the birthplace of the statesman Sir Winston Churchill – he was born in the palace in 1874 and is buried in the nearby village of Bladon.
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. Today, Woodstock is fast gaining a reputation as an exciting hub for contemporary art, with a host of galleries.
Local news & editions
Blenheim Palace Triathlon returns to the UNESCO World Heritage site this weekend
Triathletes from across the UK will head to Oxfordshire this weekend as this year’s Blenheim Palace Triathlon returns to the UNESCO World Heritage site in Woodstock.
Women & War: A new exhibition to tell the stories of women in the armed forces
Women & War: From the Fringes to the Front Line is a new exhibition opening on 03 June to 10 September 2023 at Soldiers of Oxfordshire Museum in Woodstock.
Blenheim Palace unveils new luxury dining experience
The new restaurant, encompassed by a glass conservatory structure, allows guests to enjoy lunch or afternoon tea with guaranteed views of the Palace, South Lawn and nearby woodland.
Oxfordshire-based Owen Mumford wins distinction in Red Dot Award
Owen Mumford has been awarded a distinction in the prestigious Red Dot Award for innovative product design for its Aidaptus single-use auto-injector launched in 2021.
Raymond Blanc to headline Blenheim Palace Food Festival 2023
Raymond Blanc, Chef Patron at Michelin-starred Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons, is set to headline the Blenheim Palace Food Festival during the Bank Holiday weekend on 27 to 29 May 2023.
Wake up to Woodstock celebrates 21 years of supporting local businesses
Wake up to Woodstock (WUTW) has celebrated its 21st anniversary as a non-profit association of local businesses with a mission to attract visitors to the market town of Woodstock.
Their Finest Hour Collections Day at SOFO aims to preserve Second World War memories
Soldiers of Oxfordshire Museum (SOFO) is looking for people to bring their stories and objects relating to the Second World War to Their Finest Hour Collections Day at the museum.
Discover the legacy of Jean Jones – one of Oxford’s great twentieth-century painters
The exhibition will feature several of Jones’s previously unseen paintings, offering the people of Oxfordshire an opportunity to discover the legacy of one of Oxford’s great twentieth-century painters.
Diverse, personal collection of WW2 art to go on display at SOFO Museum
The exhibition of diverse, original artwork – produced during and depicting scenes from the Second World War – first went on display at the museum in March 2020 but was open for less than a week before national lockdowns were put in place.
Darwin Escapes unveils plans for Blenheim Palace Lodge Retreat
Launched in partnership with Blenheim Palace and nestled beside the estate’s 2,000-acre grounds, the collection of luxury holiday lodges in the heart of Oxfordshire is set to open for Summer 2023.
