FAQs

The Nocturne Concert Area opens from 4.30pm and you will be able to enjoy a range of food and drink options before you take your seats in The Great Court. The music will commence at approximately 6pm, followed by two intervals, and we endeavour to finish by 11pm.

The Palace opens to the general public at 10.30am and last entry to the Palace is 3.00pm.

Your Nocturne Live ticket will allow you to arrive at any time during the day of the concert and enjoy the beautiful grounds of Blenheim Palace.

If you would like to visit the Palace itself, you can purchase a half price Palace, Park & Gardens ticket from our ticket page. Your Nocturne Live ticket will also allow you to do this when you arrive on the day. For more information on what Blenheim Palace has to offer, please click here.

We recommend that you consider all the options on our Travel page before making your plans for getting to Blenheim Palace.

If you do decide to drive, please be aware that Blenheim Palace is a UNESCO World Heritage site and its infrastructure wasn’t designed for a large number of cars to depart simultaneously at the end of a concert. There are three main exit roads that lead to a common main road which, despite our best efforts, can become congested at peak times. Therefore, we ask for your patience when leaving the site.

Re-entry is not permitted. We advise that you bring everything you need for the concert with you when you first enter. However, we do understand that certain extreme circumstances can arise where leaving the event is essential. In this case, security will use their discretion and permission won’t be unreasonably withheld.

Nocturne is an open air, all seated concert and the show will go ahead in all weathers unless the conditions become dangerous. We recommend that you check the weather forecast beforehand to ensure you dress appropriately.

Please note, umbrellas are not allowed within The Great Court seating area as these obstruct the view for other guests.

For information on food and drink allowances, please see our Food & Drink information page here.

For more information on our onsite facilities, please see our dedicated information page here.

Nocturne Live takes place at Blenheim Palace, Woodstock, Oxfordshire, OX20 1PS.

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The local bus service is the most sustainable way to reach Blenheim Palace from the Oxford and Kidlington areas.

There are two Stagecoach services, each operating up to every 30 minutes to the Blenheim Gates:

• From Oxford Rail Station – catch the Stagecoach S3 or the S7 from Stand R5 ( Normal journey time approx. 40 mins)

• From Oxford City Centre – catch the Stagecoach S3 or the S7 from Magdalen Street, Stand C4 (Normal journey time approx. 35 mins)

• From Oxford Parkway Station – catch the Stagecoach S7 from Stand E on Banbury Road (Normal journey time approx. 25 mins)

After the concert you will be able to get the Nocturne Shuttle from within the grounds back to Kidlington, Oxford Parkway, Pear Tree Park and Ride, Summertown Shops, Oxford City Centre or Oxford Rail Station.

Click here to book tickets.

The nearest train stations to Nocturne Live at Blenheim Palace are Oxford and Oxford Parkway. Trains run regularly to Oxford Station from London Paddington and to Oxford Parkway from Marylebone.

Please check timings with the train provider before travelling.

The Stagecoach Nocturne Shuttle Bus will run to both Oxford and Oxford Parkway railway stations.

Onsite parking is available. Advance car parking tickets are now off sale. You can pay for parking upon arrival, card payments only.

Blenheim Palace is located eight miles north-west of Oxford and is signposted from Junction 9 off the M40. As soon as you see Nocturne Live directional road signs switch off your Sat Nav and follow the relevant signage.

If you arriving from north of Blenheim Palace you should follow directions to OX20 1HD (via B4437 / Stonefield Straight) and look for Green Car Park. This is an event-only entrance to the Palace grounds. The Green Car Park is only a short walk from the Nocturne Live concert area. This car park tends to be slightly less busy than the main car park so can often mean a speedier exit after the concert.

You can also access the Yellow Car Park from the A44/Oxford Street, following directions to OX20 1PS.

Blenheim Palace is a UNESCO World Heritage site and as such is not designed for a large number of carts to simultaneously depart at the end of a concert. There are three main exit roads that lead to a common main road which, despite our best efforts, can become congested at peak times. Please be patient when leaving the site, follow the instructions of the traffic management team and respect the local residents and other road users.

There is strictly no overnight parking at either of the car parks.

We provide an area for cyclists to lock up their bikes at the entrance to the Palace. Please note, these are left at your own risk.

If you arrive by taxi you will be dropped off at the dedicated Pick Up/Drop Off near the Yellow Car Park entrance.

If you want to depart via taxi then you should pre-book with 001 Taxis. You can do this using their app (https://www.001taxis.com/oxford-taxi-app) or calling one of the below numbers:

• Oxford Phone – 01865 240000
• Abingdon & Didcot Phone – 01235 282828
• Woodstock & Witney Phone – 01993 808080

If you are being dropped off before the concert or picked up after, please tell the driver to follow signs to the Pick Up/Drop Off area. This will be clearly signposted and is situated a short walk from the South Car Park Entrance.

We do have certain restrictions on what you can bring into the Nocturne Concert Area. For information on Food & Drink allowances, as well as a full list of Prohibited Items, please visit our dedicated page here.

Please note, we do allow sealed bottles of water up to 750ml to be brought into the Nocturne Concert Area and empty unsealed bottles can be brought in to be refilled at the water points.

The State Room Dining Experience begins at 4.30pm with a drinks reception with starters service commencing at 5pm.

Music commences at 6pm on Thursday, Saturday and Sunday at 5:45pm on Friday.

The main course will be served in the first interval between the first and second act followed by desert being served in the second interval between the second act and the headliner.

Drinks, teas and coffees will be available after the show.

We endeavor to finish the concert by 11pm.

If you have purchased Palace, Parks and Gardens tickets please note that entry to the Palace ends at 3pm.