Paddlesports at the Palace

We are located in the Boathouse at Blenheim Palace, just 15 minutes outside of Oxford. Being based at the Palace, we are extremely well signposted  throughout the area however below you can find our exact location on site using What3Words or Google maps.

Palace Postcode - OX20 1UL

What3Words location - ///squirted.basher.joke

Google Maps - https://goo.gl/maps/SU1z7Pu7Ro45ZH3SA

Please note to get to us you need to walk through the palace, please do not follow google maps walking route as this sends you around the outside of the palace and you cannot access us this way!  You can find a video of the walking route to take on Instagram just Click Here.

We are now closed for our 2024 season.

Dates announced for 2025 coming soon.

Parking is included in your Blenheim Palace entry tickets, please note your entry tickets to the palace will need to be purchased separately and are not included as part of our paddlesport activities.   Car park  locations vary throughout the year depending on what is happening on the  day. The main car park is 700 yards to the entrance  of the palace.

For more information on parking please visit the Blenheim Palace website carpark section here.

For each type of hire, we provide the following:

• Paddleboard hire:  We supply a board, paddle, waist leash, and buoyancy aid. If you're  hiring for a longer session, we can also provide you with a bag, pump,  and repair kit – simply ask us!
• Kayak hire: We provide a kayak, paddle, and buoyancy aid.
• Rowing Boat hire: You'll receive a Rowing Boat, two oars, and up to five buoyancy aids. 

If  you require additional equipment, perhaps for a child joining the  adventure, we have extra gear available for hire. Please let us know  what you need, and we'll do our best to assist you.

Please note our rowing boats can accommodate a family of 5 or up to  4 adults.

At LiveFree Adventures, we understand that plans can change. However, to ensure our continued service quality and to be fair to all parties, we've established clear booking and cancellation guidelines. Please review these carefully before confirming your booking.

Booking and Session Times: All bookings with LiveFree Adventures Ltd are final once confirmed. Session times are set and cannot be changed, based on the times you have booked. No amendments, alterations, or adjustments to session times will be permitted. We encourage you to check your booking details and scheduled session times carefully before confirming to ensure everything is correct.

Booking Fee:

• A 5% booking fee is included in the total price of your reservation.
• This fee is non-refundable under any circumstances.

Refund Based on Cancellation Timing:

• 48-72 hours prior: Cancel between 48 to 72 hours before your scheduled activity to receive a 50% refund (excluding the 5% non-refundable booking fee).
• 24-48 hours prior: Cancel between 24 to 48 hours before your activity for a 25% refund (excluding the 5% non-refundable booking fee).
• Under 24 hours: No refunds will be given for cancellations made less than 24 hours before the scheduled activity.

            Please note all refunds will be issued via credit to be used within the current season.

How to Cancel:

• All cancellations must be made in writing and sent via email to our customer service team.
• Cancellations are effective from the time we receive your email.

LiveFree Adventures-initiated Cancellations:

• We might cancel sessions due to adverse weather or unforeseen circumstances.
• Instead of a refund, we will offer a credit equivalent to the value of the cancelled session. This credit can be used for any of our adventure activities, private sessions, or special events within the same calendar year.
• We prioritise rescheduling within our 6-week summer operating period. If rescheduling isn't feasible, the credit option will be provided.

The short answer is no, anybody can hire our equipment. At LiveFree Adventures, we welcome everyone, regardless of their skill level. Before setting off, we'll provide guidance on how to use the equipment effectively. 

We're located on the Great Lake, which is a relatively safe and wonderful place for paddling, making it an ideal spot for those new to the water. 

Yes!

Yes, our activities are suitable for children; however, safety is paramount. While we take every precaution to ensure a safe environment, it’s important to note that we do not provide formal rescue services. By hiring our equipment, you acknowledge that you are responsible for your own safety on the water.

• Under 11 years old: While children under 11 are permitted to use our equipment, it is inadvisable for them to go out on the water alone. We strongly recommend that they are accompanied by a competent adult at all times.

• Ages 12 to 16: Anyone aged 16 and under must be monitored by a parent or guardian at all times while on the water. This means that an adult must remain on-site, overseeing their activity and fully aware of the child’s activities.

If you have any concerns or questions about the suitability of an activity for your child, please speak with a member of our team before hiring equipment. We are happy to provide guidance on safe practices and recommended activities based on age and skill level. However, the final decision on whether an activity is suitable rests with you as their legal guardian.

Our boathouse, built in the 1800s, does present some access challenges due to its historic design, including a staircase leading to it. However, we have made accommodations to ensure wheelchair access to the watercraft themselves. 

If you need any assistance during your visit, please don't hesitate to get in touch beforehand. We will do our utmost to accommodate your needs and ensure a memorable experience for you.

Bleinheim Palace provide blue badge spaces and wheel chair hire, find out more about accessibility at the Palace here.

At LiveFree Adventures, we offer an exceptional 'Try and Buy' program. If you're new to paddleboarding or kayaking and not sure about committing, this offer is perfect for you!

Here's how it works:

1. Book a session with us to try out paddleboarding or kayaking.
2. If you love the sport and the equipment, you can purchase the exact paddleboard or kayak you used at our highly discounted trade price.
3. The cost of your hire session will be fully refunded upon purchase of the equipment. In other words, your trial session is free if you decide to buy!
4. The savings are substantial: a paddleboard with a retail price of £500 is available for just £350, and a kayak worth £429 can be yours for only £249.

Whether you want to collect your new equipment on the same day or prefer to have it delivered straight to your home, we have you covered – and the delivery won't cost you extra. So why wait? Give our 'Try and Buy' program a go. It's a fair deal you won't find elsewhere!

We offer 5% discount to 

• Armed Forces
• Emergency services 
• Key workers
• Students
• PIP/UC claimants

To claim this discount, book and pay full price online and upon attendance evidence proof of discount for a 5% refund. 

To avoid the disappointment of us being fully booked; its best to pre-book and pay online however we do accept Cards and Contactless for walk up bookings and self launches.

While we prefer to hold a piece of photo ID as a security measure, we understand that this isn't always feasible. 

As alternatives, you can leave a bank card, car keys or house keys. Please rest assured that these items will be securely stored and returned to you once the hired equipment is safely returned.

Yes, you're absolutely welcome to launch your own craft from the boathouse here at Blenheim Place. 

Due to the sensitivity of our site, we do have some rules to keep in mind:

Palace Entry Rules.

1. All paddleboards and associated equipment must be brought to the palace deflated and packed away. 

2, Please change at our boathouse, not on the palace grounds or in the car park. (No water wear is allowed whilst walking through the palace)

3. At a minimum, you’ll need a parks and gardens pass from Blenheim Palace to reach our boathouse.

Safety Entry Rules.
1. Ensure your paddleboard and safety equipment are fit for purpose.
2. Don’t forget your buoyancy aid and leash. We have some available for hire if you don’t have your own.

Please note that there's a daily self launch fee of £15 (this can be booked here)

We do but not at the Palace. We have two other centres where we teach  from, one in Bath and one in Llanelli. So, if you really enjoy your hire  session then make sure you speak to our our staff about how you can  take your paddlesports to the next level!

Yes, we do have a basic changing area at the boathouse. However, we do not have toilet facilities on-site. The closest toilets are located in the main Palace at the Stables Café. We recommend using these facilities before you make the walk down to the boathouse, as it's approximately a 5-minute journey each way. We wouldn't want you to miss out on valuable time on the water due to a comfort break!

We offer 18 small lockers available for use on a first-come, first-served basis. If needed, you can rent a locker from us for a fee of £1, with a refundable deposit of £5. Please note that we cannot be held responsible for any items left in the lockers or elsewhere on our premises. 

We encourage all our visitors to ensure the safety of their belongings.

The aim of the game is to stay dry, but sometimes, especially on paddleboards and kayaks, a splash is inevitable! Therefore, we advise you to wear clothing that you would feel comfortable getting wet in or potentially swimming in. This will ensure you are prepared for any fun, unexpected dips in the water!

All of our customers are given a buoyancy aid and must wear them throughout the hire session.

Please  note that fees will be charged for any lost or damaged equipment. These  fees include an administrative charge to cover the time taken for the  replacement process. The charges for individual items are as follows:

• Locker key: £5
• Leash: £28
• Dry-bag: £30
• Paddle: £80
• Phone case: £11
• Buoyancy Aid: £90
• Kayak: £495
• Stand-Up Paddleboard (SUP): £4
• Rowing Boat: £3000
• Rowing Oars: £150

We kindly ask that all equipment is returned in the same condition as it was when hired to avoid these additional charges.

At LiveFree Adventures, we prioritize the safety and enjoyment of our participants. Therefore, we closely monitor weather conditions and may have to cancel sessions if we believe conditions could affect the safety or quality of the experience. 

In the event of a cancellation due to adverse weather, we will not issue a refund. Instead, we will offer a credit equivalent to the value of the cancelled session. This credit can be applied towards any of our adventure activities, private sessions, or special events within the same calendar year.  

Please note, we will always make every effort to reschedule the session within our 6-week summer operating period first. If rescheduling is not possible, the credit option will be provided. This way, we ensure that even if Mother Nature doesn't cooperate, you still have the opportunity to enjoy the exciting experiences LiveFree Adventures has to offer.