If you are under the impression that Longleat Safari Park is for the enjoyment of children only, then let me start by saying that this is one huge misconception. Even those who have closed hearts and minds will be softened and astounded by the vast and immense grounds and gratifying atmosphere this park holds.
I had been to many zoo's and safari parks in the past, though when I began to watch 'Animal Park' on the television, a real life program following the staff, ground, Lord Bath and animals at Longleat, I knew that there was one other safari park I just had to visit, and the great aspect about it was that we were due to go on holiday soon after a few short miles away from the park. It was like the animals were pulling me in!
******Background of Longleat******
Although a lot of people do not care much for the background on such a place as a safari park, a review on Longleat would not be the same without a brief background as the park itself holds so much history which is one huge aspect which makes the park so successful. I wish that I could cover everything, though half the fun of visiting this wonderful place is learning about the history for yourself, so allow me to give you a very brief background to Longleat.
Longleat Safari Part is set within a huge 900 acres of beautiful landscaped countryside with the amazing Longleat manor at the focal point, with its Elizabethan architecture and astounding views.
Longleat Manor, itself, was built in 1580 and homed the present Marquess of Bath's father, the 6th Marquess. It was he who first decided that this wonderful house and grounds were too amazing to keep to himself, that he had a vision of allowing this manor and its magnitude to be opened to the public as a tourist attraction. It was many years before it finally opened (in 1949) to the public on a fully commercial basis and became historically known as the first manor house of this kind to do so, therefore almost straight away, its popularity was immense.
Less than 20 years following, in 1966, Longleat opened the first safari park outside of Africa, and although many people loved this idea, there were huge worries about lions and tigers roaming the countryside of England and this subject was even taken to Parliament. Luckily, though, after a few safety checks, Longleat Safari Park was allowed to continue and in the many years since has grown to an astounding size and popularity with added attractions to boot!
******Longleat House******
You can not help but notice the manor house when you first arrive, with its amazing architecture, it is like nothing else. I know that a lot of people would not appreciate this part of the trip, but I recommend that everyone at least has a short look otherwise you will miss out terribly.
Walking around the house, you get a great sense of history, with the original architecture as well as fantastically decorated rooms; you will soon forget that you are in the present. There are many displays around the house, such as old clothing and books etc, most behind glass screens, though quite a few out in the open behind only ropes. The deocr itself is a mix of French and Italian and has been kept perfectly in its original state from over two hundred years before. One of my favourite parts of the house was the amazing grand staircase. Yes, I hear you saying what on earth would a staircase be appealing to you for? Well, all I can say it this - you must see for yourself. I have never seen such brilliance in a staircase, such vastness and such elegance.
The present Lord Bath has also added his own touches of amazing artwork, symbolizing his amazing personality. Some of the paintings so stand out as very modern compared to the feel of the house as a whole, though they still stand in amazing awe on the walls and I found myself looking deep into them, mesmerized.
It is difficult to explain just the amazing feel and sight of the whole manor. It is somewhere that you can only really appreciate by visiting yourself. Not only do you get to see parts of the house which you would never expect, but you are also transported back in time and feel like you simply do not want to leave, but please do leave some time to visit the rest of the park. This is why I believe the passport tickets are a brilliant deal as you do not want to rush around this park. You will only really benefit by taking your time, and this may take a couple of days to fully take in the whole experience.
This is perhaps one part of the park that children will not really appreciate. On our visit, I did see many children being dragged around by their parents with an extreme look of boredom on their face, although when my mum took my 6 year old brother there, he actually enjoyed the house, though unfortunately she couldn't say the same to our younger 4 year old sister. This is perhaps something to consider when visiting the park with children.
One aspect I loved about looking around the house is that you are able to take your time. You do not have a member of staff ushering you from one room to another so you can really take your time basking in the splendor. There are staff members around the tour of the house, though they did not make you feel as though you couldn't even cough as some places do, and they mingle relaxed throughout the visitors and are always open to answer any questions.
It is possibly worth mentioning that you are also able to hire certain rooms within the house for specific venues, and although this would make an extremely great reception party, the prices are extremely high.
Flash photography and high heels are not allowed inside the house, either, due to risk to floors and old artifacts.
Although there is disabled access, it can be very difficult for wheelchair users and prams and buggies are not actually allowed in the house (though there is a small room to leave them safely) so I would suggest ringing ahead to explain your situation. From the experience of my visit, I feel that Longleat staff will do all they can t help out in these circumstances.
At the back of the house, there is a small gift shop which holds a large array of wonderful products such as china, gifts and other such memorable items. Prices vary on each product, though as with many gift shops; they are not cheap so if you have children and not a lot to spend, perhaps try to avoid this shop at all costs.
******Safari Park Drive Through******
I have always has a fear of driving my own car through a safari drive through and had to get my husband to take the controls as I didn't trust myself not to try to make a fast escape if a lion looked at me funny, though I need not have worried.
As we entered the drive through, I immediately realized that many safety aspects are provided. Although the animals basically roam free, there are many staff in protective cars in case of problems and gates to keep animals separate, so I felt at ease and could still enjoy the safari feel. It was even better than I could imagine an African safari being!
It was amazing how close some of the animals came, though luckily we didn't get any rogue monkeys jump on the car, although the person in front had a few monkeys pull off their windscreen wipers which was unnerving though slightly funny, especially as it wasn't our car! The lions were quite close to us, though simply sat and roamed minding their own business as did the giraffes, rhinos and other great animals. It was amazing the large array of animals in the safari - something which I have never experienced in other parks. It just had a completely different feel to it and one I wont forget in a long while I don't think!
All the animals were in their natural surroundings which is an amazing thing to see these days. I hate seeing animals in cages, and this certainly does not happen here. With the vast amount of land, the animals seemed content which gave a really amazing feel, and even made me relax more as because the animals were happy they were not going to chase me looking to have a chunk out of my leg!
There are many parts of the drive through which I will briefly outline below;
*East Africa Reserve* This huge acre reserve hosts animals such as giraffes and giant zebras, llamas and even camels. There is even a small part where you are allowed to pull over and stretch your legs whilst watching such animals as Shetland ponies and Ostriches from the observation post. I found this part really nice, especially as a lot of drive throughs in other parks do not allow this. You are far enough away to feel safe, yet close enough to really enjoy the experience.
*Monkey Jungle* Even with my fear of rogue monkeys, this was perhaps my favourite part. You do not have to drive through this part, though I fully recommend it. We had a great laugh at the antics of the monkeys and also saw the buffalos which you would miss if you bypassed this part.
*Big Game Park* This part of the drive through is amazing. Here you find such animals as White Rhinos, Ankole Cattle and Deer. The site as a whole is fantastic and none of the animals were hiding from us which was great!
*Deer Park* This part of the park is enclosed by simple fencing to keep the deer at bay. Back in 1987, a hurricane destroyed some of the fencing and allowed the deer to roam into the neighboring countryside though this has now been fully fixed and looks great. Children love this part, as did I, as you are able to buy food to feed the deer and it is amazing how tame some of them are.
*Pelican Pond* Not my favourite part, though it is quite interesting.
* Tiger Territory* I was amazed at how close these animals came to the car. I had to rush to shut the window and cowered back towards my husband slightly as one came to say hello, though it did nothing more than look at us and stand watching us from right by the car. It was an amazing sight as I had never seen these tigers up so close before. I really wanted to take a photo, though was too afraid the flash would upset the tiger and didn't want to be its next snack!
*Lion Country* Like the tiger territory, this was another amazing part of the drive through. There are two separate enclosures do drive through, and watching the lions roam freely was amazing. The lions were not as brave (or silly) as the tigers and stayed well back from the cars, though still close enough to see them in the splendor.
*Wolf Wood* At first it was difficult to see the wolves, though I heard one howl before I saw a couple beneath the tree. Absolutely amazing to watch and none came too close. This was perhaps the most difficult part to see the animals, though we were lucky to see a few during feeding time.
If you haven't brought your own car, there is a safari bus for a price of about £4 (stc) which leaves regularly from pets corner, so don't worry, you will not miss out! You are also given a free CD or tape with commentary on the animals whilst going around the park which is a brilliant plus and very interesting, and you can even bring it home with you to listen to at your leisure.
I loved the drive through area. I would have been very disappointed if I had not gone through it, even with my fears, though I can happily say not only was it an amazing experience, my car came out in tact too!
******Grounds******
Not only do you have the amazing house and safari drive through, you will also find an amazing sight of Longleats grounds and gardens which is expertly maintained and hosts a wide arrangement of attractions for all ages. The gardens itself is perfectly looked after, with friendly gardeners seen around showing how much effort is put into maintaining the lovely scenery. We chose to eat our picnic within the gardens as it was so relaxing and such a lovely experience to just sit there and bask in the glory of the breathtaking area.
There are a few different parts of the garden itself, and one that springs to mind in particular is the 'love garden' with many statues and water features as well as a small maze. We did not go into this maze, though, but it looked really lovely, though not one to get lost in (which is a good thing!).
Another part is the Mystical gardens aimed mainly for children though is really appealing to adults too with the hedge sculptures, giant toadstools, mist covered pond, and home made furniture. Completely brilliant and takes you back to your childhood. The artistic quality in itself was so beautiful that it is worth visiting.
Around the grounds, you will also find many attractions for all ages. I will outline them below;
*Adventure Castle and Blue Peter Maze*
This area is designed completely for children with different areas designated to different age groups, and adults can have a well deserved break whilst the children let off some steam. The Blue Peter maze was added in 2002 by the design of a child for children which is a lovely touch.
In 2006 the splash pad was brought in which is really amazing and children love it. This play area has many water jets and fountains, so be prepared to get slightly wet - perfect on a hot summers day.
The adventure castle only allows children of 14 and under to play, though adults may accompany their children if need be, and I even saw some children trying to pry their parents away from the castle which was very funny indeed!
*Butterfly Garden*
Walk through this enclosed butterfly garden which is basically a very big greenhouse. Be warned, though, it gets very hot in here so take in some water. I couldn't stay in there too long as I began to feel rather faint, though my husband loved it.
The surroundings are beautiful, though, with greenery, ponds and bridges, pathways and of course, loads of beautiful butterflies which are so tame they often land right on your nose!
There are also cabinets holding cocoons which if you are extremely lucky, will see hatch into butterflies. An informative area though nothing happened whilst we were there.
There is also a small gift shop at the end of the greenhouse with many butterfly items all with varying costs and quite expensive.
It only takes a few minutes to walk around unless is very busy and could take much longer. This was a lovely area, though I didn't think was worth the £2 entry fee.
*Longleat Railway*
The 1950's style steam replica railway was amazing. It is of smaller size than a real railway, of course, but is well worth the ride. The platform itself is amazing and really transports you back in time and we were lucky enough not to queue very long for the ride.
The train ride itself takes approximately 10-15 minutes as you are taken through trees and tunnels and around a large lake which holds sea lions. This was a wonderful sight as the sea lions jumped in and out of the water. We also saw a huge gorilla sitting on the island in the middle of the lake and the train slowed down so we could watch him, though apart from itching his bottom (which why do all gorillas do that when you watch them!?) he did not really do much else. Around the trip, you also see wooden sculptures, I believe, done by Lord Bath himself. An interesting sight, though not the best of the ride.
There is (once again) another gift shop at the station exit full of railway merchandise - some not too expensive, though if you go into every shop in the park, you will soon be out of pocket!
*Motion Simulator*
As far as motion simulators go, this one is quite large, though we did not go into it for two reasons. I'm not a lover of these attractions and the queue was huge!
*Old Joes Mine*
Now if you are not a fan of bats crawling and flying through your hair, then I would recommend you stay away from this area. When my mum took my younger brother and sister, they were quite terrified of the bats and so wasted their money, so take into account what your children (and yourself) are like around things like this before entering.
This is one of the newer attractions and is set out like a mine (hence the name) and is very dark and dingy making it even more scary when a bat swings over head. There are also containers of cockroaches, but don't worry - these are not on the loose!
I began to feel slightly claustrophobic when walking through the tunnels as there were quite a few people there, so just a thought to those who suffer bad clautophobia!
Although I felt slightly scared, I am glad that we went in this attraction as I have never (and probably wont again) experience bats so close.
*Pets Corner*
Pets corner is a must for both children and adults alike. It holds a large array of small animals from the fluffy kind such as rabbits, chinchillas and ferrets to the slightly scaly kind such as snakes, lizards and tortoises and so many more. There is an animal to suit everyone and all animals can be fed and petted with the kind on look of the pets corner staff. One of the best parts I found was the parrot show. It doesn't matter how many times I see a parrot show, those beautiful birds performing wonderful tricks never grows old. There is also a 'Meet the Creatures' event which are timed sessions where a member of staff will give talks and answer questions on specific animals.
Personally, my husband who has a phobia about snakes preferred to get out of the pets corner quite quickly after a member of staff came up to us holding one, though I enjoyed holding the fluffy variety of animals, especially those which I had never held before, though I admit, I did steer clear of the snakes - my excuse was that I didn't want to give my husband nightmares, though I'll admit, snakes never did appeal to me anyway!
Also around pets corner is many boards holding a variety of information and interactive activities which the children love.
This was a lovely area, and well kept and certainly worth visiting whilst here. It is also bigger than many pets corners I have ever seen, and if you have children with you, you can make up for them not enjoying you dragging them around the mansion house by promising them a chance to meet the little animals.
*Postman Pat Village*
As the name suggests, this is aimed at younger children. You get to 'go behind the scenes' to see mice at work in the workshop, watch postman pat stories and go around the miniature village of postman pats home. Adults are only allowed if accompanying a child under 14 years of age, therefore we did not go into this, though my younger brother and sister loved it.
*Safari Boats*
The safari boats are quite large and open and extremely fun. This was one of the best attractions in the park grounds, so relaxing and such a great ride.
You head out across the lake to the gorilla island (which was having work on when we were there) though you were able to see more of the gorillas in their natural habitat and one thing which I could not stop laughing at was one of the gorillas watching television! Apparently this particular gorilla loves playing computer games as well!
There are also apparently meercats on the island, though we were not lucky enough to see any.
We also saw many sea lions which seemed to love swimming and diving alongside the boat, especially when the staff member tossed them some fish from a bucket. An amazing sight. We also saw some hippos in the lake, basking in the sun. I love hippos and to see them that close was really amazing.
As you go around in the boats, the staff member gives a running commentary of the animals you see, the history and other such information which is really great and informative.
The queue for this was quite large but it was well worth the wait, and you have some pot belly pigs to keep you entertained whilst waiting.
*Longleat Hedge Maze*
This maze is astoundingly huge covering 1.48 acres approximately. It is made with over 16,000 yews and was first erected in 1975.
The center of the maze has an observation tower which gives you a great look of the whole maze and laugh at your family and friends who are completely stuck! It apparently takes around 90 minutes to complete the whole maze, so give yourself plenty of time. There are hints around the maze to help you cheat if you really get that stuck, though as this maze is so well kept, you will not find any holes in the hedge walls! We took just under an hour to complete this maze - and felt quite proud at the end!
This maze is possibly the best maze I have ever been in, so definitely have a look!
******Events and Shows******
There are many shows appearing in the summer. Please bare in mind that these change and check the times and dates before going if you are interested.
We were able to catch one summer show from a distance, though didn't actually sit and watch, though we heard a sing a long with the characters Lenny Longleat, George the Lion and Meddle the Monkey. Great for children. My younger brother and sister saw the show when they went and couldn't stop talking about it - they described it like a caravan park entertainment.
The entertainment is designed for all ages, though I would say mainly for those who are younger. It is free to attend for those holding a passport ticket and shows are approximately 20 minutes long.
There are also random events throughout the year such as knock out days with obstacles and water activities, motor racing activities and so much more. Please ring to find out various times and dates for these events. Costs vary.
******Food and Drink******
Personally we took our own picnic as buying food and drink from parks such as this can be quite expensive. If you do choose to purchase lunch, there are many refreshment stalls around the park selling a range of items from sandwiches, hot food, ice cream, cold and hot drinks etc etc. There are also many picnic areas complete with tables and benches dotted around the park.
******Staff******
As mentioned throughout this review, the staff at Longleat are absolutely amazing. They are fully recognizable with their green Longleat tops and are always open for questions and are very approachable. They are extremely well trained and care hugely for the job they do. They make the whole experience even more enjoyable.
******Extra Information******
*How do you get to Longleat?*
I have included a simple map of the area in the photos of this review as people will come from all directions, though below are some basic directions for you.
Longleat sits just off of the A36 between Bath and Salisbury. If traveling from the south east, take the M3 to the A303 and then the A36 towards Bath. From this direction you will find Longleat just off of the A362 between Warminster and Frome. From the south west, simply follow the A303 towards London and then get onto the A350 towards Warminster. From the North, you will need to get onto the M4 until you reach the A46 towards Bath and then join the A36 towards Salisbury.
If traveling via train, the nearest train station in in Warminster which is around 5 miles from Longleat. There is also another station in Westbury which connects directly to London. This is slightly further away at 12 miles, though you are able to catch a taxi which will bring you straight to the park. • Starline Taxis: +44 (0) 1985 212215 • AAA Taxis: +44 (0) 1985 846674 • DJ's Taxi's +44 (0) 1985 215151
Can I park my car easily?* Yes! Longleat has a vast space of both tarmac and grass parking alongside overflow car parks so you will always be able to park. When we went, there were many staff members to help you find a space, so no car drivers fighting over the best parking space. There are also specified disabled parking which is nearer to the main entrance to the park.
What are the opening times?* Longleat house itself is open daily all year around except for Christmas day. The Safari Park and Grounds is only open to the public between 31st March to 4th November. Safari Park: 10am to 4.00pm (5pm on weekends, Bank Holidays and during state school holidays) Longleat House: 10am to 5.00pm (5.30pm on weekends, Bank Holidays and during state school holidays) All other Attractions: 11am to 5.00pm (10.30am to 5.30pm on weekends, Bank Holidays and during state school holidays) (Please note: These are opening times for this present year. Always check times before venturing to the park in case changes ensue.)
Is the Park Expensive?* With prices of attractions these days you would be excused for thinking that this will be extremely expensive and you would need to raid a bank to attend, though this is not the case at all. Yes, it is not free and you have to remember that the costs of entry help to cover maintenance to the house, grounds and animals, though it is affordable. There is an option of a 'Passport Ticket' which I would recommend looking into. This may not be worth while to some people, though it does save a lot of money. It saves you over 50% on attractions and entry price and you can come back to the park as much as you want during the year. Passport Ticket £20.00 (adult) £16.00(child 3-14 and senior citizen) This passport ticket covers 12 brilliant attractions (which I mention above). To give you an example of what you are saving, please see below; Safari Park: £11.00 / £8.00 Longleat House & Grounds £10.00 / £6.00 Grounds & Gardens £3.00 / £2.00 Adventure Castle & Blue Peter Maze £3.00 (child only) Butterfly Garden £2.00 /£2.00 Old Joe's Mine £2.00 /£2.00 Longleat Railway £3.00 / £3.00 Motion Simulator £2.00 / £2.00 Pets Corner £3.00 / £3.00 Postman Pat Village £2.00 (child only) Safari Boats £3.00 / £3.00 Tea Cup Ride FREE Longleat Hedge Maze £3.00 / £3.00 Summer Show (21st July to 2nd Sept 2007) FREE TOTAL COST OF INDIVIDUAL TICKETS £42.00 / £39.00 / £34.00 PASSPORT TICKET SAVES YOU! £22.00 £23.00 £18.00 Longleat accepts cash and all major credit cards but not cheques at the present time. Group rates and disability rates also available. (please note: Prices may change so please check before attending)
Is there accommodation nearby?* There are loads of varying accommodations nearby to allow you to visit the park and relaz without having to think of the long drive home. Longleat Park, itself, does not offer accommodation (although I am sure so many people would love to stay in the manor!), though very nearby are such places as bed and breakfasts, caravan and camping parks, Hotels, public houses and self catering. Some interesting and helpful contacts for accommodation; Wiltshire Accommodation Booking Service on www.visitwiltshire.co.uk Bath Tourism - www.visitbath.co.uk Frome TIC www.frometouristinfo.co.uk Warminster TIC visitwarminster@westwiltshire.gov.uk Bradford-on-Avon TIC tic@bradfordonavon2000.fsnet.co.uk Salisbury TIC visitorinfo@salisbury.gov.uk Shaftesbury TIC tourism@ruraldorset.com
How can I contact Longleat Safari Park?* Address: Longleat, Warminster, Wiltshire, BA12 7NW Tel: 01985 844400
Fax: 01985 844885
Email: enquiries@longleat.co.uk
******Overall****** I don't know what else I can add as an overall statement as I think I covered all of what I could above. Would I recommend Longleat Safari Park to others? Most certainly! And more than once! This is not only for children, as I hope I have outlined, and myself and my husband thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience and will certainly be going back again with our new baby. It is not only an enjoyable park, but very educational too. It is difficult to describe everything to the degree I think it should be, so I would recommend going and seeing for yourself.
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