Victoria Walters and her grown-up family revisit the scene of many past adventures – and enjoy it all over again
When my children were small, Longleat was a majorly exciting destination – we have fond memories of driving nervously through the lion enclosure with our screaming baby daughter in the back seat, our preschool-aged son intrepidly holding a huge tarantula and wintry train rides to visit Santa.
Now, with two young adults leading increasingly busy and independent lives, it’s been a long time since we’ve had a classic family day out and many years since we last visited Longleat. I was therefore delighted to be back and curious to see if it still held the same sense of adventure.
First impressions are breathtaking. As you pass through the entrance gates and down the sweeping driveway, the stunning Elizabethan house comes into view, standing in acres of majestic parkland landscaped in the 18th century by the legendary designer, Capability Brown.
Longleat was one of the first stately homes to open to visitors, back in 1949, and a wander through some of the downstairs rooms offered a fascinating glimpse into its long history (guided tours of the rest of the house are available at an extra charge).
The stewards were welcoming and knowledgeable, proudly pointing out details such as the priceless French china in the dining room and the enormous family tree, a reminder that Longleat has been inhabited by the same family since it was built in 1580. Today, it’s home to the 8th Marquess and Marchioness of Bath and their two young sons. Imagine growing up with lions and gorillas in your back garden!
The formal gardens are a delight: perfectly maintained, yet relaxed and inviting, full of colourful planting inspiration. Just beyond them, the family attractions begin: from a petting farm and large adventure playground to a boat ride on the lake and the famously enormous hedge maze, there is much to explore.
We had great fun getting utterly lost in the maze and enjoyed a gentle ride on the little train, which loops around the lake and offers a distant sighting of Longleat’s gorillas.
The walk-through animal zone could benefit from some updating – some of the enclosures felt rather small and uninspiring and we’d have appreciated more information about the animals and Longleat’s conservation work. That said, we all loved the giant tortoises and the meerkats – particularly one cheeky character named Olaf, who made a spirited dash for freedom every time the visitor gate was opened.
The safari park – which opened in 1966 as the world’s first drive-through safari outside Africa – is still Longleat’s standout experience. There’s nothing quite like getting close to big cats, wolves, camels and giraffes in the comfort and safety of your own car.
As it wasn’t busy we were able to take our time, watching the pride of lions stretch out and snooze in the warm afternoon sun just metres away. We chose to skip the monkey drive-through, recommended if you’d rather not risk car damage – although it was entertaining watching other cars going through the enclosure with monkey passengers busily removing aerials and trim.
We only realised later that there’s a Longleat app featuring audio commentary by Kate Humble, which would have been a great addition to the safari, but it wasn’t mentioned on entry and poor signal meant we couldn’t download it on-site.
One of Longleat’s real strengths is its thoughtful approach to accessibility. Clear sensory signage is used throughout the park and an excellent accessibility map is available online. These thoughtful details can make a big difference, especially for families with SEN needs.
This August, a Summer Carnival area offers classic fairground rides and circus skills workshops. It’s a fun addition but felt a little tucked away and not quite the grand event suggested by the advertising.
Some elements of the park and its attractions felt a bit tired and in need of a refresh, and the food outlets were a little uninspiring – but overall it’s immaculately clean, well-run and the staff were consistently friendly and helpful. There are also plenty of spaces for families to bring picnics which I’d recommend taking advantage of.
It’s undeniably an expensive day out, but with so many things to see and do, I can imagine a membership pass being worthwhile for those with younger children.
For our family, it offered something special: a fun and nostalgic day out together that genuinely worked well even with our now very grown-up kids. We all had a thoroughly enjoyable time and it brought back a real sense of the chaotic joy of those summer holiday outings when they were little.
