Longleat Exterior
Longleat
Longleat is regarded as the best example of high Elizabethan
architecture in Britain and one of the most beautiful stately homes
open to the public. The magnificence of the House itself is matched
by the splendour of its surroundings; a spectacular mixture of
landscaped parkland, lakes and formal gardens. In 1949 Longleat
became the first stately home in England to open its doors to the
public and a few years later opened the first safari park outside
Africa - visitors can drive through eight enclosures where a wide
range of animals can be seen, including: elephant, rhino, giraffe,
monkeys, lions and tigers. Longleat has become one of the UK's
most popular family tourist attractions. It has been the home of
the Thynn family for more than 450 years and is currently lived in
by the eccentric 7th Marquess of Bath, Alexander Thynn.
Address: Longleat is on the A362 Warminster – Frome road;
Telephone: (0)1985 844 400;
E-mail: enquiries@longleat.co.uk;
Website: www.longleat.co.uk;
Transport: 20 minutes south of Bath by road;
Opening time: Safari Park open from 1 March to 9 March weekends only. Daily from 16-24 February and 15 March to 2 November. Longleat House open daily 11am to 3pm. Safari Park open daily 10am to 4pm (until 5pm on weekends and holidays);
Admission: Separate tickets are available for all 12 attractions at Longleat, but a passport allowing access to all is £22 (adults) and £16 (children) and is much better value for money. Longleat House: £10, Safari Park: £11
A Litholint of Berkeley Castle
Berkeley Castle
Berkeley (pronounced 'barkly') is a perfectly preserved
840-year-old castle with a keep, dungeon and splendid staterooms
with the original tapestries, furniture and silver. It was most
famously the scene of King Edward II's gruesome murder in 1327. It
is believed that Edward was deposed by his French consort, Queen
Isabella, and her paramour, the Earl of Mortimer. The castle also
played an important role in the English Civil War (1642-1649). The
oldest part of the castle was built in 1153 by Roger De Berkeley, a
Norman knight, and has remained in the family ever since. The
surrounding meadows, now the setting for pleasant Elizabethan-style
gardens, were once flooded to make a formidable moat.
Telephone: (0)1453 810 332;
E-mail: info@berkeley-castle.com;
Website: www.berkeley-castle.com;
Transport: 40 minutes from Bath by road. Take Exit 14 off the M5, the castle is signed from the A38 between Bristol and Slimbridge;
Opening time: From 11am to 5.30pm, with last entry at 4.30pm on public open days, which are Easter Weekend and every Sunday in April, May, June, September and October. Also open daily in July and August, and sporadically in November and December. Check website for details;
Admission: £7.50 (adults), £4.50 (children). Family tickets and group concessions available
