Hotels near Longleat
Brook Hotels have one hotel near Longleat, Wiltshire:
Madison Hotel
in Swindon, Wiltshire.
Longleat, Wiltshire
Longleat House is a beautiful Elizabethan country house set
in over 900 acres of parkland and a further 8000 acres of woodland, lakes and farmland,
in Warminster, Wiltshire, adjacent to the village of Horningsham. The house was
designed mainly by Robert Smythson, built by Sir John Thynne and completed by 1580.
One of the most beautiful stately homes open to the public, Longleat House is now
home to Alexander Thynn, 7th Marquess of Bath, a direct descendant.
Known for its, maze, landscaped parkland and safari park, Longleat House was the
first stately home to open to the public, and also claims the first safari park
outside Africa. Longleat House is also widely regarded as one of the best examples
of high Elizabethan architecture in Britain. Highlights include Longleat House include
The Great Hall, which is the heart of the household and the only remaining Elizabethan
room at Longleat, with its chimney piece, beams and panelling.
The seven libraries at Longleat contain more than 40,000 books, there is the spectacular
Grand Staircase, and why not enjoy a tour around the house or try and see the ghost
of the ‘Grey Lady’, Lady Louisa Carteret, wife of the 2nd Viscount Weymouth, whose
portrait hangs in the Lower Dining Room.
In Longleat House grounds there is so much to see and do, including Safari Boats
where you can set sail on a voyage of fun and adventure, a perfect scaled-down recreation
of the Age of Steam railway as visitors arrive at a 1950's style platform, complete
with period advertisements and other contemporary props, to board their narrow gauge
train, a 1.69 miles hedge maze made up of 16,000 English Yews, and the Postman Pat
Village and Tea Cup ride to name just a few.
In 1966 Longleat became the first location outside of Africa to open a drive-through
Safari Park, and over 40 years later it is still offering the most amazing close
encounters with some of the world’s most amazing animals. See how your car measures
up to giraffe, mind the zebras crossing, remember that the rhinos have right of
way, watch out for the wolves and beware of our meddling monkeys… there is so much
to look out for in this amazing world!