Longleat

Longleat is a country estate in Wiltshire, England, lying near the town of Warminster. It includes Longleat House, a Grade I listed Elizabethan mansion; the surrounding parkland; Longleat Safari Park; and formal gardens within an estate covering about 9,000 acres. The estate is the ancestral seat of the Thynne family, later holders of the title of Marquess of Bath.

Longleat House was built in the 1560s by Sir John Thynne, originally as a private residence for his family. The design embodies Elizabethan architecture, and the house has undergone later alterations and extensions.

In 1966, Longleat opened to the public as the first drive-through safari park in the United Kingdom, a pioneering concept that drew visitors from across the country.

The grounds feature a deer park, lakes, and formal gardens, including the Longleat Hedge Maze, one of the largest hedge mazes in the world.

Today, Longleat remains privately owned by the Thynne family. Much of the estate is open to visitors on a seasonal basis, and the Safari Park operates year-round with conservation and education programmes.