Longleat House an Elizabethan Vision in Green
Hidden deep within woodland and beyond the rolling lawns, Longleat House lies. One of Britain's most beautiful and stately homes — a masterpiece of High Elizabethan design with symmetrical architecture. Built in the 1580s for Sir John Thynne and largely designed by Robert Smythson, it became the first private stately home in Britain to open to the public in 1949. Today, it remains the seat of the Thynne family, now under the care of the 7th Marquess of Bath, a direct descendant of Sir John Thynne, who is an artist, mural painter, and sponsor to many aspiring artists.
Longleat is set within expansive parkland designed by the notable landscape architect Capability Brown, featuring woodland, lakes, and farmland that stretch well beyond the formal lawns. Long before the mansion was built here, the site was occupied by an Augustinian priory, lending the land a much older rhythm beneath.
During spring, as you enter the property, you'll notice a stunning garden of blooming rhododendrons in vibrant colours lining the road. Visitors can enjoy numerous activities, such as the House tour, Longleat Hedge Maze, Safari Animal Park, Safari Boat ride, Longleat Railway, and Grounds Garden Walks. The Library is quite large, featuring books from early medieval manuscripts to children's stories from the 19th and 20th centuries — much like Longleat itself!
© Steve Williams
Longleat
+44 0198 584 5420 / +44 0198 584 4400
Longleat, Warminster, Wiltshire, BA12 7NW England
between the towns of Warminster in Wiltshire and Frome in Somerset
www.longleat.co.uk
