Meet the Creator
Salisbury
Our Arrival & First Impressions
we always aim to get to Longleat just before opening time (10am) as by about 9.45 it’s already queuing! It’s so worth arriving at this time - you can really make the most of the day and beat some of the queues.
Activities Breakdown
first things first, we ALWAYS head to the boat as soon as we arrive - some people do the safari first, but you then have to queue for hours to get on the boat safari and train. We find doing it this way means we get to enjoy everything Longleat has to offer. We waited about 15 minutes and were on the second boat of the day, whilst queuing the line was massive and already hitting the 45 minute wait point!
During the May Half term Longleat put on a wonderful bird of prey event - close encounters which featured a huge arena with plenty of seating (it was HOT this May half term so it was super hot and open during the show) but the show itself was amazing! Very close to the birds and the children were given a bird book to spot each bird and learn facts.
We also enjoyed the tiny titans area where the children were able to hold a snake and tarantula, plus we did the lorikeet feeding and had zero queuing which is often not the case! (This activity also costs extra, just a couple of quid).
Both children had a go on the rocking rhino ride (free but be prepared to queue sometimes) and we enjoyed our picnic in the big play area. We did bro NG swimming stuff for the children as there’s a cool little splash park there but we didn’t get round to it!
We saved the safari until last (usually hop back in the car after boat safari and I think that’s the best way to do it) as we didn’t see a great deal - it was incredibly hot and later in the day so perhaps lots of the animals had gone to find some shady spots to sleep. This also meant we missed the giraffe feeding which runs 2-4pm.
- 1
Close encounters
The close encounters bird of prey show was so so good! Really close to the birds and the children loved learning lots of bird facts.
- 2
Seeing Anne the Elephant
This is the first time we’ve ever seen Anne the Elephant whilst on the safari! She tends to spend her time indoors so maybe the hot weather brought her out. She was wonderful to watch.
- 3
Saloon feeding on the boat safari
We loved the boat safari, it’s always one of our most favourite parts of a Longleat day out. As well as feeding the noisy sea lions we saw not one, but two of the hippos out swimming in the lake! Very cool indeed…
Food & Drink
there are so many food and drink options at Longleat, however we do tend to bring our own picnic and then just have a sweet treat whilst we’re there. There are so many picnic spots so this is great and keeps the cost down. But if you don’t fancy doing that there’s a main restaurant and a pizza place, ice cream huts, hot donuts and shakes etc.
Money-Saving Tip
Money saving tip - bring the picnic! There’s also a few drinking fountains dotted around so you can fill up bottles etc.
Pros & Cons Summary
What We Loved
Great for all ages! There’s plenty for children to do from rides, maze, parks etc. - The park is big enough that you don’t feel how busy it is (unless you’re in a queue!) but it never feels like you’re packed in to the park like sardines.
- It’s always super clean and very well maintained. The gardens especially are gorgeous and a great place to go if you wanted a quick ten minutes away from the main attractions.
- Lots of food and treat options! We love the warm donuts and ice creams.
- The safari is so so good, the little Africa part before the main safari is especially good!
Could Be Better
We love Longleat! The only thing that ever lets it down is the queues, but that is absolutely to be expected with any day out.
Overall Verdict & Ratings
Always super clean - never any litter or over flowing bins.
Brilliant rides and things to keep the kids entertained. Margot loves the rocking rhino and they both love the park (which is epic!)
We haven’t ventured into the restaurants much although we have had a pizza from the pizza shop and that was amazing. Like most attractions things like ice cream etc are a little more pricey than your average shop price but that’s fine.
If you know what to do when, you can avoid mad queues! And the whole place is big enough that it never feels cramped or heaving.
Absolute 5 out of 5 for fun and delight! Loads to do and see, so many animals and fun ways to see the park
Longleat is expensive, but I think it’s worth the money! We use online places that offer discounts or Tesco club cards etc.
The Final Verdict:
Final verdict - SO worth it even in the half term. Was it busier than average? Probably… did we notice? Not really. There’s always amazing events in during half terms and holidays and it’s always an amazing day out. Never had a bad time at Longleat! (head to my instagram for a reel on this day out!)
"Safari and sunshine! Such a wonderful day out!"Elise Stansfield
Join the Family Creator Network and have your honest reviews featured across the DOWTK Platform!
We’re looking for authentic family voices to showcase real experiences. Whether it’s a big attraction or a local gem, your content could be featured across our website, social channels, and email campaigns.
Join for Free
