Do Warminster residents want a long day at Longleat?

By Victoriaco | Sunday, August 14, 2011, 20:04

This year Longleat changed its ticketing system. In a total revamp now five different types of ticket are available and it seems that local residents are missing out.

The lions of Longleat are what made the Safari Park famous.
The Jungle Cruise on the Long Leat is always popular.
There's a great Adventure Playground for all ages.

It used to be possible to pay to enter the grounds and then pay for the attractions that you wanted to do that day – we could go into the grounds, enjoy a picnic, pay to visit, say, the Adventure Castle, buy an ice cream and then go home.

Now the only day day ticket at £26 for an adult and £18.50 for a child between 3 and 14 yrs. (can be bought on line for 15% discount.) This is an inclusive price to visit every attraction - twice if that's what you want. Having just spent a day at Longleat and watched families trail around from Jungle Cruise to Adventure Castle, from Maze to Bat Cave to Parkland Deer Feeding, I would suggest this is not exactly what people want – well, not all visitors and probably not local people.

As Longleat's neighbouring town we have long enjoyed an association with this popular tourist attraction, famous for its handsome Elizabethan house in magnificent grounds with a safari park which has featured in a popular TV series. It is the lions of Longleat that launched this landmark and probably that is what draws many visitors from afar.

If only it had stopped there – the list of add-ons has grown and grown into an exhausting list which families with young children cannot hope to complete in a day – what with Hunters in the Sky, the Monkey Temple, Motion Simulators and the Jungle Cruise – there are now no less than 19 different attractions listed without including all the shops and cafes.

How many locals would like to be able to pay for entry into the grounds and then choose just one of attractions to visit for that day?

The new entry system has been discussed at Town Council meetings as there was feeling that locals have been overlooked in the new ticketing system. Let us know if you have visited Longleat lately and if you would like it to be possible to buy a cheaper ticket to visit just one or two attractions?

The menu of tickets available includes:

Day ticket as above
Two Day Ticket at £31 (£5 more than a one day ticket) which can be used on two consecutive days
Annual pass (Adult £65)

House and Grounds ticket (adult £12.90)

Passport ticket (adult £28.50) which can be used on different days

but includes one entry to each attraction so probably means paying for

some things that you will not visit. (Discount of 10% available when

buying these on line and Warminster Tourist Information sell these for

£26.50.)

Has anybody used the discount for local residents in the BA12 postcode?

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Comments

I've also heard that Lord Bath wants to start charging for entry to Heavens Gate next year too. I think he's turning his back on the locals and is being a greedy, money grabbing so and so. It is such a shame that greed comes before community spirit

By miss_snicol at 21:04 on 25/08/11
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This has only come about since Lord Bath stepped down from the day to day running of Longleat, that side of things is now dealt with by his son, and the difference is certainly noticable.

By Leviathan2 at 09:05 on 18/08/11
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We've had a discussion on this on Frome People here http://tinyurl.com/3patvvc - I personally think there should be much more flexibility for local people so we can pop back in regularly & visit just our favourite attractions. We have a passport ticket but would love to visit the meerkats again and again!

By LoveFrome at 11:39 on 16/08/11
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'long enjoyed' does not mean 'entitled'. Longleat is a business, If you want multiple visits to multiple attractions then buy an annual pass which is discounted for local residents BA12 etc to £55 http://tinyurl.com/3tksgol
I have nothing to do with Longleat, i love visiting the safari park and house and am happy to pay, I not expect it to be given to me just because i live on the doorstep.

By purrdee at 07:34 on 15/08/11
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I understood that the present Lord bath, like his Father, has a keen interest in allowing locals access as reasonably as possible. Perhaps the Council, and other local representatives, should take the matter up with Lord Bath directly, rather than any Estate Management; because he, as a local man, has an interest in the view of the local community.

By derryhawk at 01:29 on 15/08/11
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