Longleat Safari Park
| Longleat Safari Park | |
|---|---|
 Longleat Safari Park
 Longleat Safari Park shown within Wiltshire |
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| Type | Safari park |
| Location | Wiltshire |
| Nearest city | Warminster |
| OS grid | ST818434 |
| Coordinates | 51°11′24″N 2°15′40″W / 51.19°N 2.261°WCoordinates: 51°11′24″N 2°15′40″W / 51.19°N 2.261°W |
| Area | 9,000 acres (36.42 km2) |
| Created | 1966 |
| Camp sites | Yes |
| Website | www |
Longleat Safari and Adventure Park, in Wiltshire, England, was opened in 1966 as the first drive-through safari park outside Africa. The park is situated in the grounds of Longleat House, an English stately home which is open to the public and is the home of the 7th Marquess of Bath. Longleat Safari Park and the concept of safari parks were the brainchild of Jimmy Chipperfield (1912–1990), former co-director of Chipperfield's Circus.
Today, Longleat is home to over 500 animals, and the estate occupies 9,000 acres (36.42 km2) of Wiltshire countryside.
See also Longleat
Opened to the public in 1949, the ancestral home of the Marquess of Bath remains a popular attraction with visitors. Visitors can join one of the many regular house tours or simply walk about at their leisure. They may also explore the gardens surrounding the house and visit a number of cafés within the grounds. A separate ticket is sold for visitors who only wish to visit the House and Gardens.
Established in 1965 as "Longleat Railway" and expanded in 1975, the 15 in (381 mm) gauge ridable miniature railway is among the busiest in the country. It has a length of one and a quarter miles (2 km) through scenic woodland and along the edge of Half Mile Lake. The line has taken several different courses across the years, but the route along the lake has remained consistent. After opening the railway was originally run by outside company Minirail on a ten-year contract, which was not renewed due to disagreements between the two companies. Following this, Longleat took over running the railway in 1976. Many engines have run on the railway over the years, both steam and diesel; currently the railway owns two diesel locomotives with one running the passenger services and another in reserve. The railway also has 15 carriages, all built at Longleat between 1976 and 2013, along with several permanent way wagons. At the far end of the line is a halt platform which is only used for Santa Specials, with a purpose built grotto and a reindeer enclosure.
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Wikipedia