If you’ve got a family holiday or weekend celebration planned in Wiltshire one thing you’ll need to factor in is keeping everybody entertained. When you’re staying at a large group holiday house with fantastic features like swimming pools, hot tubs, games rooms and play areas it takes the pressure off, but what about other things to do – places to visit for days out, off site activities and so on? Come with us on a quick round up and be inspired…
Longleat
A trip to Longleat makes a brilliant family day out, with so much to squeeze in. A must is the Drive Through Safari, where you get to see all kinds of animals from all over the globe. This is so exciting – see giraffes, zebras and lemurs in the African Village, the super cats in Tiger Territory, Cheetah Kingdom, and what Longleat is famous for – Lion Country; see them snoozing, parading about, sharpening their claws on the trees, if you’re lucky, hear them roar!
Pootle through the Big Game Park looking out for camels and white rhinos, through Wolf Wood where a pack of grey wolves live, see the happy herds in the Deer Park, and if you’re brave enough, head into Monkey Mayhem where the cheeky macaques reside. They will climb on your car, they will pick at bits, and they have been known to pull things off, so if you value your motor, you might be better off bypassing this one or opting for a ride on the safari bus!
Cruise past Monkey Island and the Gorilla Colony on the Boat Safari, get up close to smaller animals on the Walking Safari, wind your way around the UK’s longest hedge maze, visit Longleat House to delve into the history and delight of one of the country’s finest stately homes. And there's more!
Ride the Longleat Railway, visit the Family Farmyard, let the kids let off steam in the Adventure Castle or the Little Explorers’ Garden. Stop for a picnic or lunch in one of the cafes, and finally, browse the shop to find the perfect safari souvenir. Whoop, whoop!
Stourhead (National Trust)
Stourhead is a gem in Wiltshire’s crown, known all over the world for its imposing Palladian mansion house and spectacular landscaped gardens. Soak up the history of the house, see the internationally important collections of paintings and furniture, and the bejewelled Pope’s Cabinet with 153 secret drawers. There are activities and things for children to spot, and a dressing-up box with servants’ clothes.
Amble around the gardens, an absolute dream with temples and grottoes set around a huge lake. Enjoy the views from the Pantheon, modelled on the Pantheon in Rome, the Temple of Apollo up on the hill, the Temple of Flora and the circular Grotto with its statue of a bearded River God. Come in the autumn and the glorious colours of the trees reflected in the lake are a sight to behold.
Round off your visit with a stop off at the play area where the kids can let off any extra steam; replenish your nighttime reading in the second-hand bookshop, have a cream tea in the restaurant, or lunch at The Spread Eagle down in the village.
Lacock Abbey & Village (National Trust)
Lacock has to be one of the most picturesque villages in England. If you’ve never been there but it seems somehow recognisable, you’re probably right; it’s been a filming location in the likes of Downton Abbey, Pride and Prejudice, Wolf Hall and Harry Potter.
Amble around the quintessential village where timber-framed shops and houses line the streets, little changed on the outside for over 200 years. Visit Lacock Abbey to discover its monastic origins and see the medieval cloisters, stroll around the botanic gardens where paths meander through woodlands and parkland, and uncover the history of photography in the museum and gallery.
Next to the Tudor Bakehouse there’s a used bookshop, and the old stables now serve as a café.
Salisbury Cathedral
Salisbury is a lovely city, famous for its water meadows and most notably, its 800-year-old cathedral, that is not without its claims to fame – the tallest spire in Britain, the largest cloisters, the biggest Cathedral Close, and it’s the home of an original Magna Carta from 1215.
Book a tour, see the cathedral’s book collection in the Library, learn about the beautifully ornate textiles held here, and the stories revealed by the graffiti carved by the people who worked and worshipped here over the centuries. If you have a head for heights (and are reasonably fit), climb the 322 steps on a Tower Tour; the views from the top are, as to be expected, incredible.
Pick up a memento of your visit in the gift shop, linger for a picnic, or lunch in one of the tea rooms.
Bradford on Avon
Bradford on Avon is like a mini version of Bath, with beautiful stone buildings climbing up the hillside, and for a town of relatively small size, lots to see and do. Start off with a wander, looking up and all around, explore the quiet backstreets and alleyways, go and see the Saxon church, and if it’s an open day, take a peek inside the Lock Up on the Town Bridge.
Family fun comes in the form of town treasure trails, play areas and bike hire, but where you’ll want to linger is the canal basin. Go for a walk or cycle along the towpath, climb on board the Barabar McLellan Trip Boat for a ride along the Kennet & Avon, or if you’d rather do it under your own steam, hire canoes from The Lock Inn
Fill your bellies at one of the many cafes, pubs or restaurants in town, or have a picnic and a paddle down by the by the 13th-century Tithe Barn.
Bowood House and Gardens
A visit to Bowood House and Gardens makes for a lovely afternoon out for all ages.This Georgian country house, set in 100 acres of landscaped parkland, is full of surprises, so you should all go home happy. If you have golfers among you, there’s an 18-hole golf course, so they might like to book for that while the rest of you take a look around the house and gardens.
See the staterooms and find out about the family who have lived here for generations, potter around the exquisitely laid out terrace garden, and spend time in the 4-acre walled garden where there are beautiful displays of tulips in the spring and roses in the summer. Wander on to the Greenhouses and the Sensory Garden, allowing time to stop and stare, to take it all in. Look out for the Doric Temple, The Cascade and the Hermit’s Cave; if you’re here in the springtime when the Woodland Garden is open, you’re in for such a treat – it’s ablaze with the rich colour of bluebells, azalea, rhododendrons and magnolia.
Kids will love the Adventure Playground, and the activities that are held throughout the year – like nature trails, Big Tree Climbing, Creepy Critters Workshops and family crafts.
Of course, no attraction like this would be complete without the obligatory gift shop and café. Go treat yourself to something.
Stonehenge (English Heritage)
Just how DID those enormous stones get here, and what were they for? Well, there are theories, but it remains a mystery, though you shouldn’t let that stop you going to find out what you can. Walk around the stone circle and you’ll notice it has such an incredible atmosphere, it will certainly get you wondering. The huts in the Neolithic village are fascinating – and to think people lived here over 4,000 years ago!
Budding archaeologists will love the exhibition in the Visitor Centre – there are over 250 objects found in the landscape here, telling the story of how those ancient peoples lived and worked. You can even see the face of man who was here 5,500 years ago, reconstructed from his bones found close by.
For something different, you can book a Stone Circle Experience that takes place at sunrise for the early birds, and sunset for those who prefer to have a lie-in.
The Visitor Centre has a shop and a café (of course!) and a large picnic area for those who are organised.
Cholderton Rare Breeds Farm
Family fun often means getting close up to animals, and why not? Kids love it because animals can be so cute, and when they’re rare breeds, it’s an opportunity for you all to see more unusual furries. And that’s what award-winning, family-run Cholderton Rare Breeds Farm is all about; here is home to the likes of Eriskay Ponies, Abyssinian Donkeys, Highland Cows, Greyface Dartmoor Sheep, American Miniature Ponies, a Giant Rabbit, Oxford Sandy & Black Pigs, and Pygmy Goats.
They run animal talks and activities every day, usually including pig racing, guinea pig fishing, duck feeding and animal encounters. Don’t think it will be a short visit – it won’t because there are outdoor play areas, indoor soft play, a fairy village, woodlands, and a café for those who didn’t fancy cutting up sarnies and packing the pop for a picnic. Also onsite are alpaca walking and vineyard tours.