Longleat off long leave

THE grounds and famous safari park of the Wiltshire house came 14th in ALVA’S list of of the UK’S most visited attractions of 2021, up 47% on the year before, despite the fact that the building itself has remained closed for two years, its longest closure since 1949. Longleat—the first ever country house to welcome the public on a fully commercial basis—will finally re-open to visitors next month. ‘We have been working hard to devise a way to showcase more of what the house has to offer than ever before,’ explains Lord Bath. In honour of the jubilee, a new display tells the story of the 6th Marquess of Bath’s extraordinary decision to travel to the 1953 Coronation in the Longleat State Chariot (below). A programme of exhibitions will feature archive items not normally on permanent display. Opens April 1; visit www. longleat.co.uk/longleat-house