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Photo: Andy Potter, CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Longleat Park, landscaped by Capability Brown, has animal neighbours: lions, tigers, wolves, gorillas, giraffes, rhino and an elephant.
Longleat Safari and Adventure Park in Longleat, Wiltshire, England, was opened in 1966 as the world's first drive-through safari park outside Africa. It is in the grounds of Longleat House, the home of the 8th Marquess of Bath. In addition to the main house, attractions include a Safari Park and the Longleat Railway.
© OpenStreetMap contributors
"The greatest treasure house in the West Country" is on Warminster's doorstep, and, who knows, while visiting you might bump into the 7th Marquess of Bath, famous for his murals and his memoirs, and known locally, like his late father, for being a generous benefactor to Warminster. On the site of an Augustine priory, work commenced on the building of Longleat House in 1567.
Restored between 1887 and 1889. Outside the main door stands a venerable yew tree which is often quoted as being a thousand years old, although a study suggests it dates back to the 14th century.
The Athenaeum on the north side of the High Street was built in 1858 as a lecture hall and among its early speakers was Oscar Wilde who gave a talk on The House Beautiful. The present auditorium was built in 1879 as the Charles Bleeck Memorial Hall. From 1912 to 1964 it was the Palace Cinema and was also the venue for amateur operatics and drama. Eric Sykes, of television fame, was a regular cast member in a touring company which performed here in the 1940s. From 1969 onwards the building was used as an Arts Centre, with many famous names gracing the stage. Following a pause in proceedings in the 1990s, the Athenaeum re-opened in 2000 and is now held in trust as a registered charity by and for the people of Warminster. It is being promoted as a vibrant centre for the community. This fine Victorian theatre (complete with balcony), seating 220 persons, is certainly an intimate venue for all types of entertainment. Users have good backstage facilities, in-house lighting and dressing rooms. The Athenaeum plays host to the Warminster and District Film Society which offer once-a-month screenings. Tickets can be bought in advance or on the day the film is shown. Early booking is advised, as many of the films sell out quickly.
The Chapel of St. Lawrence, at High Street, is a "Peculiar", existing outside direct Church of England control and held in trust by feofees since 1575, when they purchased the chapel for the town for £38 6s. 6d. A clock which has no face is installed in the tower and sounds the hours and the quarters. The chapel is open daily for prayer and evensong is held on the third Sunday of every month. The patronal service is held in August. A flower festival is usually presented inside the Chapel during the Christmas period, with donations being given to charity. The Friends of St. Lawrence Chapel organise many events and concerts at the Chapel.
At Boreham Road, designed by G.E. Street and built in 1865. It glows magnificently in the sunshine. The walls inside are illiustrated with mosaics of scriptural scenes designed by Ponting and made by J. Powell of Whitefriars. They were unveiled in 1912. Another was added to mark the 2000 Millenium.
Stourton. Within easy reach of Warminster is Stourhead, a National Trust property with its magnificent 18th-century pleasure garden landscaped around a lake and complete with temples, grottos, statues and monuments such as the old Bristol High Cross. It is particularly famous for colourful foliage in autumn.