The Longleat Estate attracts thousands of people every year and has something for all ages. Youngsters will love the animals in the safari park, which featured in the BBC series Animal Park last year, while older visitors will enjoy browsing round the stately home and gardens.

Home to the eccentric Lord Bath, the Longleat Estate has been welcoming visitors for many years, who come to take a drive through the splendid safari park and marvel at all the magnificent animals.

The safari park first opened in 1966 and continues to play a major role in the world programme of the breeding and conservation of endangered species. The treasures and gardens of Longleat house are also there for everyone to enjoy. Longleat will provide a fun-packed day out for all the family.

What's new for 2005?

There are lots of exciting things going on at Longleat this year. The BBC is back filming series six of the popular Animal Park programmes, which are due to be broadcast later this year.

Longleat is also launching a live interactive show, The Animal Park Challenge, set to open for the summer holidays. Contestants will be set a series of tricky tasks ­ including cleaning `priceless' works of art, howling like wolves or acting like monkeys in this new show which provides fun behind the scenes at Longleat.

A new viewing point is being added to the centre of the world-famous hedge maze. Made from Longleat forest timber it will provide visitors with an even better view, a real incentive to make it to the middle. Meerkat Mountain is being re-named Meerkat and Mongoose Mountain to mark the introduction of a group of yellow mongoose to the popular lakeside enclosure. There are also lots of exciting things happening at pet's corner, where a newly completed enclosure will be home to a colony of Richardson's ground squirrels and other unusual new animals will be arriving later in the season.

In Longleat House, new display cabinets will showcase a selection of superb silver and porcelain items along with a changing exhibition of books, manuscripts and documents from archives and libraries.

Longleat House and Safari Park

Warminster (01985) 844400

Passport ticket allowing you to visit over several days: Adult £16, children £13