Longleat House, is set within 900 acres of ‘Capability Brown’ landscaped gardens and is widely regarded as one of the best examples of Elizabethan architecture in Britain and one of the most beautiful stately homes open to the public. It was built in 1540 after a former employee of King Henry VIII - John Thynn, purchased the ruins of a priory for £53.
The house and estate has remained in the Thynn family through the years and each successive generation has added their own personal flourishes.
In 1949, Longleat became the first stately home to open to the public and since then the entire estate has grown to become Wiltshire's foremost tourist attraction.