Longleat - waste of money in my opinion!!

blue_monkey_2

OK, granted we paid with Tesco Vouchers but we went to Longleat this week for the first and last time. Thought it would be a good 'day' out. More like a good morning out!!

You get a 'passport' which allows you into various attractions. Thing is, you are only allowed in once. We went through to the bats and my son cried, had to take him out and then could not get back in with my daughter to have a proper look as we had been in once and that was it unless we wanted to pay another £2 each. We took an hour and half getting round the Safari Park and was in the main park at 12.15 and then everything else - including an hour and a half for lunch (and £5.25 for a jacket potato and salad - please!!) was done by 3.00. We were optimistic and took the buggy in then went back and took it to the car as we did not need it. Dire, dire, dire value for money and I we would have been very annoyed had we have paid for us all to get in. They seem to have it all wrong. We went into Postman Pats village and was told that now parents have to have their cards stamped as last year people were 'abusing the system'. Of course, we was very excited to find that the abuse was for pressing a few buttons to see Postman Pat waving his arms and the like.

Come on Longleat, sort it out. We have young children, most of which are not happy to stay in one place for more than 5 minutes at a time and then we can't go back to get another look because we have 'done' that attraction. I can understand when it is busy but when it is dead quiet why not be a bit more lenient.

However, a big thumbs up for the lady on Pets Corner who let us back in to watch the Parrot Show as my kids could not see the first time!!

Yeah and also it is much, much smaller than it looks on the telly!! Pets Corner, the bats, train and boat just once is not a full day out at all!! The Safari Park is good but as you can only go round the once the day is finished within 3 hours.

Rant over!!

montycat_2

Hi ,
I'm sorry you found it disappointing .I have taken my girls many times and everytime ,we have enjoyed it .Most of the time is spent in the adventure castle .As to food prices ,I think that goes for everywhere .Packing a picnic helps there .They are one of the few places that I have found do an all inclusive ticket or ,pay as you go .
There is the house to visit ,a water safari ,the train ride ,the world famous maze ,museum of toys ,King Arthurs labyrinth .Secret Garden and of course the Doctor Who exhibition

Not bad for £19.00 adults and £15.00 children if you ask me .
Did you not visit any of those
Also ,you can go in again another day and ,use the rest of the passport .
I love Longleat and ,so do my kids .
Would rather go there than Legoland .

blue_monkey_2

I did forget to mention, both of my children are toddlers, well, one is just 3 and the other 2, so getting their attention on anything for more than 5 minutes is just impossible. They are a little too young to be walking around the house and exhibitions to be honest, that is why I thought £15 for a 3 year old a little excessive. It is more that once they have been and done it you can't go in again. I can see that it is good idea for busy days but there was only about 400 people there if that, and it was raining. I know they have the maze but they would not be interested in anything like that. As for a picnic, yes, we do usually do this but we had been on holiday for the week and was on our way back and stopped off mid a 6 hour journey to go to Longleat but along with packing the car and getting everything sorted a picnic was the last thing I wanted to make in all fairness but yes, you can take your own food. We usually go to places like Colchester Zoo as you can walk round again and again. Also, Paradise Park in Broxbourne, I was a little doubtful when we went as it looked tiny but I had gift voucher for my birthday but there was loads to do and we came away with the kids still wanting to do more so that is a good day out and I'll go back again.

As for Legoland, yes, I absolutley agree with you and we rarely go places like that. I have never been to Legoland. However, don't get me started on Digglerland which was Closed when we got there with 2 kids screaming with excitment in the back of the car... in May and at the start of the holiday season in Devon which is where loads of people go for a holiday. You have to wonder!!

wobbley

montycat wrote:

Not bad for £19.00 adults and £15.00 children if you ask me .
.

Eeeeek ! - That would be £68 for a family of four !!!! I dunno if it's because I'm 'up Norf' and we are all poor up here,but that is an AWFUL lot of money to pay for an entrance fee.When you ad travelling costs, meals and other bits and bats it would have to be an absolutely fantastic day out to be worth that much.

Horasio

Attractions are getting horrendously expensive

montycat_2

Oh I agree ,but my 3 have gone as toddlers and we weren't in and out .Maybe ,my kids are different .They love looking around houses .
They love the adventure Castle ,spend hours in there and loved being chased in the maze .
Just my opinion .
As to the cost ,remember that this is a safari park with hundreds of real-life animals to feed ,a park that is involved with conservation projects etc .
Safari parks are expensive places .
I have always had happy times at Longleat and so have my children .
Of course this is my opinion ,and I don't expect everyone to agree .

Wobbley (tongue in cheek) -the south has poverty as well .It is not £19.00 Entrance fee .It is a passport to entry for all the attractions .Of course you can pay individually for each attraction (totalling -£41.00 for an adult and £38.00 a child ).Now ,that is a rip off .
There are free attractions as well but ,they have to be kept safe and pristine and maintained so ,no I don't think it is too expensive if you buy the Passport ticket .

flang

I live about 15 mins drive from longleat and have only been a couple of times due to the costs, however i visit the longleat forest and a lake called shearwater every couple of months as its a really nice place to cycle/walk and its free!

Coupon-mad

Wobbley... in my experience being up north is much cheaper (e.g. you can actually buy a flat or house)!! Different if you are in a high unemployment area, granted, but let's get away from the North-South divide here!

As regards the cost of attractions the OP said she'd got in with Tesco's deals - don't we all! That's usually a 75% discount and you're using vouchers earned on your usual shopping. You can also go online to get a copy of 'Days Out' voucher booklet for about £4 which will get you vouchers for all over the UK. I've got 4 kids so I got more than 1 copy...

mike_the_haggler

(why I thought £15 for a 3 year old a little excessive)


What a rip-off

And £19 for Adults ......!**!!

How can a attraction justify that...

Astaroth

Many places charge that and more though... but at the same time they have constant offers with the likes of Tesco, Nector or Railway 2-4-1... prehaps the prices are inflated to cover the cost of all these promotions?

Went to Leeds Castle, Kent the otherday and was impressed that after getting the 2-4-1 offer from the railway (though I did drive) the ticket lasts 1 year excluding 3 bank holidays so it will be a nice place just to go back for a picnic or such

montycat_2

Whatever ,I have been there and ,I DON'T think it is a rip off .

Look at Woburn £16..50 an Adult for just the safari Park ,Knowsley is £10.00 an Adult for just the safari park (longleat as well if you just do the park )
Whipsnade-£15.00 an Adult .
Blackpool Zoo £10.00 an adult
Marwell Zoo -13.50
All of these are charges just to see the animals alone .
You get more than that for £19.00 at Longleat .