Bath to Longleat is about a 40-minute drive each way, and the same applies going from Longleat back to Bath. It's genuinely difficult without a car, with public transport taking two and a half hours or more each way. If you're driving, it's an easy half-day or full-day safari park and stately home visit; if you're not, you need to plan around it rather than assume it'll work out.
What Longleat actually is
Longleat combines a drive-through Safari Park with walkthrough animal areas, an Elizabethan stately home, and a wider adventure park. A standard day ticket includes the Safari Drive-through in your own vehicle, on-foot animal areas like Animal Adventure, Jungle Kingdom and Koala Creek, and family attractions including the Jungle Cruise boat ride and the Hedge Maze. Longleat House itself, with its Great Hall and centuries of history connecting to figures from Boudica to Jane Austen, is included on the ground floor, with guided tours available as an add-on. Optional extras on top of a day ticket include the Safari Bus and animal feeding experiences, all paid by card only, since the site is cashless.
Getting there by car
Longleat sits on the Wiltshire and Somerset border, near Warminster, about a 40-minute drive from central Bath via the A36 and A362. It's straightforward driving, mostly A-roads through countryside. There's a car park on site (parking charges apply for most visitors), and EV charging points are available in the Silver Birch car park at a per-kWh rate, though you'll need your own charging cable.
One thing worth knowing before you set off: soft-top convertibles, cars with soft vinyl sunroofs, motorbikes and vehicles with loose roof-box parts aren't allowed into the Safari Drive-through, for the safety of both visitors and animals.
Getting there without a car
This is the honest catch. The nearest railway station is Warminster, and from there it's an onward bus or taxi to reach the park, a combination that can run to two and a half hours or more each way once you include waits and connections. If you don't have a car, a taxi from Warminster station is the most reliable last leg, though be aware that arriving by taxi or drop-off means you won't have access to the Safari Drive-through itself, since that requires your own vehicle.
There is one genuinely useful alternative: Wiltshire Connect, a demand-responsive bus service that has expanded to cover south-west Wiltshire, including Longleat. Unlike a normal bus, it doesn't run a fixed route or timetable; you book a ride through the Wiltshire Connect app or by calling 01225 712900, up to seven days ahead or with as little as 30 minutes' notice on the day, subject to availability. It's worth checking whether it currently serves your starting point before relying on it, since coverage and vehicles are limited.
If you're set on visiting without a car and want to avoid the Warminster leg altogether, a guided day tour from Bath that includes Longleat is usually the more stress-free option, since it removes the connection planning entirely.
What it costs
Longleat uses dynamic pricing, so the exact fare depends on how far ahead you book and how busy the date is, and prices are also higher during special seasonal events than in the main season. Buying online in advance is reliably cheaper than paying on the gate on the day, sometimes by a significant margin, so it's worth booking ahead rather than turning up and paying at the entrance. Because the exact current rate shifts through the year, check longleat.co.uk directly for the price on your specific date before you travel rather than relying on a fixed figure. The Safari Drive-through, walkthrough animal areas and family attractions are all included in a standard day ticket; the Safari Bus, animal feeding experiences and Longleat House guided tours cost extra.
When it's open
Longleat runs a long main season of daily opening from spring through to early autumn, then shifts to a reduced, part-week schedule for a few weeks in October before daily opening resumes for the Festival of Light event, which typically runs from early November into the new year. Exact opening and closing times, and the last entry time for the Safari Drive, vary through the year and by event, so check the current opening times on longleat.co.uk before you travel, particularly outside the main summer season.
Making the most of a car-free visit
If you can't drive the Safari Drive-through, Longleat still has plenty on foot: the Hedge Maze, Adventure Castle, Jungle Cruise boat ride, Longleat Railway and Little Explorers Garden, alongside animal areas like Jungle Kingdom, the Bat Cave, Monkey Temple, Koala Creek and the Family Farmyard. You can also visit Longleat House and the formal gardens without a car. The daily Safari Bus offers another way to see the drive-through animals if you don't have a vehicle of your own.
How it fits with the rest of your trip
Longleat pairs naturally with a day trip if you're staying in Bath for a few days and have hired a car; see our where to stay guide if you're still deciding on a base, and our broader day trips from Bath guide for how it compares to Bath's easier, train-accessible outings. If you're bringing children, our Bath with kids guide has more on family days out closer to the city itself.
Frequently asked questions
How far is it from Bath to Longleat, and does it take the same time back?
About 40 minutes each way by car via the A36 and A362, whichever direction you're travelling.
How do you get from Bath to Longleat without a car?
It's difficult. The nearest station is Warminster, then a bus or taxi onward, which can take two and a half hours or more each way in total. Wiltshire Connect, a demand-responsive minibus service, is the best public transport option if it covers your starting point; otherwise a guided day tour from Bath is more reliable.
How much do Longleat tickets cost?
Longleat uses dynamic pricing that varies by date and season, and rises further during special events, so there's no single fixed price. Booking online in advance is consistently cheaper than paying on the gate, so check longleat.co.uk for the exact current rate on your travel date before you go.
Is Longleat open all year round?
No. It runs daily through its main spring-to-autumn season, then moves to a reduced part-week schedule for part of October before reopening daily for the Festival of Light from early November into the new year. Check longleat.co.uk for exact dates before planning an autumn or winter visit.
Can I do the Safari Drive-through without my own car?
No, the Safari Drive-through requires your own vehicle, and soft-top convertibles, motorbikes and cars with loose roof-box parts aren't allowed in either. The daily Safari Bus is the alternative if you don't have a car.
Is Longleat cashless?
Yes, all payments, including extras like the Safari Bus and animal feeding experiences, are card only.
What is Wiltshire Connect?
A demand-responsive minibus service covering south-west Wiltshire, including Longleat, booked via app or by calling 01225 712900 rather than run to a fixed timetable, up to seven days ahead or as little as 30 minutes before.