longleat safari park bath

Top Family Attractions - Plan Your Visit To Longleat

Barmy aristocrats, a family feud, a great Elizabethan house and lions in the backyard - why would anyone not want to visit Longleat?

Not too long ago the BBC program All Change at Longleat   offered viewers a revealing behind-the-scenes look at what's been going on since the endearingly loony Lord Bath (Alexander Thynn, 7th Marquess of Bath) handed over the business reins of the Longleat estate to his much less colorful son and heir, Viscount Weymouth.

The show was better than a soap opera as Ceawlin (the Viscount, whose name is pronounced Syoolin ) and his new wife Emma took over the place and immediately fell out with the old man. It's available on YouTube and it's worth a look in for a giggle.

Meanwhile, life goes on as normal for visitors to the great stately home and amazing safari park. Here's what you need to know to plan a visit.

First A Bit of Background

Longleat has been welcoming visitors since the late 1940s. The house an outstanding example of High Elizabethan architecture in England , was the first stately home ever opened to the public on a commercial basis. In a way, Henry, the 6th Marquess, father of the current Marquess of Bath, pioneered the tourism genre of stately homes as multiple activity attractions.

In 1966, Longleat opened the first drive-through Safari Park outside of Africa. It has since been seen by millions, worldwide, through the BBC's Animal Park television series.

Today, Longleat, set within 900 acres of Capability Brown landscaped park and 8,000 acres of woodland, lakes and farmland, is crammed with family activities and attractions, including:

Longleat House

Completed by 1580, Longleat was already a splendid house when it was visited by Queen Elizabeth I in 1574. Today's visitors can enjoy the remarkable collections of one family who have looked after the house for 14 generations, over 400 years. Among its treasures are masterpieces of Italian Renaissance and seven libraries (some of which are included in tours) filled with 40,000 books - the largest private collection in Europe.

One of the gorier items in the family collection is the bloodstained waistcoat worn by King Charles I at his execution. You can see it displayed in the Great Hall.

The notorious murals and portraits painted by the current Lord Bath decorate the private apartments and can be seen on morning guided tours of the ground floor. One reason for the family feud, as seen in the BBC documentary, was Viscount Weymouth's removal of one of the murals - his wife said they smelled. She meant they smelled of oil paint, but some art critics have been of the same opinion.

Longleat Safari Park

When Longleat first opened its safari park in the 1960s, the locals worried about lions roaming around the Wiltshire countryside. It's not an idle worry.

One of the revealing snippets of All Change at Longleat was the fact that estate managers carefully check the three miles of fencing around the safari park every day. They don't expect the big cats to tunnel out. But if a large branch falls in the night, it could provide a ladder for a lion or tiger to climb over a fence.

Visitors don't have to worry - as long as they stay safely locked in their cars. As you drive through, you can expect close encounters with wolves, giraffes, rhinos, two prides of the famous black-maned Longleat lions and, if you are lucky, the shy Siberian tigers. Thegangs of Rhesus monkeys that commit all kinds of mayhem on cars passing through the monkey jungle are very popular with families. And, if you take a boat ride on the park's lake, you may spot members of the new colony of lowland gorillas on the island in the middle. This was once the home of Nico, the park's Silverback gorilla who was one of the world's oldest known Silverbacks and a widower. He lived in splendid isolation on his own island. Sadly, Nico died at 56 years of age in 2018. The new gorillas are now settling in.

Also settling in is the family of Koalas. The park has created an Aussie paradise for them at Koala Creek.

Besides being a park attraction, with more than 100 species to see, Longleat plays a vital role in international breeding, conservation and rescue programs. Every year there are new arrivals. In 2019 the park celebrated the birth of two Amur Tiger cubs. This endangered species is the world's largest cat. Later in the year, seven wolf cubs were born in Wolf Wood.

Longleat Essentials

• Where: Longleat, Warminster, Wiltshire BA12 7NW England
• Phone: +44 (0)1985 844 400  
• Visit their website
• Open:  Longleat House, the Safari Park and the Adventure Park (with a superb Maze) are open from late March to November 1, from November 13 to December 6 and from December 11 to January 3, except for Christmas Day. Last admission and closing times vary based on daylight hours. Check the website for dates and times because opening days and hours vary slightly from year to year.
• Admission: Adult, child and senior tickets (for 60+) are available for the whole park, including Longleat House, or for the house and garden only. No family tickets are offered but online tickets cost 15% less than full price.
• By car: Longleat is just off the A36 between Bath and Salisbury on the A362 Warminster – Frome road. It's about 106 miles and 2.5 hours from London.
• By train: From London, take the Paddington to Penzance service to Westbury Station, 12 miles from Longleat. Warminster Station, 5 miles away, can be reached from London Waterloo, changing at Salisbury or from London Paddington, changing at Bath Spa. Check National Rail Enquiries for times and prices.    Taxi s from both stations can be booked.

4-Day UK Travel Itinerary: West of London Travel Plan

The 12 Best Things to Do Along England's Jurassic Coast

15 Terrific Day Trips From London

Akagera National Park, Rwanda: The Complete Guide

Top UK Destinations for Stone Circles and Ancient Sites

The 16 Most Beautiful Natural Features in the UK

Visit the Flamboyant Elizabethan Manors of England

15 Best Things to Do in Rwanda

The 10 Top Things to Do in Santa Rosa

10 Little Known Roman Ruins in England, Scotland and Wales

Top 20 Most Popular UK Cities for International Visitors

18 Top Things to Do for Easter Weekend in the United Kingdom

Are Multi-Stop Day Trips From London Worth the Money?

The Top 18 Family Attractions in the United Kingdom

Stay Cheaper By Staying Close to - Not in - London

The Top 20 Things to Do in the UK

Explore the UK's first safari park at Longleat

Longleat, wiltshire.

Feed giraffes by hand and walk on the wildside with lemurs at this popular safari park, found in the picturesque grounds of historic Longleat House.

First opened in 1966, Longleat Safari Park was the first drive-through attraction of its kind outside Africa, and it's still running strong today. With countless species of animals and attractions like Penguin Island, Stingray Bay, Jungle Cruise and an adventure castle, it's a great day out for the entire family. Explore the animal habitats on a road tour through the park, before stepping onto the Main Square and venturing into koala habitats, outdoor playgrounds and hedge mazes.

Special events run throughout the year, including the ever-popular Festival of Lights over the Christmas period; this large display of illuminated Chinese lanterns adorns the entire parkland and adds a touch of festivity to everything. And, of course, visitors can also extend their stay in the area with a tour through Longleat House and its surrounding pleasure gardens.

Longleat Safari Park is due to re-open on Monday 15 June - make sure to check the website through the link below for availability and opening times.

• Find out more about Longleat
• Find more wildlife and nature reserves in Wiltshire

Refine your search:

You may be interested in...

Spend a day exploring the sights of Tisbury

With art and beauty steeped in history, Tisbury is an excellent base from which to explore Wiltshire’s countryside.

Location: Tisbury, Wiltshire

Walk and picnic amongst the prehistoric landscape at Avebury

Step into the largest stone circle in the world, standing for over 4500 years, and the site of a host of archaeological excavations.

Location: Marlborough, Wiltshire

Lose Yourself in Cotswolds Beauty

Discover charming villages and beautiful countryside on a visit to the Wiltshire Cotswolds.

Location: Wiltshire

Indulge in a pampering Ila Chakra Wellbeing Couples Experience

Rekindle the flames of love on a romantic break at the luxury five-star Whatley Manor Hotel and Spa near Malmesbury, Wiltshire.

Location: nr Malmesbury, Wiltshire

We've something we want to share

Want to receive travel tips and ideas by email?

VisitEngland would like to invite you to take part in a short survey about our website, it should take no more than a couple of minutes.

Go to the survey

To add items to favourites …

… you need to be logged in.

If you already have an account, log in.

Or register a new account

Access your account

Top choice in Wiltshire

Half ancestral mansion, half wildlife park, Longleat was transformed into Britain's first safari park in 1966, turning Capability Brown's landscaped grounds into an amazing drive-through zoo populated by a menagerie of animals more at home in the African wilderness than the fields of Wiltshire. There's a throng of attractions, too: the historic house, animatronic dinosaur exhibits, narrow-gauge railway, mazes, pets' corner, butterfly garden and bat cave.

It's just off the A362, 3 miles from Frome. Save around 10% by booking tickets online.

Longleat was the first English stately home to open its doors to the public. That decision was prompted by finance: heavy taxes and mounting post-WWII bills meant the house had to earn its keep.

The house itself contains fine tapestries, furniture and decorated ceilings, as well as seven libraries containing around 40,000 tomes. The highlight, though, is an extraordinary series of paintings and psychedelic murals by the present-day marquess, who was an art student in the ̓60s and upholds the long-standing tradition of eccentricity among the English aristocracy – check out his website (www.lordbath.co.uk).

Longleat is open until 7pm on many summer weekends.

near Warminster

Get In Touch

01985-844400

https://​www​.longleat​.co​.uk​/

Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Roman Baths

Welcome to one of Northern Europe's most significant Roman sites. Today more than a million visitors a year come to see its historic finds, atmospheric…

Salisbury Cathedral

22.47 MILES

England is endowed with countless stunning churches, but few can hold a candle to the grandeur and sheer spectacle of 13th-century Salisbury Cathedral…

Glastonbury Tor

18.61 MILES

Topped by the ruined medieval Chapel of St Michael, the iconic hump of Glastonbury Tor is visible for miles around, and provides Somerset with one of its…

Magna Carta

22.49 MILES

Magna Carta on display in Salisbury Cathedral's Chapter House is one of only four surviving original copies. A historic agreement made in 1215 between…

19.55 MILES

An ultramodern makeover at ancient Stonehenge has brought an impressive visitor centre and the closure of an intrusive road (now restored to grassland)…

Avebury Stone Circle

24.73 MILES

With a diameter of 348m, Avebury is the largest stone circle in the world. It's also one of the oldest, dating from 2500 to 2200 BC. Today, more than 30…

Brunel's SS Great Britain

23.13 MILES

This mighty, innovative steamship was designed by engineering genius Isambard Kingdom Brunel in 1843. You get to wander the galley, surgeon's quarters and…

Kingston Lacy

Dorset's must-see stately home looks every inch the setting for a period drama. It overflows with rich decor, most famously in the Spanish Room, which is…

Nearby Wiltshire attractions

1 . Stourhead

Overflowing with vistas, temples and follies, Stourhead is landscape gardening at its finest. The Palladian house has some fine Chippendale furniture and…

2 . King Alfred's Tower

A 50m-high folly with wonderful views. It's part of the National Trust property Stourhead, some 8 miles south of Frome.

3 . Tithe Barn

10.86 MILES

This vast 14th-century stone structure originally belonged to monks from Shaftesbury Abbey, and was used to store tithes (a 10% produce tax) during the…

4 . Prior Park

12.71 MILES

Partly designed by the landscape architect Lancelot 'Capability' Brown, the grounds of this 18th-century estate on Bath's southern fringe feature…

5 . Gold Hill

13.02 MILES

The often-photographed, painfully steep, quaint cobbled slope, lined by chocolate-box cottages, that starred in a famous TV advert for Hovis bread.

6 . Shaftesbury Abbey

These hilltop ruins mark the site of what was England's largest and richest nunnery. It was founded in 888 by King Alfred the Great, and his daughter,…

7 . American Museum in Britain

13.09 MILES

Britain's largest collection of American folk art, including First Nations textiles, patchwork quilts and historic maps, is housed in a fine mansion a…

8 . Old Wardour Castle

13.23 MILES

Six-sided Old Wardour Castle was built around 1393 and suffered severe damage during the English Civil War, leaving these imposing remains. The views from…

Longleat Safari Park

Top ways to experience nearby attractions

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Also popular with travelers

Longleat Safari Park - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

Longleat Safari Park

Top ways to experience nearby attractions

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Also popular with travellers

LONGLEAT SAFARI PARK: All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)

Sign Up Today

Start your 14 day free trial today

The History Hit Miscellany of Facts, Figures and Fascinating Finds

• United Kingdom

Wiltshire, UK

Sarah Roller

18 feb 2021, @sarahroller8, about longleat.

Longleat House & Safari Park is the seat of the Marquesses of Bath, as well as being notable for having the first safari park constructed outside of Africa. It is located in West Wiltshire, UK.

History of Longleat

Longleat was originally an Augustinian priory: the house was bought for Sir John Thynn in 1541, but burnt down shortly afterwards in 1567. By 1580 the house was rebuilt, mainly to a design by Sir John. The house has remained with the family ever since: Sir James Thynne employed Sir Christopher Wren to work on the house in the 17th century, and his son, Thomas Thynne, commissioned formal gardens and landscaping by George London.

Various other alterations happened in the 19th century under John Crace, adding some Italian Renaissance style interiors. The house was used as a temporary hospital during World War One and was used as a the base for an evacuated school in World War Two.

Longleat was opened to the public at the end of the 1940s in order to generate revenue, and the safari park was opened in 1966, becoming the first drive-through safari park outside of Africa. Part of the 900 acre estate was also leased to Centre Parcs in more recent years.

The house still has an impressive art and book collection today, and the formal gardens are exceptionally pleasant. The present Marquess’ father loved mazes, and planted several across the grounds which are worth getting lost in if you have the time.

Longleat today

The house is accessible via free flow, self-guided visit or via tour: there are multiple themes to choose from, including ‘Scandalous History Tours’ which dish the more salacious gossip on the Thynne family, including the current Marquess’ father, who kept his mistresses in grace and favour cottages across the estate and painted explicit murals in his house – be warned if you plan on taking children!

The safari park remains the star attraction for most visitors: the majority of it is drive through: the monkeys are particularly mischievous and have known to steal car aerials if you’re not careful. The park has a wide variety of animals, including lions, cheetahs, giraffe and zebras amongst many more – the novelty of seeing lions amongst the bluebells in spring is somewhere you won’t find elsewhere.

Getting to Longleat

Longleat is located just off the A36, roughly halfway between Bath and Salisbury, on the A362 between Warminster and Frome. Public transport options are somewhat limited: the nearest stations are Frome and Warminster respectively, although are both approximately 5 miles away and there is no bus service to speak of.

The drive through the grounds can be particularly lovely and atmospheric so be sure to enjoy it!

Featured In

Tudor Sites in England

Discover some of the best Tudor sites in England, from Henry VIII's favourite residence of Hampton Court Palace, to Shakespeare's magnificent Globe Theatre.

Wiltshire Historic Sites

Discover 10 of the best historic sites in Wiltshire with our expert guide. Located in the heart of Wessex, Wiltshire's history spans several millennia and caters to every taste: from ancient stone circles to modern day military history.

Related Articles

Why Did the Spanish Armada Fail?

Could James II Have Foreseen the Glorious Revolution?

Watch and listen.

Britain’s Wild West: Discovering Hay Castle

Martin Luther: Scourge of the Papacy

You may also like.

The 10 Best Bronze Age Sites to Visit in the World

5 Historic Mazes to Explore in England

Explore the Key Sites of Henry VIII’s Life and Reign

5 of the Best Hillforts in England

10 British Churches Ruined During the Dissolution of the Monasteries

The Best English Civil War Sites and Battlefields

11 British Royal Residences

10 Must-See Medieval Landmarks in England

10 of the Best Norman Sites in Britain

10 Historic Sites Associated with Anne Boleyn

10 Key Crusader Ruins and Monuments

Viking Sites in Scotland: 5 Areas with Nordic History

10 Historic Sites You Should Not Miss in 2023

Historic Sites Associated with Mary Queen of Scots

UK Edition Change

• UK Politics
• News Videos
• Paris 2024 Olympics
• Rugby Union
• Sport Videos
• John Rentoul
• Mary Dejevsky
• Andrew Grice
• Sean O’Grady
• Photography
• Theatre & Dance
• Culture Videos
• Fitness & Wellbeing
• Food & Drink
• Health & Families
• Royal Family
• Electric Vehicles
• Car Insurance Deals
• Lifestyle Videos
• UK Hotel Reviews
• News & Advice
• Simon Calder
• Australia & New Zealand
• South America
• C. America & Caribbean
• Middle East
• Politics Explained
• News Analysis
• Today’s Edition
• Home & Garden
• Broadband deals
• Fashion & Beauty
• Travel & Outdoors
• Sports & Fitness
• Sustainable Living
• Climate Videos
• Solar Panels
• Behind The Headlines
• On The Ground
• Decomplicated
• You Ask The Questions
• Binge Watch
• Travel Smart
• Watch on your TV
• Crosswords & Puzzles
• Most Commented
• Newsletters
• Ask Me Anything
• Virtual Events
• Betting Sites
• Online Casinos
• Wine Offers

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged in Please refresh your browser to be logged in

Lord Bath death: Longleat Safari Park owner dies aged 87 after contracting coronavirus

'gloriously' eccentric aristocrat passes away following treatment for covid-19 in hospital, article bookmarked.

Find your bookmarks in your Independent Premium section, under my profile

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world

Sign up to our free morning headlines email, thanks for signing up to the morning headlines email.

Lord Bath, the eccentric aristocrat, polygamist and owner of Longleat Safari Park , has died aged 87 after contracting Covid-19 .

Alexander Thynn was admitted to hospital in Bath on 28 March and tested positive for the coronavirus .

“It is with the deepest sadness we have to announce Lord Bath has died at the age of 87,” a statement from Longleat and the Thynn family said.

“Alexander Thynn, 7th Marquess of Bath, passed away on Saturday, 4th April.”

The statement added: “The family would like to express their great appreciation for the dedicated team of nurses, doctors and other staff who cared so professionally and compassionately for Alexander in these extremely difficult times for everyone.

“They would politely request a period of privacy to deal with their loss.”

Lord Bath lived an unconventional life that included a brief political career as the founder of the Wessex Regionalist Party in the 1970s, during which he argued that Wessex should be made into a devolved region within the UK.

He later sat in the House of Lords as a Liberal Democrat peer, where he continued to argue for greater devolution in England, until his position was scrapped by Labour ’s reforms to remove most of the hereditary peers in parliament.

The flamboyant aristocrat was notable for his colourful dress sense and for being a prolific amateur painter known for decorating rooms of his home with erotic scenes from the Kama Sutra .

He was also famous for openly having sexual relationships with more than 70 women during his 50-year marriage to Anna Gyarmathy and sometimes referred to these women as his "wifelets".

Kate Humble, who presented the television show Animal Park about Lord Bath’s estate, said she was “very sad” to hear about his death.

“Everyone will describe him as eccentric - and he was, gloriously so - but he was also kind and fun - and we all need a bit of kindness and fun in our lives,” Ms Humble wrote on Twitter .

Ben Fogle, who filmed the TV series with Ms Humble, said he was "devastated" by the news.​

Additional reporting by PA

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article

Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.

New to The Independent?

Or if you would prefer:

Want an ad-free experience?

Hi {{indy.fullName}}

• My Independent Premium
• Account details
• Help centre

Wine & Dine

Traditional local ales, world-class wines and classic cocktails. Our menus change as frequently as the surrounding landscape. Meat and game from the Longleat Estate and local farms and fish landed daily on the south coast. Comforting Sunday lunch, tasty bar snacks on the terrace, homemade apple crumble to share and dry-aged Wiltshire steaks.

Stay & UNWIND

Sixteen simple yet stylish bedrooms which feature crisp cotton sheets, baths with our own natural Bramley Products, comforting interiors inspired by the British countryside and views of the ever-changing surroundings.

A history of Longleat, the Marchioness of Bath’s family seat

By Rebecca Cope

You don’t need to be an avid watcher of Downton Abbey to know that following the First World War, the landed aristocracy struggled to keep afloat. While it’s not the case for the Granthams, many stately homes opted to open to the public, with on-site farm shops and the like providing a new income for the upper classes. Longleat, the family seat of the Marquesses of Bath since the 17th century, was the leader of the pack - becoming the first to open to the public in 1947.

Longleat has been the backdrop to many firsts, long at the forefront of British society. Another came in 1966, when Henry Thynne, the 6th Marquess of Bath, not content with simply opening the house and gardens to the public, decided to add a safari park, too - the first in the world outside of Africa. Perhaps most significantly to today, it has also welcomed Britain’s first black Viscountess - now Marchioness - into the fold, with the marriage of Emma McQuiston to Ceawlin Thynn, 8th Marquess of Bath in 2013. She was photographed at her home for the January 2021 cover shoot, resplendent in couture and every inch the regal Lady.

By Isaac Zamet

By Isaac Bickerstaff

By Eilidh Hargreaves

The Marchioness - who participated in 2019’s Strictly Come Dancing , has modelled for Dolce & Gabbana and has her own cookery brand, Emma’s Kitchen - is just the latest in a long line of fascinating figures who have walked the halls of Longleat.

Her father-in-law, the late Alexander Thynn, 7th Marquess of Bath, was certainly an eccentric character. Known for his talents as an artist - and his quirk of painting murals on the walls of his own home, including several depicting the Kama Sutra - he lived at Longleat with his so-called ‘wifelets’ (read: mistresses) who lived on the estate in cottages.

His own father, Henry Thynne, 6th Marquess of Bath, was once dubbed one of the ‘Bright Young Things’ in 1920s high society, and was responsible for opening the house to the public and installing the safari park. His first wife, the Hon Daphne Vivian, was a famous author, writing a number of society novels, including the Cecil Beaton-illustrated Before the Sunset Fades. His fascination with the paintings of Adolf Hitler - owning more than anyone else in the world - was a rather unsavoury hobby.

Longleat also has a ghostly member, too. Louisa Thynne, the second wife of Thomas Thynne, 2nd Viscount Weymouth, who according to myth haunts the house, pining for her murdered lover (although no evidence of an affair exists).

The January issue is on newsstands 3 December. Subscribe now for a limited edition offer of £19 for 1 year + FREE home delivery + FREE instant access to the digital edition.

By Annabel Sampson

By Ben Jureidini

Coronavirus: Longleat Safari Park owner Lord Bath dies after contracting COVID-19

Sunday 5 April 2020 15:22, UK

The eccentric owner of Longleat Safari Park, Lord Bath, has died after contracting coronavirus.

Alexander Thynn, 87, died on Saturday after being admitted to hospital in Bath on 28 March, his family have said.

In a statement, the safari park said: "It is with the deepest sadness we have to announce Lord Bath has died at the age of 87.

"Alexander Thynn, 7th Marquess of Bath, passed away on Saturday, 4th April. He was admitted to the Royal United Hospital in Bath on 28th March where it was confirmed he had the coronavirus .

"The family would like to express their great appreciation for the dedicated team of nurses, doctors and other staff who cared so professionally and compassionately for Alexander in these extremely difficult times for everyone

"They would politely request a period of privacy to deal with their loss."

Lord Bath was well known for having multiple partners in addition to his wife, and he claimed to have 72 "wifelets" who were immortalised in paintings he placed on Longleat House's walls.

More on Covid-19

'We hadn't even grieved for my mum properly': Families feel impact of spiralling funeral costs

Boris Johnson's work style during COVID 'very frustrating' and 'dysfunctional' - head of civil service

Northern Ireland First Minister Michelle O'Neill apologises for going to ex-IRA member's funeral during COVID

Related Topics:

• Coronavirus

They included models and a 17-year-old Sri Lankan.

TV presenter Ben Fogle paid tribute to Lord Bath on Twitter, posting a picture of him and his colleague Kate Humble with the safari park owner. The three of them spent years filming the series Animal Park together.

He wrote: "Devastated to hear the sad passing of Lord Bath. We spent nearly two decades with the eccentric and colourful Lord at Longleat filming Animal Park.

"He will be missed. Sending my love and condolences to the family @Emmaweymouth1 and everyone at @Longleat.'

Kate Humble, who presented the show, which ran from 2000-09, said she was "very sad" to hear of his death.

She tweeted: "Everyone will describe him as eccentric - and he was, gloriously so - but he was also kind & fun - and we all need a bit of kindness & fun in our lives."

:: Listen to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts , Google Podcasts , Spotify , Spreaker

Lord Bath, then Viscount Weymouth, was educated at Eton and Oxford and was president of the famous Bullingdon Club.

In 1969 he married Emma Gael and had two children, but he said in 2010 that he also acknowledged that he had "an eight-year-old but I don't see enough of her".

Lord Bath stood in the first European parliamentary elections in 1979, representing the Wessex Regionalist Party which he helped to set up.

Number of infections in real time

After becoming the 7th Marquess of Bath in 1992, he sat as a Liberal Democrat in the House of Lords.

But he lost his seat when Labour reforms excluded most hereditary peers.

Related Topics

Rare Amur tiger cubs' personalities appearing

Four rare Amur tiger cubs born a month ago have opened their eyes allowing their "cheeky" personalities to shine through.

Keepers at Longleat Safari Park in Wiltshire said the cubs were doing well and mother Yana was able to leave them for short times.

Carnivore keeper Kayleigh Smith said: "It is really lovely to see their personalities starting to come through; we’ve identified one which is an explorer who took their first steps early and was the first to climb over mum.”

The Amur tiger is one of the most endangered animals in the world with only about 450 left in the wild.

“Over the next couple of weeks, they will start to try solid food rather than just having Yana’s milk and will have their first vaccinations at eight weeks," Ms Smith added.

Follow BBC Wiltshire on Facebook , X and Instagram . Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630 .

More on this story

• Rare tiger cubs born at safari park

Related Internet Links