We have been to Longleat about 9 times now. Started with a one bed executive when it first opened about 20 years ago, and have stayed in 1,2,3 and 4 beds - mostly comfort/comfort plus. We have stayed only once in school holidays, last weekend, and have decided the prices are too silly then - even though we got a last minute deal £200 off the original price. Some of our breaks over the years have been very good value indeed.
I do love it there, but we go purely to chill, walk, cycle and swim. I did notice traffic becoming more common a couple of years ago but, on our recent visit, it seemed to have tightened up a lot.
The accommodation also went through a stage of becoming very tired but those we have stayed in in the past four years have been refurbished enough now so that they are not too bad - it must just seem it sometimes during school holidays because of the cost. I always think what you are really paying for is not the accommodation but the expense of heating the plaza and an outside swimming pool in a UK winter!
There were a lot of villas out of action this weekend being refurbished and the park was not too busy as a result. We have never parked so easily, even though the accommodation available was fully booked. The only time I felt it was very busy was the pool on Sunday night. We normally stay until close at 9 when we are one of just a few left in but not this Sunday - we left at 8.15 as it just wasn't getting any quieter. Even so, there was still room to swim and to change as well - although you need a great sense of direction to find your way around the changing rooms.
Over all the years, I think we have spent about £150 on activities but I don't think they are awful prices when compared to the outside world. Whoever said bowling was £30 - it wasn't this weekend - it was £18 or £22 for 55 minutes depending on the time of day.
We have eaten a few times free of charge at Cafe Rouge on tesco vouchers but, unfortunately, they don't take them now. Otherwise we always self-cater - nice easy meals and that helps it become a better value break. This time we had tesco deliver the food to us at home in the morning and then, once it had been and school finished, travelled down.
It is definitely attracting a certain type now. Our car probably cost the equivilent of one tyre of most of the vehicles in the car park last weekend.
We are going back next year for a friend's special birthday weekend. Having a villa with our own sauna, ensuites to each bedroom, wi-fi and maid service and it's costing us £95 per person. At £32pppn (or £64 per room) I think that's ok : premier travel inn sort of price. Not cheap, granted, but not expensive. We will self cater between us, bringing special food and our own wines, each family doing two courses to make a 6 course meal on the night of the special birthday - which will no doubt start having been swimming until 8.30 in the dark!
I can fully understand where everyone on here is coming from and no one has said anything that hasn't crossed my mind at some point over the years, but I do think you can make it a less expensive break in some circumstances. School holidays where you pay for the whole family who like activities and don't want to swim a lot - I agree - it's terribly expensive.