Longleat

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We're going to visit longleat at Easter with our two DCs (5 and 2). Anything we should know? Do you drive round the safari park? Will the kids be able to see in their car seats or should we take the safari bus? is there anything we should NOT miss??? I'm guessing its a proper full day out and I'm not sure if/when we'll get to go again so I want to make the most of it!

We love longleat.
We use the safari bus, because we tend to go down in our motor home, and don't want to take that round!
The bus is fairly expensive, about another fiver per person on top of the price, but I think worth it, as the dc do not need to be strapped into car seats, although it does take a long time.
There is a lot to do in one day, so plan where you are going and when.
We get the passport tickets( using Tesco club card ) and take a couple of days to do everything.
Have fun!

It's a fab day out. We always take our car round but it is Russian roulette what you'll come out with Last time a little monkey sat on top of our car all the way round chewing our aerial off!

In the main park don't miss the bat cave - to the right near the entrance. It's entrancing once you get used to the light and smell. The meerkat walk is fab it's totally open and you just wander amongst them. The bird show is the best I have ever seen. There is a bird walk through but be warned if you buy the nectar you will be covered all over with birds and they do peck and nip. My 4yr old was completely freaked out by it and she's not normally nervous. The playground area is huge - your dc's will be able to spend hours there.

We normally do the safari bit just after lunch it's a bit quieter then as people tend to go there either first thing or last thing.

The house is good for a look around if you have time but I wouldn't prioritise it.

Enjoy the monkey enclosure but watch out - they are little buggers

The safari, maze, play zone, boat cruise (to see the gorilla), train ride around the park, the meerkat enclosure are all great.
Simulator thing isn't worth queuing for.
House is ok (tour is just like those around NT properties), but probably boring for the kids when there are so many more exciting things to do.

Take your own picnic.

Things have changed alot at longleat in the last few months - don't thing Passport tickets are available anymore just day tickets, which let you in to all the attractions as many times as you like in the one day. Safari definitely quieter after lunch and I would take your car rather than the bus, you can bypass the monkeys if you want, my DDs get a bit bored at certain points so we tend to go though a bit quicker and then linger longer at the bits they love. Food is VERY expensive so I would take a picnic and just get coffee/ice creams on the day. My girls love the meerkats because they are at their height and often try and get in the bottom of the buggy, the train is a must too and the Gorilla Island is/has been revamped so the boat trip is well worth it too.

Shame they don't do the passport tickets anymore. They worked out well.
Still worth checking Tesco club card, if you have any points to use.
It has been a few years since we last went. Time to visit again soon, I think.