Parks

The House

Longleat House is widely regarded as one of the best examples of high Elizabethan architecture in Britain and one of the most beautiful stately homes open to the public.

The West Midlands Safari Park contains a 4-mile safari. The safari section contains around 600 animals from around 30 different species from Europe, Africa, Asia, Australasia and North America.

Along with the 4 mile safari, is a large theme park, a 'Discovery Zone' containing reptile and insect houses among other attractions.

The Folly Farm Centre is at the heart of Folly Farm, a stunning 250-acre nature reserve close to Bath and Bristol which is owned and managed by Avon Wildlife Trust. It is a very special place - a place to learn and explore, a place for inspiration, a place to lie in the grass and discover a new world.

A kid’s farm for all ages. For a cool mixture of fun, play & education, Odds Farm is the ideal outing for families, schools, groups and birthday parties – essential adventure for kids of all ages – all in a safe environment.

Activities include:

• Sheep Racing

• Rabbit World

• Animal Births

Woburn Abbey, comprising Woburn Park and its buildings, was originally founded as a Cistercian abbey in 1145. Taken from its monastic residents by Henry VIII and given to John Russell, 1st Earl of Bedford in 1547, it became the seat of the Russell Family and the Dukes of Bedford.

Chessington Zoo is one of the oldest areas in the park and is split in two parts. The west side of the park is home to Trails of the Kings; a walkthrough attraction home to enclosures for gorillas, tigers, lions and Binturong. In the spring of 2009, a gorilla baby was born which the park celebrated and named Mbula.

Croome was 'Capability' Brown's first complete landscape, making his reputation and establishing a new style of garden design which became universally adopted over the next 50 years.

Warburg is the premier nature reserve of the Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust and nestles in the Bix valley near Henley-on-Thames in Oxon.

The mixture of chalk grassland and ancient woodland makes it an ideal site for birds and butterflies. Over 2,000 species of plant, animal and fungus have been recorded here.

Attractions include:

• wood anemones

Burton Dassett Hills Country Park is run by Warwickshire County Council. Great views from the hills and good for walking or kite flying. The site comprises a series of hilltops with good views in all directions and Fox Covert, a small woodland with a surfaced footpath.

In the 1690s, Stowe had a modest early-baroque parterre garden, owing more to Italy than to France, but it has not survived, and, within a relatively short time, Stowe became widely-renowned for its magnificent gardens created by Lord Cobham.

The Abbey Gardens are located near to the town centre in Abingdon. They are designated as a Scheduled Ancient Monument as the Abingdon Abbey, which dates back to the seventh century, once stood on the site.

The Abbey grounds are tucked away behind the church and market place right in the town centre. The grounds contain the site of St Mary’s Abbey which was consecrated in 1176 in the presence of Henry II. It remained until the Dissolution in 1539 when the Abbey was completely demolished.

This Museum is located in the old Mansion House in the beautiful grounds of Stratford Park near Stroud. There are over 5,000 objects on displayed at the Museum ranging from dinosaur and mammoth remains to Roman altars, landscape paintings and two of the world's first lawnmowers.  The Museum is housed in a Grade II 17th century wool merchant's mansion.

Situated on the Cotswold scarp there are extensive views over the Severn Valley. It is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) with nature conservation.

Located about 4 miles (6.4 km) south-west of the town of Stroud overlooking the village on Coaley, Coaley Peak offers 12 acres of reclaimed farmland (now a wild flower meadow) with views over the Severn Vale and the Forest of Dean. It is next to a Woodland Trust beech wood and the National Trust's Frocester Hill site. The Cotswold Way long-distance footpath passes through the site.

This is the site of an old beacon at 1024 feet above sea level on the Cotswolds escarpment.

The tower was built in 1799 for the sixth Earl of Coventry, George William who has large residences nearby.

Famous people connected with the tower throughout its history are the Pre-Raphaelite artists and also William Morris.

The Cotswold Country Park and Beach (previously Keynes Park) is one of the country parks that can be found within the boundary of the Cotswold Water Park. Recently, there has been added a great new path around the lakes consisting of stone and hardcore.

Built as a grandstand for deer coursing in the 17th century and is the sole survivor of its type in the country. It was built by John 'Crump' Dutton as part of his Sherborne Estate in the early 1630s.

In addition, there is also and ancient barrow (burial site) in the grounds.

Avon Valley Country Park where the combination of nature, attractions and stunning scenery ensures that the hours of fun are endless at one of the West's most popular family destinations.