West Midlands Safari Park and Longleat are two popular safari parks in the UK, each offering unique experiences for state park touring enthusiasts. In this comprehensive comparison, we’ll explore the key differences between these two destinations to help you decide which one suits your preferences better.
Cost Comparison
When it comes to the cost of admission, there are some notable differences between West Midlands Safari Park and Longleat:
| Ticket Type | West Midlands Safari Park | Longleat |
|---|---|---|
| Adult | £24.00 | £34.95 |
| Child (3-15 years) | £19.00 | £26.95 |
| Senior | £22.00 | £32.45 |
| Family (2 adults, 2 children) | £80.00 | £104.85 |
West Midlands Safari Park offers a more affordable option, with adult tickets costing £24.00 compared to Longleat’s £34.95. The family ticket at West Midlands Safari Park is also significantly cheaper, making it a more budget-friendly choice for families.
Timings and Hours
Both West Midlands Safari Park and Longleat operate during similar hours, with the parks open from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm, and the last entry at 3:00 pm. Both parks are closed on Christmas Day.
Rates and Value
One key difference between the two parks is the repeat visit policy. West Midlands Safari Park offers a free repeat day visit, allowing you to revisit the park at no additional cost. Longleat, on the other hand, requires you to pay for each trip around the animal enclosures, even with a passport ticket that allows you to visit the grounds multiple times in a season.
Attractions and Animals
Both West Midlands Safari Park and Longleat offer a drive-through safari experience, as well as walk-through animal areas. However, the parks differ in their unique attractions:
West Midlands Safari Park:
– Drive-through safari
– Walk-through animal areas
– Amusement rides
– Opportunities to feed animals, such as giraffes
Longleat:
– Drive-through safari
– Walk-through animal areas
– Magnificent stately home and park
– Known for its mischievous monkeys that can potentially damage cars (visitors can book seats on the safari bus to avoid this)
Real-life Experiences
Visitors have shared their experiences at both parks, providing valuable insights:
West Midlands Safari Park:
– A visitor reported a positive experience, stating that West Midlands Safari Park is a superior safari drive-through, with the ability to feed giraffes from their cars and observe animals up close.
Longleat:
– A visitor reported that Longleat has declined in quality since Lord Bath’s passing, with a lot of “booking time slots” for various activities, making the experience quite stressful.
Conclusion
In summary, West Midlands Safari Park offers a more cost-effective and closer animal encounter experience, while Longleat provides a more luxurious and stately home experience with added animal encounters. The choice between the two parks ultimately depends on your personal preferences and budget.
References:
– Money Saving Expert Forum Discussion
– Mumsnet Discussion
– TripAdvisor Discussion
– ZooChat Discussion
– Mumsnet Discussion