Longleat is celebrating its 75^th anniversary as a tourist attraction with a special exhibition at Longleat House for visitors to enjoy. 
 
The exhibition features original photographs and memorabilia from when Longleat first opened its doors to the public on 1 April 1949, including the original ‘House Open’ sign, the first ever guidebook, signed by Lord and Lady Bath, and details of the first Longleat documentary filmed by the BBC that same year.
 
Highlights of a visit to Longleat in 1949 included stepping through the great front doors for a tour of the House, perhaps led by Lady Bath herself, and a visit to the café in the former chapel to enjoy a set luncheon or high tea. 
 
Two months later Longleat made its first television appearance when the BBC recreated part of the Great Hall in a television studio at Alexandra Palace for a live 30-minute documentary presented by the 6th Marquess and Marchioness of Bath.
 
These and many more aspects of Longleat’s opening season will be featured in the exhibition, which brings to life the novelty and excitement of that first year.  
 
Lord Bath said, “When my grandfather, Henry, decided to open Longleat as a tourist attraction back in 1949 he was blazing a trail. It was a family affair! On opening day, he directed traffic, my grandmother sold the entry tickets and the children, my father and his siblings, sold the guidebooks, which had been written by their mother. They couldn’t have known just how popular Longleat would become - from 138,000 visitors during that first season, we now welcome almost a million visitors each year.”
 
‘1949: A brave new Longleat’ will run until 17 July 2024 and can be viewed while on a Guided Tour of Longleat House. Tours are available as an add-on experience to a Day Ticket or Membership and will incur a small additional charge.
 
Longleat is asking members of the public to join in the celebrations by posting photographs or memories of visiting Longleat House in the early days on social media and tagging #Longleat. 

For more information and to book visit www.longleat.co.uk