A story-inspired Easter celebration is coming to Longleat, with the Wiltshire estate inviting visitors to step into a world of classic tales during a new seasonal event.
Running from 28 March to 19 April, Once Upon an Easter will transform parts of the park into interactive story zones inspired by some of literature’s best-known children’s books.
The event forms part of celebrations for the National Year of Reading and draws on Longleat’s own literary heritage. Longleat House is home to one of Europe’s most significant private libraries, containing thousands of rare volumes and first editions.
During the Easter event, four themed areas will appear across the estate, each based on a well-known story. Visitors will be able to follow the yellow brick road into the world of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, join a tea party inspired by Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, enjoy riverside adventures with characters from The Wind in the Willows, and help Goldilocks find the right chair in a trail based on Goldilocks and the Three Bears.
Interactive activities will be spread across the estate, with performers and characters appearing at each location. Those who complete the themed trails will also receive a chocolate treat as part of the Easter festivities.
Scott Ashman, Head of Operations at Longleat, said the theme was a natural fit for the estate.
He said: “As it’s the National Year of Reading, it was the perfect opportunity to bring classic children’s tales to life in interactive experiences for our guests.
“We’ll have characters at each trail area, and those that complete each literary adventure can earn a chocolate treat to celebrate Easter.”
Inside Longleat House, visitors taking guided or self-guided tours will also be able to see a special exhibition titled Down the Rabbit Hole and Beyond. The display includes rare first editions of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland from 1866 and The Wind in the Willows from 1908, alongside the well-known illustrated version of The Three Bears created by Victorian artist Walter Crane.
The Easter programme also arrives during a milestone year for the attraction. 2026 marks 60 years since Longleat opened its safari park, the first drive-through safari outside Africa.
To mark the anniversary, the estate will host a two-day Anniversary Garden Party on 11 and 12 April. The celebration will feature tethered flights of Longleat’s hot air balloons, Simbaloo and Adelaide, displays of classic 1960s cars, live entertainment, market stalls and traditional garden games.
Visitors celebrating their own milestone birthday this April will also be recognised. Anyone turning 60 during the month can attend the garden party free of charge.
Tickets for both Once Upon an Easter and the Anniversary Garden Party are available through Longleat’s website, with discounted prices offered for advance bookings made before midnight on the day of the visit.
