In the late 1970s, Alexander George Thynn—otherwise known as the 7th Marquess of Bath—decided that his familial home of Longleat needed a sprawling hedge maze where visitors could wander for hours. The 7th Marquess of Bath was known for his eccentric style of dress, numerous mistresses, whom he referred to as ‘wifelets,’ and racy murals that celebrated the erotic classic, The Kama Sutra. It is hardly surprising that an animated, free-spirited character like Alexander George Thynn would insist that Britain’s largest hedge maze should be part of Longleat.
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Originally built in the late 1500s, the Longleat estate—which is located in Wiltshire—became the first of Britain’s stately homes to open to the public in 1949. Longleat is home to several gardens and small hedge mazes, an outdoor safari park that is home to over 500 animals, and an Adventure Castle playground. The Longleat Hedge Maze is one of the estate’s most popular attractions.
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The Longleat Hedge Maze is composed of over 10,000 carefully manicured English yew trees. The maze features 6 bridges that offer a sweeping view of the Longleat grounds and an observation tower that overlooks the hedge maze. Visitors who are keen navigators can finish the maze in about 10 minutes; however, it is not uncommon to keep hitting dead ends for over an hour.
Photo by Flickr
If you’re worried about getting stranded in a claustrophobic labyrinth, the Longleat Hedge Maze features a few strategically placed signs that are designed to help visitors find their way out of the maze. If you’re hopelessly lost, you can always call the Longleat estate main office for an escort, as all of Longleat has pristine cell service.
Spending an hour or so wandering in a dense hedge maze is a great way to add a bit of mystery and excitement to a tour of England.
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