The Bath Arms (Longleat)

Not to be confused with the Wetherspoons pub of the same name in Warminster, the Bath Arms is a lovely countryside inn in a small village within easy access to Longleat. While the Bath Arms in Warminster is a cheaper place to stay with much better access to public transport, the Bath Arms in Horningsham wins hands-down if you’re looking to stay in a charming countryside hotel with an adjoining village pub.

It has accommodation in 16 guest rooms, each with comfortable beds, a smart flat-screen TV with a built-in DVD player, a digital radio, tea and coffee making facilities (including a coffee pod machine) and en suite bathrooms. A couple of the rooms have four-poster king-size beds.

Some dog-friendly rooms are available but there is an additional £20 charge if you want your dog to stay with you.

There is a two-night minimum stay on most weekends.

The adjoining pub has a great atmosphere with a good selection of draught ales, lagers and cider.

Meals are available at the pub including a full-English breakfast plus lunch and dinner. The lunch menu has light meals including sandwiches and filled focaccia (except on Sundays when a traditional Sunday roast is served) while the dinner menu has more substantial gastropub-style dishes made with seasonal locally-sourced ingredients.

The Bath Arms is only 1.6km (1 mile) from Longleat House, which is around a 20-minute walk or a 13-minute drive away.

Horningsham is around midway between Frome and Warminster, which are both around a 13-minute drive away. Both towns have railway stations although Frome is accessible by bus route 80 (although buses are not particularly frequent in this little corner of England and the Bath Arms is best suited if you’re driving).