How To Get Discounts On Family Days Out
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Money is tight for many families right now and the cost of days can seem very high.
This post takes a look at some of the ways you can get discounts on family days out.
We love a good family day out and I usually budget for us to have one or two during the summer holidays.
As with everything, the price of entry to many attractions has increased – we recently took a trip to our favourite local adventure park and tickets had gone up by £4 each!
With that in mind, I’ve put together this list of ways you can get discounts on family days out to big attractions such as Longleat, Alton Towers and Monkey World.
How To Get Discounts On Family Days Out
Before we get started, here are a few things to keep in mind when looking for or booking discounted tickets for family days out.
Discounts Can Vary – The amount of discount offered does vary by attraction and it’s always worth checking against other offers available.
For, example the 2-for-1 offer from Kellogs might be a bigger discount than booking using a Blue Light Card.
Remember To Bring Proof – If you’ve booked using any discount that requires proof of eligibility on entry, don’t forget to take that with you, or you could be refused entry or asked to pay the full amount.
Carers Go Free – Most attractions allow carers to go free and you can select this option when booking.
Height Vs Age For Free Entry – Many attractions offer free entry to very young children who won’t be using many of the facilities on offer. However, this can vary between ages; sometimes it’s under 2s go free, and sometimes it might be under 5s.
Some attractions use height as a metric instead, eg, children under 1m go free.
Free Entry – Many museums and art galleries have free entry so this is a great option if you’re on a very tight budget.
Always double-check the terms and conditions of any offer or discount before booking.
1. Book Your Tickets In Advance
Booking in advance on the attraction’s website usually nets you a discount of a few pounds per person.
While this does mean you have to commit to going on that day, you can usually leave it as late as the day before to book your tickets and some attractions will move your tickets for a small fee should you not be able to go at the last minute.
2. Blue Peter Badge Discount
Blue Peter Badges can be earned by getting your child to write a letter, or story or draw a picture and then sending it to the Blue Peter team.
Blue Peter Badges allow children free access to over 200 attractions across the UK, including Dover Castle, Kensington Palace and Monkey World.
3. Low Income Discounts On Family Days Out
Families receiving Universal Credit and some other benefits may be entitled to discounted entry to certain attractions.
These include the Tower of London, Hampton Court and The Eden Project for as little as £1 per person.
You will need to bring proof of your eligibility and book through a specific page on the attraction website.
Museum Mum has a fantastic list of all the attractions and discounts here: Universal Credit Days Out
4. Blue Light Card Discount
Blue Light Cards offer discounts for those working in the NHS and other care-related positions and have recently been extended to teachers too.
Blue Light Card holders can get discounts on a range of days including Theme Parks (Alton Towers, Chessington, Drayton Manor) Zoos and Aquariums (including London Zoo and West Midlands Safari Park) and other attractions such as Go Ape and Madame Tussauds.
5. Armed Forces Discounts
If you’re a member of the armed forces many attractions offer a discount, including Longleat.
Related Post: How To Get Cheap & Discounted Longleat Tickets (10 Ways!)
6. Take Advantage of Free Returns
Several smaller attractions across the UK offer a free return within so many days of your first visit (usually seven, meaning you’ll need to return within a week).
While not a discount, it does mean that you get two days out for the price of one.
To be eligible for the free return, you may need to collect a pass or wristband as you leave the attraction.
Attractions that offer this include Pennywell Farm and Crealy Adventure Park.
7. Invest In An Annual Pass
If there is a local attraction that you love, it may be worth investing in an annual pass.
While these are quite a big expense, some attractions do allow to you pay monthly to help spread the cost.
You could also consider an annual pass that allows you to visit several different attractions, such as Merlin Pass.
Finally, a National Trust Pass is a great option for family days out and costs as little as £14 per month for two adults and all of their children.
8. Kellogg’s 2 for 1 Days Out
Kellogg’s cereal offers a range of 2 for 1 days out when purchasing their cereal and includes 25 different UK attractions including The London Eye, Alton Towers and Warwick Castle.
Look out for promotional packs and book your tickets using this link.
9. Look Out For Free Entry
Some attractions offer free entry at different times of year.
For example, there have been recent promotions for a free family National Trust day ticket, all you need to do is buy a newspaper.
Open Farm Sunday sees many farms open up their doors for the day. The next one takes place on Sunday, June 8th 2025.
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