Many of us will be making the most of day trips this summer and fun family days out, but costs can quickly rack up. One of the best ways to save is to get an annual membership or pass for places that you can then visit for free as many times as you like. So here are our tips for the best UK family membership passes.
We'll show you how you can get great value for money with passes for nationwide venues and how to use multi-location passes to get the best bang for your buck.
National Trust
Discover historic properties, gardens, parks, coastline, woodlands and countryside.
Who it suits: If your family love the great outdoors and historic houses, then you'll get great value from a National Trust Family Membership. You'll be joining 5.6 million other members.
What's included: With National Trust you'll have free entry to more than 500 places, with historic houses and castles housing nearly one million works of art and 180 registered gardens and parks across the UK.
The National Trust also manages more than 780 miles of stunning coastline and over 250,000 hectares of land, including beautiful woodlands and countryside locations, plus farmland with 1,500 tenant farmers.
How much it costs: Family Membership for two adults living at the same address and their children or grandchildren (17 or under) costs £126 a year or £10.50 a month (12 months by direct debit). For one adult it costs £78 a year or £6.50 a month. There are individual, joint, junior and lifetime membership options too, and under 5s go free.
Highlights:
- Beatrix Potter's farmhouse Hill Top in Cumbria
- Lacock Abbey in Wiltshire was used as Harry Potter's Hogwarts (pictured above)
- The Secret Garden was filmed at Bodnant Garden in Conwy and Fountains Abbey in Yorkshire
- Winston Churchill's home Chartwell in Kent
Extra details: You'll find cafés and shops at many properties plus trails and activities during school holidays (often for a small extra fee) to extend the fun, as well as areas you can bring your own picnic to. There are even opportunities to stay over at properties that have holiday accommodation to rent.
Background: The National Trust was founded in 1895 and is Europe’s largest conservation charity.
English Heritage
Delve back in time at forts, castles, prehistoric and Roman sites and other historic places.
Who it suits: Fans of castles and historic sites? Then English Heritage pass will keep you busy every weekend of the year.
What's included: With English Heritage you'll get unlimited access to more than 400 historic buildings, monuments and places, including Roman forts, mediaeval villages, royal castles and famous prehistoric sites. You'll also get free or reduced-price entry to events, too.
There's a Members’ Reward scheme that gives you access to money-saving offers and deals from 60 partners.
How much it costs: It costs £111 per year or £9.25 per month (12 months by direct debit) for a Family Membership with two adults living at the same address and up to 12 children (under 18 years) in your family group. It costs £64 or £5.33 per month for a Family Membership with one adult and up to six children in your family group. There are individual, joint and lifetime memberships too.
Highlights:
- Stonehenge in Wiltshire
- Hadrian's Wall in Northumberland and Cumbria
- Dover Castle in Kent
- Battle Abbey in East Sussex
- Queen Victoria's seaside home Osborne House on the Isle of Wight
Extra details: There are holiday cottages if you want to make a longer stay of it, and dog-friendly places if you want to bring your four-legged friend. Plenty of events are held throughout the year.
Background: The collecting of places now in English Heritage's care started in 1882. Donors' support enables them to care for historic sites that span six millennia, and they're now taking on the largest conservation programme in their history.
Merlin Annual Pass
Dive into theme parks, aquariums and major sights at some of the country's biggest family-friendly attractions.
Who it suits: If your family loves to spend lots of time on rollercoasters, exploring the underwater world, being surrounded by mini bricks, or hanging out with waxworks, you'll love a Merlin Pass.
What's included: A Merlin Annual Pass provides entry to a number of major attractions across the country, including the biggest theme parks, top tourist sights in London and Blackpool, the SEA LIFE centres and a handful of places in other major cities.
How much it costs: There are three different levels of membership:
- Discovery is £89 per person and gives you weekday only entry during term time over the course of 180 days.
- Gold is £219 per person (renewals £159) and gives you up to 345 days entry with fewer exclusion dates. You also get free parking, Fastrack vouchers, 20% off retail, food and drinks, and 50% off hotel stays with Merlin Holiday Club.
- Platinum is £299 per person (renewals £229) and gives you 364 days entry with no exclusion dates (except paid events). You get free parking, Fastrack and and Share the Fun vouchers, and same discounts as Gold.
Bear in mind that due to social distancing, you can only buy a new Discovery Pass, with Gold and Platinum levels only available for renewals currently (information correct June 2021).
Highlights:
- Alton Towers Resort
- Chessington World of Adventures Resort
- LEGOLAND® Windsor Resort and Discovery Centres
- SEA LIFE
- Thorpe Park Resort
- London Eye and River Cruise
- Madame Tussauds
- Warwick Castle
- Blackpool Tower
- The Dungeons
- Shrek's Adventure London
Extra details: If you only plan to visit one or two of the attractions, like LEGOLAND® Windsor Resort, but want to visit them regularly, you might find an annual pass for that specific site is better value for money.
Wildfowl and Wetland Trust
Wildlife enthusiasts will find plenty of fun with winged friends amongst the reeds and wetlands.
Who it suits: Do your lot love getting out into wide open spaces, and hanging out with friends that go quack? Then the Wildfowl and Wetland Trust (WWT) is a great choice for you (and the million other visitors per year).
What's included: A WWT Family Membership gives you unlimited entry through the year to 10 wetland sites across the UK. You get a membership pack and Waterlife magazine, too, plus discount vouchers for friends and family to visit. With monthly direct debit membership you get a voucher to redeem a free gift.
How much it costs: Family membership costs £72 a year or £6 per month (via direct debit over 12 months) and includes two adults and up to six children (aged 4-16 years old) that you have parental/grandparental responsibility for. Under 4s go free.
There's also the option for individual, joint and lifetime membership, plus concessions.
Highlights: The 10 Wetland Centres are:
- Arundel
- Caerlaverock
- Castle Espie
- Llanelli
- London
- Martin Mere
- Slimbridge
- Steart Marshes
- Washington
- Welney
Extra details: You'll find gift shops and cafes at the centres to help make a day of it, plus special events throughout the year. Most centres are open seven days a week, 364 days a year.
Background: Sir Peter Scott (son of Antarctic explorer Captain Scott) set up WWT in 1946 at Slimbridge as a conservation centre, following his father's dying wish that he be "interested in natural history”.
National Art Pass
Calling all culture vulture families — step this way for gallery and museum immersion.
Who it suits: Are your family frequently seen soaking up culture at museums, galleries and historic properties? Then a National Art Pass will get you there — and into exhibitions — for less, with entry to hundreds of cultural venues nationwide.
What's included: The National Art Pass Annual Family Membership is valid at more than 700 venues including castles and historic house, giving you free entry to 225 venues across the UK, discounted access to hundreds more, plus 50% off major exhibitions.
You'll get a subscription to the Art Fund's magazine, Art Quarterly plus an Art Map guidebook on how and where to use your "passport to art".
How much it costs: It costs £115 per year (or save 25% on your first year when you pay by direct debit) for a 12 month family membership. This includes two cards for adults at the same address and admission for children in the family under the age of 16.
There are also individual, double, under 30, and lifetime memberships, and a Plus One option.
Highlights: A handful of the free entry venues include:
- Charles Dickens Museum in London
- Pendennis Castle in Cornwall
- Royal Pavilion in Brighton
- Kensington Palace in London
- Yorkshire Museum in North Yorkshire
- Newstead Abbey Historic House and Gardens in Nottinghamshire
- The Courtauld Gallery in London
- Craigievar Castle in Aberdeenshire
Just some of the venues with 50% off exhibitions include:
- V&A in London
- Ashmolean Museum in Oxford
- British Museum in London
- Science and Industry Museum in Greater Manchester
- National Gallery in London
- National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh
- The Hepworth Wakefield in West Yorkshire
Extra details: Of course, many galleries and museums in the country offer free entry anyway, so it's worth weighing up how many of the paid entry venues you plan to visit. As their entry fees can be pretty expensive, you'll likely see a saving soon if you visit a few — particularly if you like temporary exhibitions.
Background: The National Art Pass is arranged by Art Fund, which has supported museums and galleries since 1903, helping them buy and display great works of art.
Check out VoucherCodes for the latest offers and deals on English Heritage Membership and National Trust Membership. What are your tips for great value annual family membership passes? We'd love to hear!
