Check out the Half Price Merlin Pass sale  that is currently running until 31 January 2012.  You can pick up an individual Merlin Pass for just £78 per person, (standard price £156) if you can visit selected Merlin attractions in person.  You can also take advantage of a half price Merlin Pass & upgrade to a Premium Merlin Pass if you pay an additional £35 per person in cash.

Merlin Pass Deals

Merlin Pass & Tesco Clubcard Vouchers

If you are a regular spender at Tesco, this can offer a great way to slash costs on a Merlin Pass.  You can pick up  a standard Merlin Annual Pass for just  £42.50 in vouchers & again,  you can upgrade to a Premium Merlin Pass for an extra £30 cash per person.

2 for 1 Vouchers at Merlin Attractions

Merlin Attractions including Alton Towers, Thorpe Park, Legoland & Sea Life Centres run a number of 2 for 1 vouchers throughout the season so if you are paying full price…you are paying too much!  It’s worth considering your family’s future plans & whether taking advantage of a couple of 2 for 1′s would suffice for the year.

London Eye; Up Close & Personal

The Merlin Pass Offer

A standard Merlin Pass offers entry to over 40 plus visitor attractions around the UK.  Whilst standard Merlin Passes no longer receive free parking and there are some restrictions on use, (see below), a Merlin Pass offers value for money if you intend to visit a number of attractions throughout the year.  Consider also some of the passholder perks associated with the standard Merlin Pass that includes;

• Up to 20% off food, drink & souvenirs
• Early Ride Time at Alton Towers
• Deals on photographic souvenirs
• 20% off Alton Towers Waterpark

Remember restrictions on use with a standard Merlin Pass will include;

• No access to London Eye, Madame Tussauds, London Dungeon & Sea Life London during August
• No access to the London Eye on 14 February, 29-31 October
• No access to Blackpool Tower 22-30 October
• Passholder fee for Fright Nights at Thorpe Park

However if you discount the August restrictions, (& I wouldn’t fancy visiting some of these London Merlin Attraction in peak summer time anyway), there is plenty of choice for all the family and can work out as great value for money.

Liz

Sea Life Centres come under the Merlin Pass list of attractions.  Whilst there are some restrictions on use at the London Sea Life Aquarium in August, most Sea Life Centres have unrestricted access under the standard Merlin Pass.  Worth noting that there will be a Half Price Merlin Pass Sale starting on Boxing Day.

Birmingham Sea Life in Lego

Sea Life Centres & 2 for 1 Vouchers

Sea Life Centres run a number of 2 for 1 vouchers throughout the year.  2 for 1 vouchers have historically been available through Kelloggs, Tesco, WH Smith, Burger King, Vanish products & many more.  Keep up to date with Topdogdays and we’ll let you know when 2 for 1 vouchers become available.

2 for 1 Voucher for Sea Life Centres with Kelloggs

Keep hold of those 2 for 1 vouchers for Sea Life Centres that were available on promotional packs of Kelloggs Frosties, Rice Krispies & Cornflakes. These vouchers remain valid until  30 June 2012.

Sea Life Centres Deals & Tesco Clubcard

If you are a regular spender at Tesco, this can offer a great way to slash costs at Sea Life Centres.  Daily entrance fees can be redeemed for £4 an adult or £3.50 a child in Tesco vouchers or a standard Merlin Annual Pass works out at £42.50 in vouchers.  You can even upgrade to a Premium Merlin Pass for an extra £30 cash per person.

Merlin Pass Deals

Tesco have historically run a number of 2 for 1 vouchers during the theme park season that includes Sea Life Centres, so we’ll let you know when these become available again.

Birmingham Sea Life Centre; Kids go Free Voucher

Here’s a kids go free voucher for Birmingham Sea Life Centre from Visittheheart.  Simply download the Kids Go Free Voucher for Birmingham Sea Life Centre and take with you to the ticket kiosk on the day of your visit, (some restrictions on use).

Free Entrance to Sea Life Centres with a Blue Peter Badge

If you are aged 6 & 15 and hold a Blue Peter Badge & Card, you can gain free entrance to many Sea Life Centres around the country.  More details available at Free Entrance to Sea Life Centres with Blue Peter Badges.

To keep up to date with deals for Sea Life Centres, why not Sign Up for Free with Topdogdays & subscribe to our email newsletter.

Liz

It can pay to use public transport as plenty of travel providers have linked up with visitor attractions to offer deals on a day out.  Not only are you reducing you carbon footprint but often you are avoiding car parking fees too.

Birmingham Sea Life in Lego

Network Westmidlands have done just that and are offering substantial discounts on top visitor attractions when you arrive by bus, tram or train.  Discounts include;

• 2 for 1 Entry for Black Country Living Museum
• 30% off the Think Tank
• 2 for 1 Entry to Birmingham Sea Life
• 30% off the Imax Cinema
• Kids Go Free at Dudley Zoo

For more details, go to Cheap Tickets for Midlands Visitor Attractions.

For more green ideas, go to Cheap Tickets for the National Trust & Eden Project.

Liz

Welcome Break service stations are currently issuing 2 for 1 Vouchers for Merlin Attraction with purchases of £5 or more.  2 for 1 Vouchers are valid at:

• Alton Towers
• Thorpe Park
• Chessington World of Adventures
• Legoland Discovery Centre
• Sea Life Centres
• Warwick Castle
• Madame Tussauds

Each voucher gives 1 person free entry when accompanied by a full paying adult.  The voucher is valid until 31 July 2011 with some exclusion on dates, (as set out in the small print on the voucher).  Only one voucher can be used per transaction so split into small groups at the ticket kiosks to get value for money!

For more deals for Alton Towers, go to Alton Towers 2 for 1 Vouchers 2011.

For more deals for Thorpe Park, go to Thorpe Park 2 for 1 Vouchers 2011.

Liz

This voucher is valid until 31 March 2011 and not valid on bank holidays.

Check out deals & discounts for Sea Life Centres for even more savings!

Liz

If you are looking for discounted tickets for Sea Life Centres then check out the voucher running with moneysupermarket that offers that offers kids go free!

Simply download the voucher to allow one free child admission with a full paying adult.  The small print stipulates one voucher per transaction so ensure you print of enough vouchers to cover your party and split into small groups at the kiosk!  More details avilable at Sea Life Centre; kids go free voucher.

Birmingham Sea Life are also offering half price standard Merlin Passes until 28 February.  More details available at half price Merlin Passes.

Liz

Aerial Extreme half price tickets; bag yourself some half price tickets for Aerial Extreme for bookings between 12 & 27 February 2011. This offer is only available to the first 50 customers per course, so worth cracking on!  More details available at Aerial Extreme half price tickets.

Tesco clubcard 2 for 1 voucher; some of you will have received a 2 or 1 voucher with your clubcard statement for Warwick Castle, Legoland Discovery Centre, Madame Tussauds, SeaLife Centres & The Dungeons during February half term.  Only one voucher per transaction, so split into smaller groups at the kiosks!

Trentham Estate Deals; there’s plenty of deals around for Trentham Estate including a 2 for 1 and free entry for Brownies & Guides!  More information available at Trentham Estate Deals

Unlimited travel with London Midland Trains for £10; fancy a day out to London, Liverpool or Birmingham..then check out this off peak unlimited travel of just £10 an adult & £5 a child.  More details at London Midland £10 train deal for February half term.

Free swimming: many local authorities now offer free swimming for under 16’s and over 60’s.  This is a great way to stay active whilst amusing the children on the cheap. To find out your nearest pool that offers free swimming sessions, go to free swim sessions for under 16’s.

Free Annual Passes: if you considering a day out to a visitor attraction, bear in mind places where your can secure a free annual upgrade that will save you money throughout the year.  For more details on visitor attractions offering this, go to Free Annual Upgrade Visitor Attractions.

Alton Towers for February Half Term: if you fancy an early trip to Alton Towers this year, then check out the best deals for Alton Towers for February half term.

Drayton Manor Kids Go Free: Drayton Manor have teamed up with Westfield Kids Club to offer kids go free vouchers that are valid for February half term.  More details available from Drayton Manor; kids go free voucher.

Eden Project: plenty of deals going at the Eden Project with 2 for 1 vouchers and 25% off.  More details available at Eden Project deals.

To keep up to date with all the latest deals and discounts, why not subscribe to topdogdays and sign up to our email newsletter on the right hand side of the screen.

Half Price Merlin Passes, (April 2011 – this deal has now expired). are currently available from Birmingham Sea Life Centre.  This deal is running until 28 February 2011 with an individual half price Merlin Pass setting you back £72.

Worth noting that this standard Merlin Pass has lost some of it’s benefits as set out below;

• there is no free parking with this pass
• no entry to London Eye, Madame Tussauds, London Dungeon, Sea Life London during August
• no entry to Legoland, Windsor before 2pm in August
• additional fee for Fright Nights at Thorpe Park

However with access to wide range of Merlin attractions, such as Alton Towers, Thorpe Park, Chessington World of Adventure, Legoland, Sea Life Centre & plenty more, this is still a pretty good deal for the year!

Liz

Tips for a budget day out

Should I use my Tesco Clubcard Vouchers in store?

If you spend clubcard vouchers in store, you only manage to save the value of the voucher.  Even when Tesco run their clubcard voucher exchange, (allowing you to double the value of your clubcard vouchers), it’s still financially beneficial to exchange for partner benefits, (where you receive up to three or four times their value) rather than in store.

How Can I Find the Most Cost Effective Tesco Clubcard Deal?

Whilst reward vouchers can be redeemed for either three or four  times their value, some deals effectively offer you less than this.

Annual memberships from Tesco Clubcard deals can potentially offer the best value for money in days out.  Not only do annual memberships give you access to your favourite top attractions throughout the year, they often come with plenty of additional benefits to maximize your savings.

Alton Towers Deals

Retrieve lost or forgotten tesco clubcard vouchers

Here’s a great tip  to retrieve old tesco clubcard vouchers you’d forgotten all about. This relatively new service from Tesco allows you to  check out your current voucher balance and highlights any issued clubcard vouchers that have yet to be redeemed.

Simply click on ‘Your Vouchers’ on the clubcard site to see a table listing your unspent clubcard vouchers.  You can then redeem any remaining vouchers instantly using the online code given..I’ve done this and gained £40 in vouchers in the past!

Annual Memberships from Tesco Clubcard deals can potentially offer the best value for money in days out.

Not only do annual memberships give you unlimited access to your favourite top attractions, they often come with plenty of additional benefits to maximize your savings.

Saw, the Ride at Thorpe Park

Merlin Annual Pass & Tesco Clubcard Vouchers: this gains you entry to Alton Towers, Thorpe Park, Warwick Castle and plenty more.  In addition you can secure Early Ride Time at Alton Tower, (great for queue busting),  20% off food, drink & souvenirs at many of these settings!  The standard Merlin Pass is priced at £42.50 in clubcard vouchers.  You can also upgrade to a Premium Merlin Pass by paying an additional £30 cash per person to enhance your Merlin benefits.

English Heritage Membership & Tesco Clubcard Vouchers; The advantage with this deal is that adult membership gives you free entry for up to six  accompanying children (under 19) within your family group!  So for every £10 in clubcard vouchers, you will receive £30 towards an English Heritage Annual Pass, (membership priced at £44 an adult or joint adult£77)….bargain!!

Blenheim Palace & Tesco Clubcard Vouchers; As with plenty of other days out deals, every £5 in Tesco clubcard vouchers will gain you £20 towards entrance charges.  The great deal with this one is that if you purchase a day ticket at Blenheim Palace you can then exchange this for a full annual pass for this visitor attraction!

Blenheim Palace & Tesco Clubcard

What about hotel vouchers & Tesco clubcard deals?

Redeeming your tesco vouchers for hotel rewards is another good way of making that mini-break affordable.  Currently every £10 in clubcard vouchers will secure you £30 worth of hotel vouchers.

Any new deals for Tesco clubcard vouchers?

Yes, Disnyeland Paris 2011 is on offer for just £29.50 per person in Tesco vouchers.  This is a pay in full deal and offers 1 child or 1 adult a ticket for Disneyland Paris, offering access to both Disneyland Parks during the one day.  This is particularly good as it’s very difficult to secure Disneyland ticket deals without booking up for a stay at the resort.

Another great option you can now purchase is a Family & Friends Railcard, (also available for the Young Person & Senior Railcards too), with your clubcard vouchers.  For £14 in vouchers you can pick up your discount railcard and take advantage of discounted rail travel all year long.

Additional clubcard points promotions.

Clearly this is what Tesco want you to do, but it is worth keeping an eye out for additional points promotions to build your rewards as long as you are buying necessary household items!

• Castle Howard

• Jorvik Viking Centre

• Scarborough Sealife Centre

• York Dungeons

Free entry tends to related to 29 & 30 January during specific times so worth checking out the details before setting out. More details available at York Visitor Attractions free entry.

Liz