Stuck for ideas for Christmas, then consider an annual pass, membership or regional card  that keeps on giving all year long.  These passes & cards can offer substantial savings on entry with many offering additional benefits such as free parking or discounts on secondary spending.

Family mini breaks away on a budget

Stay, Play, Explore Family Short Break

Here’s a way to treat the whole family with a voucher for a short break away in Leicestershire with a Stay, Play, Explore Family Fun package deal.  For £109 a family of four can take advantage of an overnight stay in a 3 or 4 star hotel, (breakfast included), plus entry to any 3 of the following 5 visitor attractions;

• Twycross Zoo
• Conkers
• National Space Centre
• Snibston
• Bosworth Battlefield

The hotels offer a range of leisure facilities too including swimming pools, health clubs & even a junior chef school!  All in for £109…bargain!  More details available at Stay, Play, Explore Gift Vouchers.

National Trust membership deals

National Trust Membership for Christmas

National Trust membership offers free entry plus free parking to over 300 settings. You can secure a discount on the  first year’s National Trust membership if you buy online and pay by direct debit. This deal will in effect give you 3 months National Trust Memership for Free.  For double deals, head over to Quidco that will give you the 3 months free membership plus 30% cash back on your membership too.  More details available at National Trust Cash Back Offer.

Merlin Pass for Christmas

With attractions ranging from Alton Towers, Thorpe Park, Legoland & London Eye, there’s plenty of choice with this pass.  Whilst the standard Merlin Pass no longer includes free parking & there are some restrictions on use, this can still offer value for money. If you are looking for a deal, you can pick up a Merlin Pass for just £42.50 in Tesco clubcard vouchers.

Merlin Pass Half Price Deal

Alternatively, Merlin Passes are going to be  available at half price from Boxing Day.  More details available at Merlin Pass Half Price Sale

English Heritage Annual Pass for Christmas

This pass offer fantastic value for money as each adult annual pass membership gives you free entry for up to six  accompanying children (under 19) within your family group!

Membership is priced at £46 an adult or joint adult for £80 & for a double deal, pay by direct debit to receive 15 months membership for the price of 12 months. Alternatively pay using tesco clubcard vouchers for this and receive £30 off an English Heritage Annual Pass for every £10 in clubcard vouchers.

Christmas deals for all the family

Nickelodeon Pass from Blackpool Pleasure Beach

Blackpool Pleasure Beach is now offering a Nickelodeon Pass that could be of interest to young families. This season pass offers unlimited use of the 12 new Nickelodeon rides specifically designed for younger children and is currently available at a reduced price of £75 per person until 24 December 2011, (standard price £99).  More details available at Nickelodeon Pass from Blackpool Pleasure Beach.

Forestry Commission; Discovery Pass

A Discovery Pass gives you free parking to the forest of your choice for a full year plus local deals often linked to food & drink or cycle hire reductions.  However it’s the national Go Ape 20% discount that may also prove invaluable, (Monday – Friday, term time only) for avid tree climbers!  Passes range from just £20-£40 with more details available at Discovery Pass Offers.

For more deals & discounts, why not Subscribe to Topdogdays & sign up for our email newsletter.

Liz

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.

Vouchers for Conkers, Calke Abbey & Snibston: here are some great vouchers for top attractions within the New Forest including 2 for 1′s and kids go free.  More details available at 2 for 1 vouchers for New Forest attractions.

Liz

Tesco clubcard 2 for 1 voucher; is on it’s way with your clubcard statement and can be used at 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.

Stay, Play, Explore Ticket; this a great way to pick up a bargain on midland attractions throughout the year.  This tickets gives you the flex to choose from 3 of the 5 attractions, (Conkers, Twycross Zoo, National Space Centre, Snibston & Bosworth) at a discounted price.  More details available at Stay, Play, Explore midland attraction discount ticket.

Liz

• Conkers
• Twycross Zoo
• National Space Centre
• Snibston
• Bosworth battlefield.

The great advantage with this ticket is not only do you save money but visit whenever suits you.  Prices have not increased this year so stand at;

• £24 adult ticket
• £12 child ticket
• £60 family ticket, (2 adults & 2 children)

More details available at Stay, Play, Explore.

Liz

Try visiting somewhere for free

Free Swimming; many local authorities now offer 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 entry to many Museums & Art Galleries; there are plenty of museums and art galleries around the country that offer free access.  A core aim nowadays for a thriving museum is to reach out to younger visitors and you maybe surprised at the range of activities and interactive exhibits available to attract young families at minimal/free charge.  Check out the Science Museum in London,  Manchester Art Museum or Princess The Diana Memorial Playground at Kensington Gardens.

Vouchers against admission charges

There are plenty of vouchers out there to reduce the family spend on a top visitor attractions. How about kids go free at Cadbury World or 2 for 1 at Conkers or even free annual upgrades at The Eden Project & Magna Science Centre.

Why not check through our list of attractions and see what is currently available to bring the cost of admissions down.

Take a packed lunch

There is no need to purchase refreshments on site.  Plenty of attractions allow a picnic in; some even provide lockers.  For those that do not offer this option, a picnic in the car can be fun too!

Agree spending money before you go

Children can often enjoy the experience of spending to a budget so work out what you are prepared to spend beforehand with the kids…and then stick to it!

Visit off peak times

Plenty of attractions offer discounted entry to entice you in at quieter times.  Consider a mid morning movie for just 95p per person or after 4pm discounted entry to Legoland Discovery Centre.

Let us know if you have any other budgeting tips we can pass on for saving money on days out.

Liz

• Conkers: 2 for 1 voucher
• Calke Abbey: 1 free child voucher
• Snibston: 2 for 1 voucher
• Swadlincote Ski & Snowboard Centre: 2 for 1 voucher

For more details, go to vouchers for National Forest Visitor Attractions.

Liz

Thrill Hopper ticket: combines entrance to the top four staffordshire tourist destinations Alton Towers, Waterworld, Drayton Manor Theme Park and Tamworth Snowdome.  The thrill hopper ticket  is valid throughout the season. with a single ticket priced at £41.95 or a family ticket priced at £125.95.  More information from discounts for Alton Towers, Drayton Manor & Waterworld.

Yorkshire Pass: once purchased, this offers free entry to over 70 attractions in the region including Eureka, Magna, Scarborough Sea Life Centre. 3 day passes start at £44 per adult, (half price special offer for children over Oct half term).  More information available from discounts for Eureka, Magna, Sea Life Centre.

Great options!

Liz

Go Ape half price discount code: for children aged between 10 & 15 years, Go Ape are offering their rope assault courses for half price from Monday 25 October to Friday 29 October.  Just use the code OCT010 when you are making your booking, (offer excludes Woburn Safari Park).

Vouchers for Twycross Zoo, Trentham Monkey Forest & many more: pick up the Derby Telegraph every day until 27 October and save for tokens that will secure you 2 for 1 vouchers, kids go free & money off promotions of top visitor attractions in the area.

More deals of half term to come!

Liz

Scarefest begins soon!

Alton Towers Scarefest 2 for 1 voucher:  here’s a 2 for 1 voucher from moneysupermarket that is valid from 16 to 31 October.  To download your 2 for 1 voucher for Scarefest, go to deals for Alton Towers Scarefest.

• Drayton Manor Theme Park
• Twycross Zoo
• Alton Towers
• Warwick Castle
• Trentham Monkey Forest
• Think Tank Science Museum
• Conkers
• Black Country Living Museum

Just start collecting tokens from the Derby Telegraph from today running up to 27 October and pick yourself a deal on top visitor attractions in the Midlands.

More information is available at deals and discounts for October half term.

Liz

Conkers is a great day out for all the family with a fantastic outdoor assault course for older children, (and grown ups of course -we do need to risk assess and what better way!).  Picnics are welcome and there is a great indoor area close to the entrance if the weather is closing in.  For more details check out our Insider Guide to Conkers.

Liz