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 & Clubcard Deals

Best Tesco Clubcard Deals; Blenheim Palace & Free Annual Upgrade

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!  More details available at Tesco Clubcard Deals; Blenheim Palace

Best Tesco Clubcard Deals; Merlin Passes?

A Merlin Pass gains you entry to Alton Towers, Thorpe Park, Warwick Castle and plenty more Merlin Attractions.  The standard Merlin Pass, (priced at £46.50 in clubcard vouchers),  is no longer as good value as in previous years due to the increased number of restrictions on use & the loss of the free parking perk.

However,  you can still secure Early Ride Time at Alton Tower, (great for queue busting)&  20% off food, drink & souvenirs at many of these settings!  You can also upgrade to a Premium Merlin Pass by paying an additional £30 cash per person to enhance your Merlin benefits.

Applause Annual Priority Membership – PLATINUM; If you want to a member of live TV audiences, (excludes BBC), platinum membership offers you 6 priority audience tickets per show.

Whilst TV tickets are free of charge, platinum membership guarantees entry,  (subject to availability per show), plus early entrance to the studio/venue before all normal ticket holders. This deal also gives you four times your value in clubcard vouchers, (£5 in tesco clubcard voucher is equivalent to 1 platinum membership worth £20).

Tesco Clubcard Deals; Tips to Get the Best Value

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.

Clubcard Deals & Magna

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.

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.  For those that accumulate a high number of clubcard vouchers, you can pick up a mini-break for ‘free’.

Can I Retrieve Lost Clubcard Vouchers?

Yes, you can now retrieve old Tesco Clubcard Vouchers you’d forgotten all about through Tesco.com. This relatively new service 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!  This can be a great way to check whether you have mislaid vouchers and take action to retrieve them before it’s too late!

Any new deals for Tesco clubcard vouchers?

1. A winter ticket to Disneyland Paris 2012 is available for just £28.00 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 but this ticket is only valid until 28 March 2012.

Clubcard & Railcard Deals

2. You can now purchase 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.

3. Redspottedhanky now accept Tesco clubcard vouchers with & every £10 in clubcard vouchers will gain you £20 off train travel.  You can even top up with cash so you don’t have to save amount the ful amount before redeeming your vouchers.

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!

Looking for a deal on a day out, subscribe to Topdogdays and sign up to our email newsletter.

Liz

If you send an email to merlin.annualpass@merlinentertainments.biz to  explain you were planning to purchase a half price Merlin Pass before the 31 January, they will send you a confirmation email allowing you still to make the purchase. It seems you must take this confirmation email with you to the selected Merlin Attraction to take advantage of this deal.

More details available at Merlin Pass Half Price Sale.

Whilst the Merlin Pass sale has officially ended early, there is still a way to pick up a half price pass before the 31 January!  More details available at Half Price Merlin Passes Still Available.

Half Price Merlin Pass Sale

Alternatively, if you can make it to Alton Towers Hotel this weekend, ( 28 &29 January between 2 & 8pm) you can pick up a half price Merlin Pass without requiring the confirmation email.

Alton Towers Waterpark Deals

If you are making your way up to Alton Towers for a half price Merlin Pass, then they may want to know that the waterpark is now back open after it’s annual clean.  There are plenty of Alton Waterpark Deals too.

Gulliver’s Theme Park Splash Zone 2 for 1 Voucher

If you want to get away from the bad weather, check out this 2 for 1 voucher only available this weekend at the Splash Zones at Gulliver’s Theme Parks at Milton Keynes & Warrington.  More details available at Splash Zone 2 for 1 Voucher.

Splash Zone Deals

Cadbury World 20% off Voucher

Another indoor attraction set in the Heart of England is Cadbury World and here’s a 20% off voucher that you can use…remember to pre-book with this one as it does get busy.  More details available at Cadbury World Vouchers.

Try Somewhere New; Stockport Air Raid Shelters

Why not try something new this weekend that again keeps you away from the elements.  Check out our review of Stockport Air Raid Shelters, located just 7 miles from Manchester City Centre.

London Midland Vouchers

London Midland vouchers are now available for discounted travel from 4 – 19 February including February half term.  Worth downloading your vouchers now as can be very popular especially during the school holidays.  More details available at London Midland Great Escape.

Blackpool Pleasure Beach Season Pass Deals

If you can make to a registration event at Blackpool Pleasure Beach on Saturday 28 January between 10 & 12 noon, then you can pick up a Diamond Pass for £20, (unlimited ENTRY to the park) or a Platinum pass, (unlimted use of the rides during the season) for £99.

Have a good one whatever you do,

Liz

The Eden Project are offering free entry to volunteers & charity works this weekend, (20,21 & 22 January 2012).  Simply bring proof of employment, ID badge or letter of confirmation to enjoy a free day out at the Eden Project.

Eden Project Free Entry Offer

Warwick Castle for £13

Limited tickets are available for Warwick Castle at £13 per person if you book online in advance.  More details available at Warwick Castle £13 Deal.

Merlin Pass Half Price Offer

Pick up a half price Merlin Pass deal before this offer expires on 31 January 2011.  Individual Merlin Pass available for just £78 per person if you can visit selected Merlin attractions in person.  More details available at Merlin Pass Half Price Sale.

Trentham Gardens; £3 Entry

Trentham Gardens are currently offering discounted tickets this weekend to this popular Staffordshire attraction for just £3 per person.  More details available at Trentham Estate Deals.  For those in Staffordshire, you may also be interested in Blackbrook Zoo for £1.99 this weekend; simply turn up & pay on the door!

Half Price Legoland Pass Sale

Half Price Legoland Premium Annual Passes

Premium Legoland Annual Pass are currently available at half price and can be purchased online ore at the Legoland resort.  This pass includes unlimited entry during the Legoland season plus free parking and is available for £49.50 an adult & £37.50 a child, (3-15 years old). More details available at Legoland Premium Annual Pass Sale.

Vue Cinema; £1.25 per ticket

Vue cinemas offer mid morning family movies every weekend from just £1.25 per person.  Similiarly Cineworld offer £1 tickets for family movies on Saturday mornings at 68 of their cinemas across the country .  Simply check your local Vue or Cineworld cinema for details & listing times. More details available at Cinema Deals 2012.

Free Annual Pass Upgrades to Visitor Attractions

Here’s a chance to enjoy a day out and make savings all year!  Plenty of visitor attractions around the country offer free annual upgrades if you purchase your daily entrance ticket.  Attractions include the Eden Project, Blenheim Palace, Magna, National Space Centre & more.  More details available at Free Annual Upgrades for Visitor Attractions.

Have a good one,

Liz

There’s a new coaster coming to Thorpe Park for 2012; The Swarm.  This new thrill ride is located on an island north of Stealth and will be accessed by a bridge connecting the two areas.

This ride is being billed as the first winged rollercoaster & sends you head first into an inverted drop from 127ft and includes 4 inversions. Set to cost £18 million to build, this will be the second tallest ride at Thorpe Park after Stealth.  The first test run has recently been completed at Thorpe Park.

It’s controversial plans to create an apocolyptic invasion has provoked an outcry in some quarters so it’s going to be interesting to see how the theming develops.  Set to be in place for the beginning of the Thorpe Park season, this tallest winged rollercoaster in Europe is certainly going to draw the crowds for 2012.

Remember, we’ve all the Thorpe Park Deals as they emerge for 2012.

Liz

Trentham Gardens are currently offering discounted tickets this weekend to this popular Staffordshire attraction for just £3 per person.  More details available at Trentham Gardens Offers 2012 or Trentham Gardens Ice Skating Deals 2012.

Trentham Ice Skating Deals

Purchase a Half Price Merlin Pass

This Half Price Merlin Pass sale is only running until 31 January 2011.  You can pick up an individual Merlin Pass for just £78 per person, (standard price £156) but only of you can visit selected Merlin attractions in person. If you are considering picking one up from Alton Towers, check out opening times at Alton Towers & Half Price Merlin Pass Sale

£5 Eden Project Annual Pass for Locals

For local residents living in Cornwall & Devon, you can pick up an annual pass for the Eden Project for just £5 per person!  Simply visit up to 10 February 2012 with proof of primary residence in Devon/Cornwall & photo ID and you can visit all year for just £5.  There is also the option to extend this to a 2 year annual pass for an additional £5, (ie 2 years annual pass for just £10).

Eden Project

Vue Cinema; £1.25 per ticket

Vue cinemas offer mid morning family movies every weekend from just £1.25 per person.  Children must be 12 or under and accompanying adults can also gain entry for this discounted ticket price.  This weekend’s selection includes Mr Popper’s Penguins, The Smurfs & Happy Feet 2.  Simply check your local Vue cinema for details & listing times.  Plenty more Cinema Deals available too.

Blackbrook Zoo; £1.99 per ticket

Here’s a chance to visit Blackbrook Zoo for just £1.99 per person this January.  With standard gate prices normally running at £9.95 an adult, this is a great chance to pick up a deal and enjoy a day out on a budget.  Simply visit the ticket kiosk on the day of your visit to take advantage of this deal.

Have a good one!

Liz

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

Whilst the Merlin Pass Sale has officially ended early, there is still a way to get hold of a half price Merlin Pass until 31 January 2012!

Simply send an email to merlin.annualpass@merlinentertainments.biz to  explain you were planning to purchase a half price Merlin Pass before the 31 January.  They, in turn, will send you a confirmation email allowing you to make the Merlin Pass purchase at the sale price of £78 for an individual Merlin Pass. It seems you must take this confirmation email with you to the selected Merlin Attraction to take advantage of this deal. 

Alternatively, if you can make it to Alton Towers Hotel this weekend, ( 28 &29 January between 2 & 8pm) you can pick up a half price Merlin Pass without requiring the confirmation email.

Merlin Pass Half Price Deal

This offers relates only to individual standard Merlin Passes at a discounted price of just  £78 per person, (standard price £156 per person).

To take advantage of this offer, you must purchase & collect your half price Merlin Pass in person from one of the following Merlin Attractions;

• Alton Towers Resort
• Blackpool Tower
• Legoland, Windsor, (selected dates)
• Chessington World of Adventures
• The London, York or Edinburgh Dungeon
• London Eye
• Legoland Discovery Centre Manchester
• Madame Tussauds London
• Madame Tussauds Blackpool
• SEA LIFE centres or Sanctuaries
• Warwick Castle

Unfortunately, you cannot purchase half price Merlin Passes at  Thorpe Park with this deal. Worth checking opening days & times at the Merlin Attraction of your choice before setting off & ensuring you have a confirmation email from Merlin, (see above).

Merlin Pass Half Price Deal

Are Premium Merlin Passes Half Price Too?

Only individual standard Merlin Passes are being offered at half price.  You can upgrade your standard Merlin Pass to a Premium Merlin Pass if you pay an additional £35 per person in cash.  So you could purchase a standard Merlin Pass in this half price sale and upgrade to a Premium Merlin Pass for a total cost of £113 per person, (£78 + £35).

Parking & Merlin Passes

It’s worth noting in the new terms & conditions for Merlin Passes it states that…’Parking is not included with the Standard Merlin Annual Pass, and is subject to availability for Premium Passholders.  Mmm, that’s news to me!

Are Family Merlin Passes Included in this Half Price Sale?

No, only individual Merlin Passes are included in this sale.  Renewals are also excluded from this deal.

Half Price Merlin Passes & Unexpired Time on Current Merlin Pass

There remains some confusion as to whether unexpired time on a current Merlin Pass can be transferred onto a new half price Merlin Pass purchased in this deal.  The official Alton Towers response is that if you have 8 weeks or less on your existing pass, this can be transferred onto your new pass.  However, we are hearing reports of others securing larger extensions to their passes or being issued with vouchers rather than passes that can be redeemed on your next visit, (thanks Steve).  Certainly worth shopping around.

More Information on the Half Price Merlin Pass Sale & Alton Towers

Here is an update from Alton Towers regarding purchasing your Merlin Passes from this popular setting….’The official line is that the Merlin Annual Pass sale that is currently running is a walk up only offer – its only available if you visit the attractions. Only one member of the party needs to be present, but you’d need to bring along photos of the other members in the party. If your pass expires in the next 8 weeks we can add the time onto your pass from the date of your old pass expiring. If you are planning to visit the Resort to buy an Annual Pass the best thing to do is email us in advance to confirm we’ll be open for sales – annual.pass@alton-towers.com’

Thorpe Park & Merlin Pass Deals

The Merlin Pass Offer

A standard Merlin Pass offers entry to over 40 plus visitor attractions around the UK including;

• Alton Towers, (including Early Ride Time)
• Thorpe Park
• Legoland, Windsor
• Chessington
• Legoland Discovery Centre
• London Eye
• Blackpool Towers & many more…

Whilst standard Merlin Passes no longer receive free parking and there are some restrictions on use, (see below), this half price Merlin Pass deal offers value for money if you intend to visit a number of Merlin Attractions throughout the year.  It is also worth taking into account 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 Legoland, Windsor before 2pm 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 works out as great value for money.

How to Get the Most from your Half Price Merlin Pass

This Half Price Merlin Pass deal is particularly cost effective if you take steps to reduce your spending on each visit rather than see them as a free day out!  Simple steps such as taking a picnic, investing in a Photo Pass & following our Tips to Beat the Queues will save you plenty of money throughout the year!

For more ways to save money on a day out, Subscribe to Topdogdays & sign up for our newsletter.

Liz

Have you considered using your Tesco Clubcard Vouchers to shop for Christmas presents?  Whilst I’m not advocating using your vouchers in store, by exchanging vouchers for rewards, you can max out your clubcard vouchers & reduce your Christmas spend as well.

Budget deals for Christmas

Tesco Clubcard Vouchers & Magazine Subscriptions

This is a great way picking up an annual magazine subscription at a fraction of a price.  With annual subscriptions priced around £14 in clubcard vouchers, it can work out great value for money.  Plenty of choice too from Cosmo, Good Housekeeping, Gardeners’ World, Countryfile plus many more.

Tesco Clubcard Vouchers & Giftcards

Tesco have recently run a number of half price giftcard promotions in the run up to Christmas.  Whilst both the half price iTunes giftcard & House of Fraser giftcards sold out very quickly, it’s worth keeping an eye out for similiar promotions & be ready to move fast!  Generally these deals offer a £25 giftcard for 12.50 in clubcard vouchers.

Family memberships with clubcard vouchers

Tesco Clubcard Vouchers & Annual Memberships

Makes for a great family present that lasts all year long and only a fraction of the normal membership prices.

English Heritage Annual Membership; 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).

Standard Merlin Pass; a Merlin Pass gains you entry to Alton Towers, Thorpe Park, Legoland and plenty more Merlin Attractions.  Whilst there are now greater restrictions upon use & incurs parking charges, it still works out as value for money at £42.50 in clubcard vouchers.

Merlin Pass deals & clubcard vouchers

Ramblers Annual Membership; for those active friends & family, you can pick up a single membership, (£10.50 in vouchers), or joint membership, (£14 in vouchers).

Also up for grabs is RSPB Memberships, Woodland Trust Memberships & Applause Membership, (for those wanted to attend TV & radio programmes live!)

Tesco Clubcard Vouchers & Chocolate Hampers

Redeem your vouchers for a range of Thornton’s chocolate hampers for avid chocolate lovers.  With hampers available from £13 in clubcard vouchers, it could be worth a look but be aware there are some restriction on order dates with these offers.

Tesco Clubcard Vouchers & Pantomines

Prefer to use your clubcard vouchers to bring on the festive spirit, you can now redeem vouchers for panto tickets!  Plenty of choice and at only £9 in vouchers per person, could save a fortune!

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

Liz

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