August 31st, 2010
Blackpool Tower at Legoland Discovery Centre
English Heritage are supporting the nationwide heritage open days that are offering free entry to over 4000 settings from 9-12 September 2010.
Some of the highlights include free entry to;
- National Trust’s Winkworth Arboretum in Surrey
- Blackpool Tower
- Guides tours of the Royal Pump Rooms at Leamington Spa
- National Trust’s Biddulph Grange in Staffordshire
- Emma Bridgewater’s factory tour, Stoke on Trent
Some of these events do need to be booked in advance. For further details, check out Hertiage Open Days; free entry weekend.
Free entry, that’s what we like!
Liz
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August 31st, 2010
Miniland at Legoland, Windsor
Flash a Blue Peter badge and you can gain free entry to many top attractions including:
- Alton Towers
- Woburn Safari Park
- Legoland
- Ripley’s believe it or not
- Magna’s science centre…and plenty more!
Free entrance is strictly for Blue Peter winners aged between 6 & 15 that can show the Blue Peter badge and accompanying blue peter badge card. This is a great way to gain free entry to nearly 200 top attractions but you must be accompanied by a full paying adult.
For more information, go to Blue Peter.
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August 27th, 2010
Here’s a discount code for Go Ape that offers you 20% off rope courses that is valid until 5 September. This discount is available at 25 of the Go Ape courses, (excluding Woburn), around the UK.
When booking your course, just use the discount code SMR020. The great news is that this code is valid throughout the week including weekends & the bank holiday!
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August 25th, 2010
The National Trust have come up with a great resource for National Trust members that fancy an alternative to the normal Service Station stop off to break up the journey.
Ingenuously, the National Trust have plotted out their own visitor attractions that are within close proximity of major motorways around England and Wales. So if the kids need a burn off some energy, looking for a scenic picnic spot or just fancy a quick bite to eat, it could be worth checking out some of these settings. Here’s a few ideas to get you going:
- Picnic at Stonehenge; only 0.3 miles off the A303
- Osterley Park & House; only 3.5 miles from M4/Junction 2
- Castle Drogo; only 3 miles off the A30..and many more!
For more details, check out The National Trust; an alternative to a service station. I just need a deal on membership!
Liz
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August 20th, 2010
Blackpool Tower at Legoland Discovery Centre
Merlin Entertainments & Blackpool Council have outlined their main plans for Blackpool Tower & Promenade. The main thrust is to overhaul this popular visitor attraction by:
- Transforming Louis Tussaud to a Madam Tussauds, (can anyone explain the differential between Louis & Madam Tussauds, always wanted to know?)
- Introduction of a Blackpool Dungeon Attraction
- Makeover of Tower Top experience
Fancy a trip to Blackpool before all this is done, well don’t forget Robbie Williams is doing the Blackpool switchon on 3 September!
Liz
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August 14th, 2010
So Robbie Williams may have got himself hitched at the weekend, but the honeymoon may need to be cut short for Robbie to do the switchon at Blackpool Illuminations on 3 September! California he maybe living nowadays but Blackpool is in the blood for this Stoke lad who couldn’t resist the offer!
Although he won’t be singing at Blackpool, he said “This will cap my 20th year of making music and I can’t think of a better place that than Blackpool”
Registration is now open for free tickets for the switchon with a quarter of all tickets going to Blackpool residents. For further details and to register, go to Robbie Williams Blackpool Switchon.
I’ll keep my eyes peeled for a deal or two for Robbie whilst he is in Blackpool.
Liz
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August 11th, 2010
Tesco clubcard reward vouchers; how to make them go further?
Ensure you get 4 times your voucher’s value in reward options. If you spend it on food you only manage to get two times their value! Although Tesco are currently expanding this out to other departments for a limited period of time, this will still only get you two times their value!
Find cost effective deals in the brochure. Although reward vouchers can be redeemed for up four times their value, some deals only effectively offer you two or three times their value. For example you can opt for a free Cineworld ticket for £3 in clubcard vouchers. However it doesn’t cost you £12 for a cinema ticket! For value for money, it would be better spent on rewards such as a Merlin Annual Pass where your vouchers will give you the full 4 times it’s value.
Combine tesco deals with other offers to max out your savings. Use your tesco clubcard reward vouchers wisely to ensure best value. For example for a family of four off to Alton Towers, combine a 2 for 1 voucher with two tesco day entry rewards for a total of £20 in clubcard vouchers, (wise to split into twos at the kiosk to avoid the one offer per transaction!) This way you can bank additional Tesco clubcard reward vouchers for your next day out too!
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!
Check out these Tesco Clubcard deals that potentially offer value for money:
- English Heritage Membership; each £10 in Tesco clubcard vouchers will give you £40 off annual membership. Membership will give you free entry to over 400 historic settings in England.
- Legoland Discovery Centre; buy entrance in full for £3.50 in vouchers per person, (adult on the gate price, £13.95)
- Conkers, Derbyshire; each £5 in Tesco clubcard voucher will allow you £20 off your entrance fees.
- Crealy Adventure Parks; this new addition will secure a £20 discount for just £5 in clubcard vouchers.
Tesco clubcard vouchers can offers value for money and, if used wisely, will save you a fortune on days out!
Liz
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August 10th, 2010
Our topdogdays mantra is that you don’t have to spend a fortune if you are planning a day out with the kids! Here are some of our top tips to keep the costs down during the summer holidays:
A lego family at Legoland, Windsor
Use a voucher; there are plenty of vouchers and deals around for top visitor attractions around the country. If you are planning a day out to Thorpe Park, Cadbury World or Go Ape to name but a few, check out the deals available before you go – of course topdogdays is the obvious choice!
Use a loyalty card; make use of those loyalty card points you have accumulated – Tesco in particular offers you up to four times its value when you redeem vouchers for days out. For example Legoland Discovery Centre will set you back only £3.50 in clubcard vouchers or Drayton Manor only £7.50 in vouchers.
Don’t waste money on additional spend; take a picnic rather than forking out for over priced food. For ride photography; there’s plenty of photo opportunities around a theme park that will capture the day with a regular camera! If you must buy souvenirs; agree an amount with the kids before you enter the store and stick to your budget.
The tube at Legoland, Windsor
London travel; take advantage of the new Barclays cycle hire in London for those aged 14 and over where the first 30 minutes is free. Remember that children under 11 travel for free on buses, tubes & trams in London. Kids aged between 11 & 15, travel on the tube for maximum of £1 a day with an Oyster photocard.
Take advantage of discount travel offers; invest in a family & friends railcard and take advantage of regional rail offers. London Midland trains are offering 50% discounts on off peak travel in August plus your additional discount with a railcard.
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August 3rd, 2010
Chill Factore in Manchester is offering some indoor ski fun this summer on a budget. Check out this 2 for 1 voucher from moneysupermarket that can be used for the main slope, the Luge Ice Slide, Tubing, Sledging or Snowplay up until 30th September. More details available at Chill Factore; deals and discounts.
Alternatively, the SnowDome in Tamworth have vouchers and offers available through their mailing list. Further details are available at SnowDome, Tamworth; deals and offers.
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August 2nd, 2010
Looking for a deal for Go Ape, then check out these current offers;
Go Ape, children half price: Go Ape are offering children, 15 and under, half price tickets any day bar Saturdays until 6th August. Just enter the code BAB050.
Buy 4 Go Ape tickets, get 5th for free: if you can club together with friends & family, then this offers free entry for the 5th person in your group. Just enter the code 05GUAR AND THE FIFTH PERSON GOES FREE.
For other regional Go Ape deals, check out Go Ape; further discounts.
Liz
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