How To Get The Most Bang For Your Buck With An Annual Pass

Annual passes can be a great way to explore your favourite attraction if you are willing to pay a bigger sum upfront. Over the years I’ve bought a few annual passes to a variety of venues across the UK including  zoos, theme parks as well as gardens and woodlands. There are a few things I always consider before buying an annual pass to ensure I can get the most bang for my buck. Here are my tips and tricks if you’re also weighing up the idea of buying an annual pass.

Location: Lots of venues across the UK offer an annual pass but an important factor to consider is how long it takes you to travel to the location. Realistically, you’re more likely to visit if it’s within 30 minutes of your home or an hour at the most.

Parking: If you are planning on travelling by car then it is vital that you check if your annual pass includes parking because some don’t and if they do then you may have to pay extra for it. I have always travelled by car to the venues where I have bought an annual pass, so I think it is worth paying  extra to include parking. Merlin venues, which includes Legoland, Chessington and Warwick Castle, offer different levels of annual passes such as gold, silver and bronze. The price goes up with each perk and sometimes it’s worth upgrading one person’s pass to gold, which includes parking, if you’re travelling as a family to make sure your parking is always covered. 

How you pay: How you pay for your annual pass can reduce the cost. Many venues offer an additional discount on an annual pass if you pay by direct debit. This includes annual membership for the National Trust and ZSL’s London & Whipsnade Zoo. However, this means your pass will automatically renew at the end of the year, so you may want to set a reminder at the end of the year to cancel your renewal if you don’t want it anymore.

If you can’t pay a hefty sum upfront, then some venues also allow you to pay monthly to help spread the cost throughout the year. You may have to pay a small upfront cost, but this maybe an affordable option.

Some venues also offer an additional discounts if you visit during off-peak times. I think this is only worth it if  you have preschoolers or homeschool your children. If you have children in full-time school or if you work full-time,  then off-peak passes are not worth it.

Discount on food and drink: Did you know that having an annual pass or buying a year’s membership to a venue means, you might be given additional discounts at the venue. In my experience pass holders are often given a certain percentage off their food and drink at the venue. It’s worth knowing how much this is  so you can plan your visits to suit your needs and budget. This additional discount may mean you end up ditching a packed lunch and avoid the hassle of lugging your food and drink  around and instead opt to buy your meal at the venue.

Go digital:  Once you have decided on a venue, then check if they offer you an additional discount or extra perks if you buy a digital membership rather than opt for a physical membership card. 

It is always a good idea to download the venue’s app, which often allows you to book and plan each trip with ease. Most apps will include an interactive map of the venue, queues times, show times, opening times and even any offers available on the day.