Merlin Deals
1 Current Deal
Passes include entry to over 20 UK attractions
Entertainment company Merlin has reduced the price of two if its annual passes in its Black Friday sale, which is running until Sunday 21 December.
The Essential Merlin Annual Pass is currently on sale for £79, reduced from £139. The pass includes entry to over 20 UK attractions, including:
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Alton Towers Resort
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The Legoland Windsor Resort
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Chessington World of Adventures Resort
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Thorpe Park
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The London Eye
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Madame Tussauds
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The Dungeons
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Warwick Castle
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Shrek’s Adventure! London
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Legoland Discovery Centre
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Cadbury World
Entry is excluded for 25 days of the year, typically at popular times like Christmas and the half-term holidays.
The pass is only cost-effective if you’re planning to visit three or more different attractions within a 12-month period. However, if you’re planning to visit just one of these attractions more than once in a 12-month period, you’re better off buying an individual annual pass.
If you’re only planning to visit one attraction, you’re better off buying tickets in advance online. We’ve rounded up deals, vouchers and cheap tickets for UK theme parks, including Alton Towers, Thorpe Park, and Legoland Windsor, so you can save on entry fees.
Attraction | At the gate price (one-day ticket) | Online in advance price | Individual Annual Pass | Merlin Annual Pass - Essential |
£68 | From £34 | £64 | £79, | |
£68 | From £34 | £64 | £79, | |
£66 | From £34 | £64 | £79, | |
£66 | From £33 | £64 | £79, | |
£39 | £29 | - | £79, | |
£39 | £29 | - | £79, | |
£39 | From £22 | £44 | £79, | |
£28 | From £19 | - | £79, |
The Gold Merlin Annual Pass is currently on sale for £199, reduced from £239. Entry is covered on 364 days of the year but excludes entry to special events like the Alton Towers Fireworks.
Gold pass holders can also get free parking, 'up to 20% off' breaks, 20% off in shops and restaurants, 10% off fast track/reserve and ride passes, 20% off VIP experiences and 50% off discounted tickets for friends and family.
The Platinum Merlin Annual Pass, which costs £299, has not gone into the Black Friday sale.
All passes and entry tickets are only required for guests who are taller than 90cm.
Important: Don’t allow yourself to be taken in by the hype around Black Friday and be sucked into buying something you don’t need or can’t afford. Always do your own price comparisons to ensure you are getting the best deal possible.
See our Black Friday 2025 guide for all our analysis. Check Deals & Vouchers for the latest offers on now.
2for1 theme parks and attractions with National Rail
Buy train ticket and pre-book to save. Including Thorpe Park & Kew Gardens
If you register with Days Out Guide and buy a National Rail ticket, you can get 2for1 entry to 250+ UK attractions, including Thorpe Park, Kew Gardens, Chessington World of Adventures, Alton Towers and Legoland Windsor (see the full attractions list). You must pre-book the attraction tickets – on-the-gate purchases are no longer eligible.
You'll need to click on your chosen attraction on the Days Out Guide website and register or login. A 2for1 code will generate onscreen. Copy it, and click through to the attraction's own website and use the code right away to book two tickets online. On arrival at the attraction, you'll need to present these alongside a valid train ticket dated for the same day. Only one discount voucher may be used per two people. You must print your ticket, tickets shown on a phone will not be accepted.
If you don't present a valid train ticket at the attraction on the day, you'll be required to purchase your second ticket on the gate.
Just stop by the nearest station on your way and pick one up, then present it alongside your pre-booked tickets at the gate. Crucially, your rail ticket must show that you have travelled to one of the stations nearest the attraction. So for Thorpe Park, you need to have a ticket with an end destination of Staines or Chertsey. Details of the nearest station to an attraction can be found on the attraction’s listing page. Travelling to ‘London Terminals’ is acceptable for attractions in London.
What if I live near the attraction/am travelling by other means?
It's worth doing this even if you are not travelling by train as a cheap single ticket can be available for a couple of quid, far cheaper than the entry ticket price (Legoland Windsor is the most expensive at up to £53).
You can visit multiple attractions on the same day that your rail ticket is valid, so if you're travelling to 'London Terminals', you can go to several attractions in London on the same day.
For savings on travel, see how you can swap Tesco points for discounted Railcards.
More info
Excludes Oyster cards, Freedom Passes, DLR, bus, Eurostar, Heathrow Express and tickets and travelcards bought from London Underground. Can't be used with other offers or promotions. However, Railcard discounted National Rail tickets are valid for the offer.
You must be 16 or over to take advantage.
If you don't present a valid train ticket at the attraction on the day, you'll be required to purchase your second ticket on the gate.
Visit the full Days Out Guide terms and conditions for more.
Martin's Money Mantras
Use them
If you answer 'NO' to any of the following questions, don't buy.
Are you
Will I use it?
Is it worth it?
Are you
Do I need it?
Can I afford it?
Free protection for all shopping!
And although Section 75 doesn't apply to debit cards, there is something else to fall back on if you've paid using a debit card, or used a credit card for a purchase under £100. Known as Chargeback, this is part of banks' and card companies' internal rules and not a legal requirement. Read full details of Section 75 or Chargeback, plus how to claim, in our guides.
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You shouldn’t notice any difference and the link will never negatively impact the product. Plus the editorial line (the things we write) is NEVER impacted by these links. We aim to look at all available products. If it isn't possible to get an affiliate link for the top deal, it is still included in exactly the same way, just with a non-paying link. For more details, read How this site is financed







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