I've found the cheapest annual passes for top attractions across UK – from just £6 a year

FOR 13 weeks a year, parents with school-age kids scramble to find enough activities to fill the endless holiday days... without also breaking the bank.
My sons are seven and nine, and I am always on the hunt for ways to occupy them in their time off.
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If you're planning to visit attractions in the UK this summer, it's worth stealing this tip to future-proof your family fun days - and save a lot of money!
Sometimes admission prices can be eye-watering, but that doesn't always have to be the case.
As well as some brilliant, cheap days out that cost pennies, some of the more expensive attractions sometimes have an annual pass that is virtually the same cost as the one-day admission.
Sometimes, that means after just one extra visit, you can go as many times as you want for a year.
House of fun
I love a bargain and think I might have found the cheapest annual pass for my family, right here on my doorstep.
The 1620s House and Gardens near Coalville is a medieval manor house run by Leicestershire County Council, with adult tickets that allow you entry for a year costing just £6.65.
Children can get in free with their Blue Peter badges, so if I take my three boys twice a month during its open season of Easter to the end of October, each visit costs less than 50p.
Parking is free, so that's another huge bonus.
We love doing the children's trails around the gorgeous gardens, with a new hunt introduced each school holidays.
The perfect Haven holiday park for a kid-friendly break - with direct beach access, indoor waterpark and neighbouring seaside theme park
The attraction also hosts outdoor theatre productions and is a glimpse into Jacobean life, with the family who lived here linked to one of the Gunpowder Plotters.
The old barn is now a tearoom, which often offers children's craft activities and fun for families.
Our favourite is dressing up for Pirate Day in August, when families sing sea shanties, learn how to handle a pretend cutlass and finish up with a huge wet sponge fight around a cardboard box pirate ship on the lawn.
Some activities do cost a bit extra and are not included with your annual ticket, but we never spend very much.
This underrated place is such a find and there are places just like this all around the UK.
If you don't live in the Midlands, here are some of the best spots around the country where families can get an annual pass for next to nothing.
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Cardiff Castle
This impressive building should be a must-see for anyone spending time in the Welsh capital.
I was fascinated to find out how hidden tunnels were used to keep locals safe during the Second World War - with special ramps knocked through the thick walls so up to 1800 people could take shelter when the air raid sirens sounded.
If you live or work in the city, you're entitled to a Key to the Castle, which gives you free access for three years.
There's a £7.50 admin charge for adults, but it's free for children, so a one-adult family visiting twice a month would cost about 10p per visit.
Preston Park, Stockton-on-Tees
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At Preston Park, one adult and three children can get admission all year round for £10, so if I took my boys twice a month, it would cost 42p a visit, as it's open all year-round except most Mondays.
This is a fun way to spend a day, with loads to do for kids.
Head to the skatepark to watch or test your balance, let kids loose in the adventure playground or have a mini adventure on one of the designated woodland walks.
There's also a Victorian street where visitors can buy sweets or find out about the lives of ironmongers, printers, grocers, drapers, chemists, police officers and blacksmiths.
The museum has galleries about local life and the families who lived at the park, while the walled garden is due to reopen this summer Parking is free on site.
SeaCity Museum, Southampton
I can highly recommend a visit here. I had almost as much fun as the kids.
There is a whole area about about the Titanic Story and it was interesting to discover the impact the disaster had on the city.
We all enjoyed the immersive nature of the exhibition about the 'unsinkable' ship, which made its maiden and final voyage from Southampton Docks.
An annual pass costs £25.65 when booked online in advance for one adult and three children, so if you visited twice a month, it would cost £1.07 per visit.
There's also a great cafe downstairs where you can get snacks and drinks and it's lovely to see an old building being repurposed.
Scottish Wildlife Trust
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It's easy to overlook the wildlife trusts that we have across the UK, but they can offer great value for money if your annual membership includes car parking on multiple sites.
Up in Scotland, wildlife trust family membership is £5 a month and includes access to visitor centres, which is usually £6.50 per adult and free for children.
Or, if your child has a Blue Peter badge, you may be better off using that as badge-holders, accompanying children and up to two adults get in free.
If you do plump for family membership and use it twice a month, it will cost £2.50 per visit.
London Transport Museum
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There are loads of great free museums in London, but they can get very busy in the summer months.
Instead, opt for one with an annual pass, like the London Transport Museum.
My boys love it here and it's packed with vintage vehicles, activities like a train simulator and interactive rooms.
For young train-obsessed kids, it's a good call if you're going to be able to make multiple visits within 12 months.
Its location in Covent Garden is good for those visiting the West End as it's a short stroll away from several theatres, unlike the free museums in Kensington, which feel quite isolated.
Adults pay £25 and kids go free, so if you visit twice a month, it will cost you £1.04 each trip.
Jewry Wall, Leicester
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This museum based around the nine-metre high remains of a city centre bathhouse has been closed since 2017 and will reopen next month in time for the school summer holidays.
History fans can boast they have seen one of the tallest surviving sections of Roman masonry in Britain.
It dates from about AD 160, although younger kids might not appreciate how unique it is.
While it's no longer free to visit, the Roman Explorer Pass means you can pay once and visit all year round.
A family of four will cost £32, so if we visit twice a month, it will be £1.33 per trip.
City of Norwich Aviation Museum
If you have a fan of flying in the family, aviation museums can be great for a day out, especially as they tend to offer a good mix of indoor and outdoor exhibits.
This museum in Norwich even has free entry for children aged under eight, so you could save money if your little one is still tiny.
There has also been a 'kids for a quid' scheme over the last couple of school holidays, so keep a lookout in case that makes a return over the summer.
The annual pass is only £40 for two adults and three children aged 8-16 years anyway, so if I took my family twice a month, it would be £1.66 per visit.
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Roald Dahl Museum, Bucks
Little bookworms who are fans of Roald Dahl will love a visit here to immerse themselves in the wacky worlds and crazy characters created in his stories.
The centre, which is in Buckinghamshire, has digital games, painting and crafts and children's workshops. Ideal for children under 10.
At £42 for one adult and three children for the year, two visits a month would cost £1.75 per trip.
British Motor Museum, Coventry
With two buildings packed full of motor vehicles, there's plenty to keep everyone happy for hours here - especially kids who love cars.
There's a playground next to the car park and extra kids' activities during the school holidays, so you'll definitely want to make a return visit or two if you live close to Norwich.
At £46 for a family of four or £52 for a family of five, getting an annual pass for my boys and me would work out at £1.92 per trip if we visited twice a month.
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Murton Park, York
Spread across 14 acres of countryside, you're bound to find something to keep everyone happy, whether you like playgrounds, farm animals, trips on a miniature railway or living history.
Just outside York is home to the Yorkshire Museum of Farming, the park also hosts immersive reenactment events and a monthly kids' club – all included in the price.
At £48 for an annual pass for two adults and three children, visiting twice a month would cost £2 per trip.
The Story of Emily, Liskeard
This one might not seem an obvious choice for family-friendly fun, but if you've got older children interested in history, this could be a good call.
The attraction in Liskeard, highlights the work of Cornish humanitarian Emily Hobhouse, who saved the lives of thousands of Boer women and children at the end of the 19th century.
Set in the rectory where she grew up, the museum's recently opened War Rooms give a glimpse into the world she experienced during the Anglo-Boer War in South Africa.
The new family pass is £45 for one adult and two children, with the option to add extra children for £5 each.
Two trips a month for my three kids and me would be £2.08 per visit.
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Crich Tramway Museum, Derbyshire
My boys love riding the heritage trams around the site and visiting the Victorian sweet shop to check out all the goodies in tall glass jars.
There's an indoor play area for kids under 10, as well as an outdoor playground for youngsters of all ages to enjoy.
Tickets for a family of five booked online in advance cost £52, so that would work out at £2.17 per trip if visited twice a month.
Ironbridge Valley of Invention, Telford
This World Heritage Site boasts multiple museums, including Blists Hill Victorian Town and Enginuity, which offers hands-on science and engineering fun.
You can buy day tickets or pay to visit the museums separately, but an annual pass covers all the attractions for the whole year.
At £61 for one adult and up to four children, it would cost £2.54 per trip to go twice a month.
It just goes to show that you don't have to fork out hundreds to get annual memberships to historic houses, museums or nature reserves.
While spending more for the likes of National Trust or English Heritage passes gets you access to lots of sites with great facilities, supporting small and local can also pay off for both your pocket and protecting the heritage in your area.
The Big Summer Theatre Event
SUN Club members can enjoy the cheapest tickets in town and save up to 60 per cent on theatre shows with The Big Summer Theatre Event!
London Theatre Direct's Big Summer Theatre Event is a must for all theatre fans.
The event includes all your favourite West End musicals and plays – including Tina, Back to the Future, Clueless, The Play That Goes Wrong, Stranger Things, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button and more.
How to book
Step 1: To book your London Theatre Direct tickets head to the Offers Hub.
Step 2: Select the Theatre Tickets tile, click 'Book' and you will be taken to The Sun & London Theatre Direct website.
Step 3: Choose your theatre show and look for the dates marked with stars to check out our exclusive sale prices. Prices show the exclusive Sun Club member savings.
Step 4: Your exclusive 10 per cent additional discount will be automatically applied.
Step 5: Enter your details in the checkout and pay. You will then receive an email with your tickets.
Offer is open to UK residents aged 18+ only. Save an additional 10 per cent off tickets. Offer ends at 23:59pm on Monday, July 7, 2025. Full T&Cs apply, see below.

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25 minutes ago

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EXCLUSIVE Inside the hell trains: People were starting to pass out and some were taking their clothes off, say passengers stuck in crammed carriages for hours on hottest day of the year

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'This would have been a difficult and uncomfortable experience for our passengers and we are truly sorry. With safety our top priority, the safest place was to remain on the trains while we worked our hardest to get help to those on board. 'There is engineering work taking place today, which means this is the only route Thameslink trains can take south out of London and severe disruption is expected for the rest of the afternoon. 'Anyone travelling south of London is currently advised to use Southern services from Victoria but you should check the latest travel advice at 'Passengers delayed by 15 minutes or more are also entitled to compensation, with details on our website.' A British Transport Police spokesperson added: 'Officers were called to Loughborough Junction Railway Station at just before 11am today (June 21) to reports of a train broken down nearby. 'Officers assisted Thameslink and Network Rail and all passengers have been evacuated safely.' A London Fire Brigade spokesperson also said: 'We were called at 11.46am today to assist around 1,800 railway passengers who were on board three trains which were stranded near Loughborough Junction station. 'Once the power to the railway line had been isolated, around 25 firefighters worked alongside railway staff and the British Transport Police to safely lead the passengers from the trains and along the track and to the station.' The frightening ordeal comes just days after experts predicted nearly 600 people in England and Wales could die as a result of this week's heatwave. Researchers at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) and Imperial College London used decades of UK data to predict excess mortality during the hot temperatures from Thursday to Sunday. Their study, released on Saturday, forecasted that around 570 people could die due to the heat over the four days. The excess deaths were estimated to peak at 266 on Saturday when the heat will be at its most intense. London was predicted to have the greatest number of excess deaths with 129. The researchers said their assessment highlights how extreme heat poses a growing threat to public health in the UK. Today, Britain is as hot as the likes of Barbados and Corfu and is hotter than Barcelona and Lisbon. But forecasters at the Met Office warned that much of the UK could be soaked as soon as 5pm this evening as the humid aftermath of the heatwave looks set to result in a downpour. This week has already seen thermometers surpass 30C across much of the UK, with Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland all recording their warmest days of the year on Friday. But forecasters at the Met Office warned that much of the UK could be soaked as soon as 5pm this evening as the humid aftermath of the heatwave looks set to result in a downpour (Pictured: Commuters squeeze onto a London Underground tube, June 21, 2025) That blistering heat has continued into today, which is the official end of spring, an occasion which was marked at Stonehenge this morning. Thousands of people watched the sunrise over the monument to celebrate the summer solstic e. Those who gathered for the spectacle in Wiltshire braved a warm start to the morning as they marked the year's longest day. Temperatures in Salisbury and Greater London reached 18C by 5am, according to the Met Office. The weather bureau confirmed that Yeovilton in Somerset and Crosby in Merseyside recorded the highest overnight temperatures in England, both reaching 19.7C by 6am on Saturday. Towns in Cumbria and Lancashire also recorded temperatures above 19C. An amber heat-health alert for all regions in England remains in place for the weekend, but a warning for thunder has been issued. Spanning the north Midlands to Northumberland, including north-east Wales, downpours, hail, lightning and gusty winds are predicted from 5pm today until the early hours of tomorrow. The Met Office warned of 'sudden flooding' which could see communities 'cut off', transport disruption and power cuts. The hot weather is poised to linger in the South and East through the weekend. An amber heat health alert – to warn healthcare providers – lasts until Monday. Elsewhere, temperatures are set to fall from tomorrow to the high teens or low 20s. It follows a World Weather Attribution (WWA) research group study published on Friday which found the heatwave has been made around 100 times more likely and 2-4C hotter due to climate change. Dr Garyfallos Konstantinoudis, lecturer at the Grantham Institute at Imperial College London, said: 'Heatwaves are silent killers - people who lose their lives in them typically have pre-existing health conditions and rarely have heat listed as a contributing cause of death. 'This real-time analysis reveals the hidden toll of heatwaves and we want it to help raise the alarm. 'Heatwaves are an underappreciated threat in the UK and they're becoming more dangerous with climate change.' An official heatwave is recorded when areas reach a certain temperature for three consecutive days, with thresholds varying from 25C to 28C in different parts of the UK. The Met Office confirmed that 'many places' in England and 'one or two areas' in Wales, including Cardiff, entered a heatwave on Friday. There will also be very high UV and pollen levels across the country on Saturday, the forecaster said. The amber heat-health alert, issued by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) for the first time since September 2023, is in force until 9am on Monday. It warns 'significant impacts are likely' across health and social care services because of high temperatures, including a rise in deaths, particularly among those aged 65 and over or people with health conditions. Following the hot weather, the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) urged the public to take heat and water safety seriously. During 2022's heatwave, temperatures rose past 40C, leading to 320 people being treated in hospital. Steve Cole, policy director at RoSPA, said: 'Heat is no longer just a holiday perk - it's a growing public health risk. 'We're seeing more frequent and intense heatwaves, both in the UK and globally, and the data shows a clear rise in heat-related illness and fatalities. 'Warm weather can also be deceptive when it comes to going for a dip.

Telegraph

33 minutes ago

• Telegraph

How vaccine fears and summer holidays could trigger a measles surge

As the June heatwave begins and families prepare for a summer of festivals and flying off abroad, experts are warning that thousands may return home this year with an unwanted holiday souvenir. Measles – the highly infectious but preventable disease from the past – is making a concerning comeback. Already, a number of popular destinations – including France, Spain and Italy – have seen 'large' outbreaks, according to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA). Analysis by WHO Europe and Unicef reported 127,350 measles cases in the European region for 2024, double the number of cases reported for 2023. It is also the highest number since 1997. It's a similar story across the pond. Canada, which only recorded an average of 91 measles cases annually from 1998 to 2024, has 2,885 confirmed cases already this year. Meanwhile, there were more measles cases in the US during the first three months of 2025 than in all of 2024, according to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention. 'It's essential that everyone, particularly parents of young children, check all family members are up to date with two MMR doses, especially if you are travelling this summer for holidays or visiting family,' says Dr Vanessa Saliba, a consultant epidemiologist at UKHSA. 'Measles cases are picking up again in England and outbreaks are happening in Europe and many countries with close links to the UK. 'Measles spreads very easily and can be a nasty disease, leading to complications like ear and chest infections and inflammation of the brain with some children tragically ending up in hospital and suffering life-long consequences. Nobody wants this for their child and it's not something you want to experience when away on holiday.' While cases are still lower in the UK than they were in 2024, experts are also worried that unvaccinated people could contract the disease at large-scale events such as Glastonbury – which starts next week. 'Festivals are the perfect place for measles to spread,' says Dr Alasdair Wood, a consultant in health protection at UKHSA South West. 'We want festival-goers to enjoy their time at Glastonbury and other festivals this year. Being aware of the current health risks will help those attending enjoy their time as much as possible. If you're not fully vaccinated against measles, mumps and rubella, please contact your GP to see if you can get an appointment before coming to the festival.' Vaccine hesitancy and the declining MMR vaccination rates – only 85 per cent of UK children are receiving two doses, well below the 95 per cent needed for herd immunity – may well be the reason why a surge in measles is being predicted later this year. Dr Hana Patel, a GP, says that although she hasn't seen any cases of measles this year so far in her surgery in south-east London, like most health professionals, she's concerned that the pandemic as well as other factors are to blame for the lack of vaccinations in some parts of the UK. 'There have always been some communities who are vaccine hesitant – there is evidence that traveller communities don't have access to the same information most people do, or patients from particular areas from Europe, where they don't have a vaccine schedule, are two examples,' she says. 'But after Covid, I've noticed more people – even some doctors – who seem quite complacent about vaccines. 'It's not always a family's fault. If you have a transient population, perhaps a family in temporary accommodation who are then moved to another area, they might miss their letter or appointment. Or then they will get an appointment and then forget about it because it's not on everyone's mind all the time. It's really important to find out the challenges in each particular area and target them with specific help. 'Other parents may not understand that it's not just one vaccination but you need two to be fully protected. Children in larger families may also be at risk because parents think one child has had it and so they think that protects the others or they can't remember if the others have had it. Speaking a different language may be another factor. 'I really hope that more people get the vaccine done, because long-term consequences such as meningitis and hearing loss, are incredibly serious. We also have to remember the risks to pregnant women of being exposed to measles too (contracting measles can lead to severe complications with pregnancy and birth). It's more than just the child who has been vaccinated, it's the people around them too.' Dr Naveed Asif, a GP from the London General Practice, says he has encountered a diverse spectrum of patients who have been influenced by the misinformation surrounding vaccines. 'One notable instance involved a well-educated couple who meticulously researched every decision they make regarding their children's health,' he says. 'They came to me with a palpable sense of uncertainty after reading a negative article about the MMR vaccine. Despite the wealth of positive data supporting its safety and efficacy, they were fixated on that one negative report. 'I've also treated patients from backgrounds where traditional beliefs about health are prevalent. For example, families from South Asian communities often rely heavily on parental advice and anecdotal experiences. They might argue that they've never needed vaccines in their lives and feel confident in their decision to forgo them. This reliance on peer opinion can lead to a strong sense of community validation, but it can also perpetuate hesitancy about vaccinations. 'From my personal experience, I often see sick children presenting to their GP first, and I have encountered significantly unwell children whose parents have chosen not to vaccinate. These families often find themselves reliant on more invasive, distressing and intensive resources to support their child's illness. I firmly believe that exposing children to vaccines early, rather than keeping them unprotected, is more likely to build immunity and contribute to healthier, stronger adults overall.' But vaccine hesitancy is not the only factor. Although the figures for measles were low during the Covid pandemic, the lockdowns appear to have exacerbated the current increase in measles figures, with over 1.8 million infants in the WHO European region missing their vaccinations between 2020 and 2022. England had already experienced 2,911 laboratory-confirmed measles cases in 2024, the highest number of cases recorded annually since 2012. One young person was confirmed to have died in the UK last year of the disease. 'We have seen a steady decline in vaccination coverage for children over the past 10 years and we now find ourselves in a situation where the UK does not meet the WHO target of 95 per cent coverage for any routine childhood immunisations,' says Dr Helen Stewart, the officer for health improvement at the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health. 'The result of this trend is being felt already, with measles outbreaks occurring across the UK, increasing cases of whooping cough and poliovirus being found in sewage samples in London. 'Because the MMR vaccine has been so successful in preventing outbreaks, many parents and caregivers today have never witnessed the sometimes devastating impact measles can have on children and babies. Measles is one of the more contagious diseases – more transmissible than even Covid – and poses a serious threat, especially to children under the age of five. 'Paediatricians are particularly concerned about current and potential outbreaks in the UK, especially during the upcoming winter period. This is already an extremely tough time for health care professionals, with high surges in respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and influenza, as well as circulating Covid and group A streptococcus (GAS). To have another highly contagious, dangerous and preventable disease, making children sick, would be disastrous. Not only could it put other young patients at serious risk, it could also add further pressure to paediatric wards. 'We understand that vaccine hesitancy may be an issue in some instances, but evidence shows that accessibility and availability of health appointments plays a huge role in low uptake. We urge the UK Government to take forward the commitments of the NHS's vaccine strategy and work towards reversing this dangerous trend.' Six decades ago, up to more than half a million people in the UK could be affected by measles each year, and around 100 people would die annually. Author Roald Dahl's seven-year-old daughter was one such victim, dying of complications from the disease in 1962. Thousands were left with respiratory, brain or hearing problems. But the MMR vaccine changed everything. Introduced in 1968, it's thought to have prevented over 20 million measles cases and 4,500 deaths in the UK. When offered to all children in 1988 (and the second dose MMR vaccine was brought in for preschoolers in 1996), the number of cases in the UK fell dramatically. So much so that in 2017, WHO confirmed that the UK had achieved 'measles elimination status', something the US had already achieved in 2000. Despite the UK losing this status shortly afterwards, it regained it again in 2021 after the Covid pandemic. Yet now, doctors are facing real fears that it has taken a foothold once again. 'The challenge is not anecdotal, it is very real,' says Dr Benjamin Kasstan-Dabush of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. 'There has been a global rise in measles cases, and two unvaccinated children died from measles in Texas this year, reminding us of just how dangerous this preventable disease is. 'High vaccination coverage helps to prevent the spread of disease, but rates are just not as high as they need to be. It is likely that the number of confirmed cases of measles does not reflect the actual burden of illness. 'This is particularly worrying because a child infected with measles can deteriorate rapidly, and there is always a risk of them developing encephalitis (inflammation of the brain). So, we should all be concerned about a predicted surge in measles cases.' Since January this year, 420 lab-confirmed measles cases have been reported in England, with London reporting almost half of all cases in the past four weeks. Outside the capital, Bristol has seen the highest number of cases, with 47 so far this year, followed by Leeds (29) and Essex (22). A number of other regions are also reporting outbreaks, with 25 per cent of cases in the North West, and 11 per cent in the West Midlands. Earlier this month, UKHSA published its monthly update showing there were 109 confirmed cases in April and 86 so far in May – most have been in unvaccinated children aged 10 years and under. 'We have seen a small increase in the number of measles cases in Birmingham over recent weeks,' says Dr Clara Day, the chief medical officer for NHS Birmingham and Solihull. 'We know how easy it is for viruses like this to spread within our communities, especially where we know there is a high number of unvaccinated people. 'Unfortunately we know that misinformation surrounding the MMR immunisation is prevalent, but it is safe, effective and the only protection we have against these illnesses. Measles in particular can be deadly in the most serious of cases, so I would encourage all parents to make informed decisions about whether to get their child immunised.'