Buying an annual pass can save you lots of money on days out across the year. I always think they\re a fantastic idea for birthdays or Christmas gifts as they really are the gift that keeps on giving! It also means that once you've paid the one-off cost, your day out is free (or super cheap) and it's nice to know you have the option to enjoy a day out when you're skint and need to get the kids out of the house.
There are so many annual passes to choose from so I've decided to compare some of the region's favourites and try and figure out which offer the best value for money. I am basing prices on a family of four (including 2 school-aged children) and I'm judging the annual passes on their initial cost, if they're accessible by transport, the saving you'll make if you visit four times across the year and how often they run special events or exhibitions so there's something new for you to see. Prices were checked in January 2018 and are subject to change.
Seven Stories
- Cost per family of four: £65
- Savings across 4 x visits: £49.40
- How many times you need to visit to get your money back: 3 visits
Life Science Centre
- Cost per family of four: £85
- Savings across 4 x visits: £79
- How many times you need to visit to get your money back: 3 visits
Alnwick Garden
- Cost per family of four: £45
- Savings across 4 x visits: £48.60
- How many times you need to visit to get your money back: 2 visits
Alnwick Castle
- Cost per family of four: £42
- Savings across 4 x visits: N/A
- How many times you need to visit to get your money back: N/A
Adventure Valley
- Cost per family of four: £240 (or £120 term time Monday - Friday only) £159.20
- Savings across 4 x visits: No saving - you lose £80.40 or you'll save £7.20 with the term time deal
- How many times you need to visit to get your money back: 6 times
Whitehouse Farm
- Cost per family of four: £196
- Savings across 4 x visits: Nothing, you lose £64.20
- How many times you need to visit to get your money back: 6 times
Kirkley Hall
- Cost per family of four: £110
- Savings across 4 x visits: Nothing, you lose £22.50
- How many times you need to visit to get your money back: 5 times
Northumberland County Zoo
- Cost per family of four: £115
- Savings across 4 x visits: NOthing, you lose £25
- How many times you need to visit to get your money back: 5 times
WWT Washington
- Cost per family of four: £84
- Savings across 4 x visits: £28
- How many times you need to visit to get your money back: 3 times
English Heritage
- Cost per family of four: £96
- Savings across 4 x visits: (based on 4 x visits to Belsay Hall) : £11.20
- How many times you need to visit to get your money back: 4 of the more expensive properties
National Trust
- Cost per family of four: £114.60
- Savings across 4 x visits: £83.40 (based on 4 visits to Cragside)
- How many times you need to visit to get your money back: Just over 2 (based on Cragside)
Beamish
- Cost per family of four: £49.50
- Savings across 4 x visits: N\A
- How many times you need to visit to get your money back: N/A
Woodhorn Museum
- Cost per family of four: £13
- Savings across 4 x visits: N/A
- How many times you need to visit to get your money back: N/A
Blue Reef Aquarium
- Cost per family of four: £113.70
- Savings across 4 x visits: £37.90
- How many times you need to visit to get your money back: 3 visits
Diggerland
- Cost per family of four: £279.96
- Savings across 4 x visits: £39.24
- How many times you need to visit to get your money back: 4 visits
Tanfield Railway
- Cost per family of four: £80
- Savings across 4 x visits: £24
- How many times you need to visit to get your money back: 4 times
Which Annual Passes are the best?
After looking at the various deals available, I think the following passes offer excellent investment.
1 - National Trust
2 - Beamish
3 - Life
4 - Preston Park
5 - Woodhorn
6 - Alnwick Garden
Which Annual Passes would I avoid?
The cost of an annual pass for Adventure Valley has shocked me the most. At £240 it's almost 5x the cost of Beamish! I seriously don't know how they can justify that.
I have found farm parks to be quite pricey in general and although farms do offer a good day out, they seem very expensive when compared with other annual passes in our region and you tend to need to visit 5-6 times before you start to see a saving. If I had to pick one farm park, Kirkley Hall is the cheapest and over half the price of Adventure Valley.
Finally, at almost £300, Diggerland is the most expensive annual pass from my findings and you need to visit four times across the year to get your money back. The only time I'd consider buying this pass is if I lived next door!
Did you see last weeks post featuring The National Arts Pass or Museums Associations Pass? They might offer a better option for you. Find out more here.
Let me know which Annual Passes you'd recommend.
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Down at the farm is a good value annual pass. Its also normally availabe on groupon for slightly cheaper. Around £30 a family of 4. You only name 2 people so you can take any other 2 peope which is great. So could just put it in the kids names and then grandparents etc can use it.
ReplyDeleteThis post is brilliant! So helpful, it must have taken ages to research. We love our National Trust membership, it’s lovely to always have something to do and great when you’re visiting another area too!
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