They are also a great investment to make at the start of the year as you can use them throughout every school holiday if needed (in most cases).
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.
My Current Annual Passes
Now obviously I'm a days out blogger so I may have more annual passes than the average person. These are the ones I have currently purchased:National Trust
I have been a National Trust Member for over 10 years now and will continue for the rest of my life. We are regular visits and love their grounds for walks, their fab cafes, how dog friendly they are plus their full programme of events across the year. I will never get bored! Also handy when travelling around the UK.
English Heritage
Likewise, I love my English Heritage membership and will continue this one for the rest of my life too. We always visit Warkworth Castle when staying at the caravan and enjoy a couple of walks around Belsay a year plus visit Hadrian's Wall a few times too. It's worth it for us.
Historic Houses
I joined Historic Houses at the end of last year as something a little different. We are currently working through a challenge to visit every Castle in Northumberland and for us, it made financial sense to buy this rather than paying individual entry fees.
We have already used this pass to use it to visit Bamburgh Castle and Raby Castle and have plans to visit Alnwick Castle, Auckland Castle, Chillingham Castle and Ushaw Historic House this year.
Woodhorn Museum
Woodhorn Museum is local to use and it's only £13 for a family membership so completely worth it for us. I love their seasonal events, free crafts and cafe. Dogs are welcome in the grounds and we visit a couple of times across the year.
Beamish Museum
Now my Beamish pass did expire after we visited over Christmas last year but I will renew it this year. We love visiting in all seasons (but do have soft spot for Christmas) and it's one of our favourite dog walking spots.
I also have plans to buy an Alnwick Garden annual pass in 2024. I usually visit as a one-off visit in spring using the 2for1 Gardeners World deal but now I'm more into gardening, I think I'd like to visit a few times this year and the annual pass is pretty good value.
The Best Value Annual Passes
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) including gift aid if applicable.
This post was first published in 2019 and has been updated (in bold) with prices / info in January 2022, 2023 and again for 2024 (prices checked 11 Jan 2024 and are subject to change).
Life Science Centre
Life Science Centre is conveniently located in the heart of Newcastle next door to Central Station. It is super convenient to get to via public transport (train, bus or metro).
There are various science exhibitions, shows, demonstrations and a chance to get hands on too. These change a couple of times throughout the year.
Life is accessible (you can read their accessibility statement here) and I really like that there is an indoor picnic area where visitors can bring their own food as well as a lovely cafe. Facilities include ear defender hire, level access, a changing places toilet, wheelchair loans, induction loops and more.
- Annual Pass cost per family of four (2019): £94
- One-off visit cost (2019): £31
- How many times you need to visit to get your money back: 3 visit
January 2024 update - Family membership is now £139, this is an increase of £34 from last year. A one off family visit is £47 so you'd need to visit 4 times across the year to make your money back.
January 2022 update - Family membership remains at £94 but they do say that this is due to change in April 2022. You can read about the new under 7s play zone here.
December 2022 update - Family membership is now £105 which is an increase of £11. At the moment, Life is running a special offer of £5 entry per person so it would definitely not be worth investing in an annual pass right now. Life is closed from 9-23 January after which, I assuming there will be a new admission fee (I will update it once I know).
December 2022 update - Family membership is now £105 which is an increase of £11. At the moment, Life is running a special offer of £5 entry per person so it would definitely not be worth investing in an annual pass right now. Life is closed from 9-23 January after which, I assuming there will be a new admission fee (I will update it once I know).
Alnwick Garden
Alnwick Garden is open throughout the year (they usually close for most of January) and a lovely place to visit if you enjoy the great outdoors & beautiful flowers. They also run special events across the season and especially offer a good range of activities in the summer holidays (usually at no additional cost).
Despite being outdoors, Alnwick Garden is not dog-friendly.
Alnwick Garden have their own dedicated car park (£3 per car per day) and a number of buses serve Alnwick Town Centre direct from Newcastle.
Alnwick Garden is accessible (you can read their full access statement here). Facilities include free wheelchair and mobility scooter hire, level access and a changing places toilet.
- Annual Pass cost per family of four (2019): £49.50
- One-off visit cost (2019): £24.99
- How many times you need to visit to get your money back: 2 visits
January 2024 update - An annual family pass is £46 (two adults and up to eight children). This is an increase of £4.10 from last year.
Standard family admission is £24.20 (two adults and up to eight children). You would only need to visit twice to get your money back.
January 2022 update - An annual family pass is now £54.50 and as of July 2021, under 16s now go free (up to 4 per paying adult) so general admission has slightly reduced to £20.70 for a family of 4. This does reflect the lower winter admission cost and will increase in the summer months.
December 2022 update - An annual pass (for two adults as children are free) is now £41.90 which is a reduction of £12.60. This is great news! A day ticket is currently £22 for two adults and up to four children. This does reflect the lower winter admission cost.
Alnwick Castle
Alnwick Castle is one of the best castles in Northumberland and probably best known for where some of the scenes featuring Hogwarts were filmed as part of the Harry Potter franchise. There is something for everyone though (not just Harry Potter fans) with a Dragon Quest, Broomstick Lessons, Courtyard Games, Dress Up & special events all included with admission.
The Castle is open from the end of March - October Half Term so not the best annual pass to invest in if you are looking for year-long fun.
Alnwick Castle shares a car park with Alnwick Garden (£3 per car per day) and is super easy to walk to from Alnwick Town Centre which is served by regular buses from Newcastle.
Due to the historic nature of Alnwick Castle, disabled access is limited in some areas (you can read their accessibility statement here). Alnwick Castle offer free wheelchair and mobility scooter hire (although there is limited access in some areas) and accessible toilets.
- Annual Pass cost per family of four (2019): £41.15
- One-off visit cost: N/A
- How many times you need to visit to get your money back: N/A
January 2024 update - An annual family pass is £53 (an increase of £2.50 from last year)
January 2022 update - An annual family pass is now £50.50 which is quite a jump in two years.
December 2022 update - Alnwick Castle is currently closed for the winter and their ticket prices are not currently available.
Adventure Valley
Adventure Valley is a family farm park in County Durham offering various indoor and outdoor attractions and events throughout the year.
On-site parking is free and the number 62 Arriva bus from Durham to Brasside stops outside.
I struggled to find much in the way of an accessibility statement on their website. As far as I can see, the top part of the site is completely accessible and the two outdoor areas have been covered in tarmac but are on an incline (I do not know by how much). I could find no information about accessible toilets.
Whitehouse Farm
Whitehouse Farm is one of our favourite North East attractions. Open from February, they offer lots of indoor and outdoor fun and special events throughout the year.
The farm offers free onsite parking but is unfortunately fairly difficult to reach via public transport (I think a taxi would be needed from Morpeth).
Whitehouse Farm is accessible with wheelchair hire and mobility scooter hire available (with a small refundable deposit). There is an accessible toilet and most of the farm is flat with tarmac walkways.
January 2024 update: Prices are not currently available
January 2022 update : An annual pass for a family of 4 is now a whopping £303 which is a huge increase in two years. Your pass is only valid from February - October too. Standard admission is now £48.95.
December 2022 update: An annual pass remains £303
WWT Washington
WWT is a lovely place to visit with a play park, outdoor work and many birds & wetland habitats to experience and enjoy. Unfortunately at time of writing, their website is not working. I will pop back and include more information when I can.
January 2024 update: An annual family pass is £78 which is actually a decrease of £18 from last year. One off family admission is now £32.25. You'd need to visit three times to get your money back.
January 2022 Update : An annual pass for a family of 4 is now £92 and one off admission has actually decreased slightly to £27.09. You can pay for an annual pass monthly too.
December 2022 Update - An annual pass for a family of 4 has now increased slightly to £96
English Heritage
We tend to buy English Heritage membership every other year. You need to pay it all in one go so it is a bit of a big outlay but there are lots of days out you can enjoy. This membership is perfect for history lovers and English Heritage run special events and trails during school holidays at no additional cost to members. Roman school on Hadrians Wall and Vikings Invade Lindisfarne Priory have been some of our favourites.
Sites to visit include Belsay Hall, Tynemouth Priory, Warkworth Castle, Corbridge Roman Town, Hadrians Wall, Lindisfarne Priory and Dunstanburgh Castle. Click the blue links to read more and see photos.
Most are accessible via public transport and offer free on-site parking. Please see individual site websites for accessibility statements.
English Heritage sites are usually dog-friendly.
December 2022 Update : Englishg Heritage Membership is now £115 per family per year but if you use code 'YORE20' you will receive a 20% discount which reduces this down to £90.
National Trust
We have been National Trust members for over 10 years now and think it is probably a membership we will keep up forever (if I had the funds, I would definitely invest in lifetime membership).
National Trust offer a diverse range of days out and lots of activities during the school holidays at a small or no additional cost. Their properties are home to some of the best play areas in the North East too. There is always something new to see and do.
Sites across North East England include Cragside, Seaton Delaval Hall, Wallington, Gibside, Washington Old Hall, Lindisfarne Castle, Souter Lighthouse and Cherryburn. Click on the blue links for more information and photos.
Most sites offer free on-site parking. Please see individual websites for accessibility and public transport options.
National Trust sites are usually dog-friendly.
January 2022 Update : National Trust Membership has remained the same price and is still £126 per year per family with the option to pay monthly.
December 2022 Update : National Trust Membership is now £133.80 per year which is an increase of £7.80.
Beamish
Beamish is a fantastic day out at any time of the year. There is always something new to see and do and the range of events on offer is fantastic. Expect everything from Twelfth Night to Harvest Festivals, Parades, Live Music and more. Beamish is an attraction that truly does change with the seasons. Beamish is one of the free
Beamish offers free on-site parking and is accessible by bus. In fact, if you travel by bus, you can receive a 25% discount on your annual pass (see here for details).
Beamish is accessible (read their full accessibility statement here) and offers a multi-sensory experience. Some of the older buildings may not be accessible to all. Free wheelchair hire is available and there is an accessible bus which can accept up to four wheelchairs at a time. There are multiple accessible toilets across the site as well as a changing places toilet in the 1950s welfare hall. An induction loop system is available.
Beamish is dog-friendly.
January 2024 Update: A family annual pass is now £63.50 which is an increase of £9.50
December 2022 update - Alnwick Castle is currently closed for the winter and their ticket prices are not currently available.
Adventure Valley
Adventure Valley is a family farm park in County Durham offering various indoor and outdoor attractions and events throughout the year.
On-site parking is free and the number 62 Arriva bus from Durham to Brasside stops outside.
I struggled to find much in the way of an accessibility statement on their website. As far as I can see, the top part of the site is completely accessible and the two outdoor areas have been covered in tarmac but are on an incline (I do not know by how much). I could find no information about accessible toilets.
- Annual Pass cost per family of four (2019): £260
- One-off visit cost (2019): £40
- How many times you need to visit to get your money back: 6 times
January 2024 update: The term time pass is now £35 per person (an increase of £5 on last year), a family annual pass is now £300 (an increase of £20 on last year). Standard family entry is £41.80 meaning you'd need to visit 7 times to get your money back. Adventure Valley do run various deals including kids go free in Jan.
January 2022 Update : Adventure Valley is now offering 500 term time passes for just £30 per person which seems like a huge bargain! I would snap this one up if I was at home with a preschooler during the week (find out more here).
A standard annual pass for a family of 4 is now £280 with a one off admission costing £40-£48 depending on when you visit.
December 2022 Update - Term Time Passes of £30 per person are still available (bargain!) and a standard annual pass remains the same at £280.
A standard annual pass for a family of 4 is now £280 with a one off admission costing £40-£48 depending on when you visit.
December 2022 Update - Term Time Passes of £30 per person are still available (bargain!) and a standard annual pass remains the same at £280.
Whitehouse Farm
Whitehouse Farm is one of our favourite North East attractions. Open from February, they offer lots of indoor and outdoor fun and special events throughout the year.
The farm offers free onsite parking but is unfortunately fairly difficult to reach via public transport (I think a taxi would be needed from Morpeth).
Whitehouse Farm is accessible with wheelchair hire and mobility scooter hire available (with a small refundable deposit). There is an accessible toilet and most of the farm is flat with tarmac walkways.
- Annual Pass cost per family of four (2019): £196
- One-off Admission (2019): £37.95
- How many times you need to visit to get your money back: 5 times
January 2024 update: Prices are not currently available
January 2022 update : An annual pass for a family of 4 is now a whopping £303 which is a huge increase in two years. Your pass is only valid from February - October too. Standard admission is now £48.95.
December 2022 update: An annual pass remains £303
WWT Washington
WWT is a lovely place to visit with a play park, outdoor work and many birds & wetland habitats to experience and enjoy. Unfortunately at time of writing, their website is not working. I will pop back and include more information when I can.
- Annual Pass cost per family of four (2019): £72
- One-off Admission (2019): £28.60
- How many times you need to visit to get your money back: 3 times
January 2024 update: An annual family pass is £78 which is actually a decrease of £18 from last year. One off family admission is now £32.25. You'd need to visit three times to get your money back.
January 2022 Update : An annual pass for a family of 4 is now £92 and one off admission has actually decreased slightly to £27.09. You can pay for an annual pass monthly too.
December 2022 Update - An annual pass for a family of 4 has now increased slightly to £96
English Heritage
We tend to buy English Heritage membership every other year. You need to pay it all in one go so it is a bit of a big outlay but there are lots of days out you can enjoy. This membership is perfect for history lovers and English Heritage run special events and trails during school holidays at no additional cost to members. Roman school on Hadrians Wall and Vikings Invade Lindisfarne Priory have been some of our favourites.
Sites to visit include Belsay Hall, Tynemouth Priory, Warkworth Castle, Corbridge Roman Town, Hadrians Wall, Lindisfarne Priory and Dunstanburgh Castle. Click the blue links to read more and see photos.
Most are accessible via public transport and offer free on-site parking. Please see individual site websites for accessibility statements.
English Heritage sites are usually dog-friendly.
- Annual Pass cost per family of four (2019): £105
- One-off Admission: (varies)
- How many times you need to visit to get your money back: 4 of the more expensive properties
January 2024 Update: English Heritage Membership is now £120 per family per year which is an increase of £5. There are regularly discount codes available though if you have a google.
January 2022 Update: English Heritage Membership is now £111 per family per year (with the option to pay monthly). December 2022 Update : Englishg Heritage Membership is now £115 per family per year but if you use code 'YORE20' you will receive a 20% discount which reduces this down to £90.
National Trust
We have been National Trust members for over 10 years now and think it is probably a membership we will keep up forever (if I had the funds, I would definitely invest in lifetime membership).
National Trust offer a diverse range of days out and lots of activities during the school holidays at a small or no additional cost. Their properties are home to some of the best play areas in the North East too. There is always something new to see and do.
Sites across North East England include Cragside, Seaton Delaval Hall, Wallington, Gibside, Washington Old Hall, Lindisfarne Castle, Souter Lighthouse and Cherryburn. Click on the blue links for more information and photos.
Most sites offer free on-site parking. Please see individual websites for accessibility and public transport options.
National Trust sites are usually dog-friendly.
- Annual Pass cost per family of four (2019): £126
- One-off Admission: (varies)
- How many times you need to visit to get your money back: Just over 2 (based on Cragside)
January 2022 Update : National Trust Membership has remained the same price and is still £126 per year per family with the option to pay monthly.
December 2022 Update : National Trust Membership is now £133.80 per year which is an increase of £7.80.
Beamish
Beamish is a fantastic day out at any time of the year. There is always something new to see and do and the range of events on offer is fantastic. Expect everything from Twelfth Night to Harvest Festivals, Parades, Live Music and more. Beamish is an attraction that truly does change with the seasons. Beamish is one of the free
Beamish offers free on-site parking and is accessible by bus. In fact, if you travel by bus, you can receive a 25% discount on your annual pass (see here for details).
Beamish is accessible (read their full accessibility statement here) and offers a multi-sensory experience. Some of the older buildings may not be accessible to all. Free wheelchair hire is available and there is an accessible bus which can accept up to four wheelchairs at a time. There are multiple accessible toilets across the site as well as a changing places toilet in the 1950s welfare hall. An induction loop system is available.
Beamish is dog-friendly.
- Annual Pass cost per family of four (2019): £51
- One-off Admission : N\A
- How many times you need to visit to get your money back : N/A
January 2024 Update: A family annual pass is now £63.50 which is an increase of £9.50
January 2022 Update : An annual pass has remained the same price (£51 for a family of 4).
December 2022 Update: An annual pass is now £54 for a family if 4 (an increase of £3)
Woodhorn Museum
Woodhorn Museum offers one of the cheaper annual passes and is a great option for families living in Northumberland. There is a museum, play park, cafe and lots of lovely events and craft sessions across the year which are usually included with admission/your annual pass.
Woodhorn has a free on-site car park and is a 15 minute walk from Ashington Bus Station (see here for details).
Due to the historic nature of the buildings, not all are fully accessible. The museum offers a multi-sensory experience, the team have undertaken dementia friends training and regular quiet sessions are offered. You can find out more about accessibility here .
Woodhorn is dog-friendly.
December 2022 Update: An annual pass is now £54 for a family if 4 (an increase of £3)
Woodhorn Museum
Woodhorn Museum offers one of the cheaper annual passes and is a great option for families living in Northumberland. There is a museum, play park, cafe and lots of lovely events and craft sessions across the year which are usually included with admission/your annual pass.
Woodhorn has a free on-site car park and is a 15 minute walk from Ashington Bus Station (see here for details).
Due to the historic nature of the buildings, not all are fully accessible. The museum offers a multi-sensory experience, the team have undertaken dementia friends training and regular quiet sessions are offered. You can find out more about accessibility here .
Woodhorn is dog-friendly.
- Annual Pass cost per family of four (2019): £13
- One-off Admission: N/A
- How many times you need to visit to get your money back: N/A
January 2024 Update : A family annual pass remains the same price (£13 for a family of 4)
January 2022 Update : An annual pass remains the same price (£13 for a family of 4)
December 2022 Update: An annual pass remains the same price (£13 for a family)
Tynemouth Aquarium
Tynemouth Aquarium is a mostly indoor attraction by the coast. There is paid for parking nearby or Cullercoats Metro is a 10 minute walk. The Arriva 306 or Go North East 1 bus services stop nearby.
Blue Reef Aquarium is accessible and has an accessible toilet and cafe on site. You can find out more about accessibility here.
Diggerland Durham
There is no denying, Diggerland is an expensive day out and even more so for an annual pass. There are not any special events across the year that I can see so I would save this pass for if you lived super close and were real digger enthusiasts.
There is free on-site parking and the Go North East No 13 / 14 bus run from Durham and stop outside.
Randomly, you can land your helicopter at Diggerland!
Diggerland Durham has recently installed a sensory room, the site is wheelchair accessible and accessible toilets are available (although there is no hoist). Find out more about accessibility at Diggerland here.
Tanfield Railway
Tanfield Railway is said to be Britain's Oldest Railway. You can enjoy train rides and various events throughout the year.
There is free on-site parking and the Go North East X30 and X31 (from Newcastle, Gateshead and Stanley) stop outside of St Andrews House Station.
The railway is situated in the countryside and largely open to the elements. There can be rough, slippery paths and loud noises. Read more about accessibility at Tanfield Railway here.
Tanfield Railway is dog-friendly and dogs travel FREE.
Click here to read our review of Tanfield Railway.
January 2024 Update : A Tanfield Unlimited Ticket is still £100 for a family of 4. I cannot find standard admission prices at the moment.
January 2022 Update - at the moment, unlimited tickets / annual passes are not available.
December 2022 Update - Tanfield Unlimited Tickets are back! They're priced at £100 for a family of 4.
For me, I couldn't justify buying a farm annual pass. They're just so expensive and I would much prefer to spend the £ visiting a few different farms across the year which wouldn't be as boring. The exception to this is Northumberland College Zoo which is currently £50 for a family pass so a bit of a bargain (use code JANSALE and purchase before 31 Jan 2024)
I always say National Trust membership is a fantastic investment - brilliant playgrounds, walks, houses and events. Something for everyone! Likewise, now Belsay Hall has a playground, I'd recommend English Heritage too. If your kids like Horrible Histories they run lots of fun storytelling events and re-enactments at their venues in school holidays.
Beamish is always excellent value with lots to see and do across the year or it's just nice for a walk at anytime. There are constant new developments too.
Woodhorn and Preston Park Museum are both less then £15 for a family annual pass and offer loads of events across the year. Definitely worth considering these ones, especially if you're on a budget.
If you love a good day out, although expensive, I'd say Historic Houses is worth looking at as it includes entry to quite a few attractions which have pricey entry fees so if you're likely to use it regularly, you will save £.
December 2022 Update: An annual pass remains the same price (£13 for a family)
Tynemouth Aquarium
Tynemouth Aquarium is a mostly indoor attraction by the coast. There is paid for parking nearby or Cullercoats Metro is a 10 minute walk. The Arriva 306 or Go North East 1 bus services stop nearby.
Blue Reef Aquarium is accessible and has an accessible toilet and cafe on site. You can find out more about accessibility here.
- Annual Pass cost per family of four (2019): £117.30
- One-off Admission (2019): £35.19
- How many times you need to visit to get your money back: 3 visits
January 2024 Update: A family annual pass is now £147.27 which is an increase of £7.77. One off family admission is £54 meaning you'd need to visit three times to get your money back.
January 2022 Update - A family annual pass is now £139.50 and a day ticket is £46.50
December 2022 Update - A family annial pass has remained the same price (£139.50)
January 2022 Update - A family annual pass is now £139.50 and a day ticket is £46.50
December 2022 Update - A family annial pass has remained the same price (£139.50)
Diggerland Durham
There is no denying, Diggerland is an expensive day out and even more so for an annual pass. There are not any special events across the year that I can see so I would save this pass for if you lived super close and were real digger enthusiasts.
There is free on-site parking and the Go North East No 13 / 14 bus run from Durham and stop outside.
Randomly, you can land your helicopter at Diggerland!
Diggerland Durham has recently installed a sensory room, the site is wheelchair accessible and accessible toilets are available (although there is no hoist). Find out more about accessibility at Diggerland here.
- Annual Pass cost per family of four (2019): £320
- One-off Admission (2019): £96
- How many times you need to visit to get your money back: 4 visits
January 2024 Update : Still no info about annual passes so I can assume these are no longer available.
January 2022 Update : General admission has reduced slightly and is £91.20 per family of 4. At the moment, there is no information available about annual passes.
December 2022 Update : I haven't been able to find any info about annual passes.
January 2022 Update : General admission has reduced slightly and is £91.20 per family of 4. At the moment, there is no information available about annual passes.
December 2022 Update : I haven't been able to find any info about annual passes.
Tanfield Railway
Tanfield Railway is said to be Britain's Oldest Railway. You can enjoy train rides and various events throughout the year.
There is free on-site parking and the Go North East X30 and X31 (from Newcastle, Gateshead and Stanley) stop outside of St Andrews House Station.
The railway is situated in the countryside and largely open to the elements. There can be rough, slippery paths and loud noises. Read more about accessibility at Tanfield Railway here.
Tanfield Railway is dog-friendly and dogs travel FREE.
- Annual Pass cost per family of four (2019): £90
- One-off Admission (2019): £27.50
- How many times you need to visit to get your money back: 4 times
Click here to read our review of Tanfield Railway.
January 2024 Update : A Tanfield Unlimited Ticket is still £100 for a family of 4. I cannot find standard admission prices at the moment.
January 2022 Update - at the moment, unlimited tickets / annual passes are not available.
December 2022 Update - Tanfield Unlimited Tickets are back! They're priced at £100 for a family of 4.
Preston Park
Preston Park features a number of attractions including an open air museum/Victorian street, indoor museum, walled garden, adventure playground and skate park. Preston Park offers a full programme of events throughout the year, many of which are included with admission/annual pass.
There is free on-site parking and there are lots of regular buses which stop nearby.
The park has a range of accessible paths but there are also some which may be unsuitable for wheelchairs. There are accessible toilets on both floors of the museum, hearing induction loops are available, you can hire wheelchairs and walkers and there are regular relaxed openings. Find out more about access at Preston Park here.
Hall Hill Farm
Annual membership for a family of 4 is just £152 for a family of 4 which is pretty much half the price of Whitehouse Farm. Standard family admission is £39.95 so you would need to visit the farm 3.5 times across the year to get your money's worth. Find out more here.
January 2024 Update: A family annual pass is now £182 (an increase of £14)
December 2022 Update - an annual pass for a family if 4 is now £168.
Down at the Farm
Down at the Farm is a bargain at just £31 for family day admission. Annual Passes will be available to purchase from Spring, they often offer a mega discount beforehand so keep an eye on their social media. Find out more here.
December 2022 Update - the farm is currently closed for winter and pricing has yet to be updated.
Northumberland Country Zoo
Standard family admission is £41.50 and an family annual pass is £165 so you would need to visit 4 times across the year to get your money back. Find out more here.
January 2024 Update: An annual pass is now £246 - an increas of £16
December 2022 Update - An annual pass is now £230 which is quite a big increase of £65.
Read our recent review of Northumberland Country Zoo here.
Broom House Farm
Lots of people love the Broom House Farm Forest Adventure Annual Pass however at time of publishing, they are not available. Read our review of Broom House Farm Forest Adventure here.
December 2022 Update - Annual passes are still not available.
Northumberland College Zoo
This zoo is fairly small but it's a nice few hours out with a variety of animals. In January, they are offering a family pass for £50 which is a bargain! Use code JANSALE and purchase before 31 Jan 2024. See here for info.
Segedunum
Day admissions is £4.95 per adult and under 16s go free (so it will be £9.90 for a family of 4). An annual pass is available for £13 per person (so £26 per family) and you would need to visit 2.5 times across the year to get your money back.
There are concessions / various deals available too (for example those with an NE28 postcode go free). Find out more here.
January 2024 Update: An annual pass is £30 per family
December 2022 Update - An annual pass remains at £26 per family.
Lightwater Valley
Lightwater Valley is a popular attraction and I know their annual pass is popular. At the moment, there is no info on pricing for this year online but keep your eyes peeled. Find out more here.
January 2024 Update - A Season Pass is £316 per family. A day visit for a family is £120 so you'd need to visit three times to get your money back. However Lightwater Valley usually run various promotions with cheaper entry across the year.
December 2022 Update - Lightwater Valley is closed until April 2023 and prices will be updated then.
Jarrow Hall
Jarrow Hall has switched to an annual pass system now and it is a bargain at £22 for a family of 4. You can read more about Jarrow Hall here.
January 2024 Update - an annual pass is now £26 per family
December 2022 Update - an annual pass is now £24 for a family of 4.
Ushaw Historic House & Gardens
Day admission is £30 for a family of 4 and an annual pass is just a little more at £39 per family (or £19.50 if you are a local family - see their website for details). It definitely seems like it is worth upgrading to an annual pass in this instance. Find out more here.
January 2024 Update: A family annual pass remains at £39 (£19.50 if you're local)
December 2022 Update - an annual pass has remained the same price (£39 per family).
Preston Park features a number of attractions including an open air museum/Victorian street, indoor museum, walled garden, adventure playground and skate park. Preston Park offers a full programme of events throughout the year, many of which are included with admission/annual pass.
There is free on-site parking and there are lots of regular buses which stop nearby.
The park has a range of accessible paths but there are also some which may be unsuitable for wheelchairs. There are accessible toilets on both floors of the museum, hearing induction loops are available, you can hire wheelchairs and walkers and there are regular relaxed openings. Find out more about access at Preston Park here.
- Annual Pass cost per family of four (2019): £15
- One-off Admission: N/A
- How many times you need to visit to get your money back: N/A
Click here to read our review of Preston Park.
January 2024 Update: Prices have remained the same and an annual pass is just £15 per family.
January 2022 Update : Prices have remained the same and an annual pass is just £15 per family.
December 2022 Update - Prices have remained the same and an annual pass is £15 per family.
January 2024 Update: Prices have remained the same and an annual pass is just £15 per family.
January 2022 Update : Prices have remained the same and an annual pass is just £15 per family.
December 2022 Update - Prices have remained the same and an annual pass is £15 per family.
Other Annual Passes (updated Jan 2022)
Hall Hill Farm
Annual membership for a family of 4 is just £152 for a family of 4 which is pretty much half the price of Whitehouse Farm. Standard family admission is £39.95 so you would need to visit the farm 3.5 times across the year to get your money's worth. Find out more here.
January 2024 Update: A family annual pass is now £182 (an increase of £14)
December 2022 Update - an annual pass for a family if 4 is now £168.
Down at the Farm
Down at the Farm is a bargain at just £31 for family day admission. Annual Passes will be available to purchase from Spring, they often offer a mega discount beforehand so keep an eye on their social media. Find out more here.
December 2022 Update - the farm is currently closed for winter and pricing has yet to be updated.
Northumberland Country Zoo
Standard family admission is £41.50 and an family annual pass is £165 so you would need to visit 4 times across the year to get your money back. Find out more here.
January 2024 Update: An annual pass is now £246 - an increas of £16
December 2022 Update - An annual pass is now £230 which is quite a big increase of £65.
Read our recent review of Northumberland Country Zoo here.
Broom House Farm
Lots of people love the Broom House Farm Forest Adventure Annual Pass however at time of publishing, they are not available. Read our review of Broom House Farm Forest Adventure here.
December 2022 Update - Annual passes are still not available.
Northumberland College Zoo
This zoo is fairly small but it's a nice few hours out with a variety of animals. In January, they are offering a family pass for £50 which is a bargain! Use code JANSALE and purchase before 31 Jan 2024. See here for info.
Segedunum
Day admissions is £4.95 per adult and under 16s go free (so it will be £9.90 for a family of 4). An annual pass is available for £13 per person (so £26 per family) and you would need to visit 2.5 times across the year to get your money back.
There are concessions / various deals available too (for example those with an NE28 postcode go free). Find out more here.
January 2024 Update: An annual pass is £30 per family
December 2022 Update - An annual pass remains at £26 per family.
Lightwater Valley
Lightwater Valley is a popular attraction and I know their annual pass is popular. At the moment, there is no info on pricing for this year online but keep your eyes peeled. Find out more here.
January 2024 Update - A Season Pass is £316 per family. A day visit for a family is £120 so you'd need to visit three times to get your money back. However Lightwater Valley usually run various promotions with cheaper entry across the year.
December 2022 Update - Lightwater Valley is closed until April 2023 and prices will be updated then.
Jarrow Hall
January 2024 Update - an annual pass is now £26 per family
December 2022 Update - an annual pass is now £24 for a family of 4.
Ushaw Historic House & Gardens
Day admission is £30 for a family of 4 and an annual pass is just a little more at £39 per family (or £19.50 if you are a local family - see their website for details). It definitely seems like it is worth upgrading to an annual pass in this instance. Find out more here.
January 2024 Update: A family annual pass remains at £39 (£19.50 if you're local)
December 2022 Update - an annual pass has remained the same price (£39 per family).
Bamburgh Castle
Family admission to Bamburgh Castle is £42.10 and an annual pass is £55 per family. TO me, it seems worth paying a little more and upgrading to an annual pass if you live close by and are likely to visit more than once across the year. Find out more here.
January 2024 Update: An annual pass remains at £60 for a family
December 2022 Update - An annual pass is now £60 per family.
Raby Castle
At the moment, there is only pricing available to visit the Deer Park. The castle is closed for the winter and the walled gardens are closed until summer 2023. Day admission is £17 per family and an annual pass is £60.
Personally, I would wait until the walled garden and castle reopen before purchasing an annual pass. You can visit the adventure playground and stables cafe at any time free of charge. Find out more here.
January 2024 Update: An annual family pass is now £80 per family (Castle, Deer Park and High Force) - an increase of £20. Or £120 to include Plotters' Forest (and increase of £20).
December 2022 Update - An annual pass is £60 per family (Castle, Deer Park & High Force) or £99 to also include Plotters' Forest.
Historic Houses
Membership is currently £148 per year and includes unlimited admission to places including Alnwick Castle, Chillingham Castle, Ushaw Historic House, Raby Castle, Paxton House and more. Might be worth a look if you are looking for varied days out rather than sticking with the same place. Find out more here. Always double check what's included / restrictions before buying.
January 2024 Update - A family annual pass is now £168 (an increase of £20)
December 2022 Update - A family annual pass remains at £148.
Art Pass
The National Art Pass is currently £104.75 per family of 4 if you pay by annual direct debit. It includes free entry to Wallington, Beningbrough Hall, Cherryburn, Preston Park, Seaton Delaval Hall, Berwick Museum, The Auckland Project, Bowes Museum & more.
Again, a good option if you are looking for an annual pass which covers a varied selection of days out. Find out more here. Always double check what's included / restrictions before buying.
January 2024 Update: The Art Pass is now £103.50 per family.
December 2022 Update - The Arts Pass is currently £92.50 per family if you pay by annual direct debit.
Merlin Annual Pass
We bought Merlin Annual Passes in 2019 and loved them! We planned trips around every school holiday staying in Premier Inns / Camping and it worked out to be good value.
The price in 2021 has increased now and you can expect to pay around £219 per person for a Gold Annual Pass (with pay monthly options available). Very expensive but if you plan on visiting a lot of UK attractions and would like to visit London, may work out well. Sometimes people buy two annual passes and then look for 2for1 tickets for the other members of their family which does help to spread the cost a bit. Find out more here.
January 2024 Update: A Basic Annual Pass (with some restrictions) is currently £99 per person (so £396 for a family of 4). There are various options up to £299pp for a Platinum Pass (£1196 for a family of 4).
December 2022 Update - There are currently black Friday deals running and annual passes are available from as little as £69 per person (so £280). These are the cheaper passes though and they do have quite a lot of restrictions. A gold pass is currently on offer for £179 per person which is a fair bit cheaper than last years price.
Blackpool Pleasure Beach Annual Pass
Standard admission is £148 for a family of 4 or you can purchase a platinum season pass for £580 which is very expensive but if you visit Blackpool a lot, might be worth it. They do sometimes offer discounts and deals on annual passes across the year too.
January 2024 Update : You can now buy a 2 month pass for £99pp (so £396 for a family) OR a full season pass which includes entry to some European Theme Parks including Efteling and Portaventura for £189.60 per person (so £758.40).
Gardeners' World 2for1
Look out for the Gardener's World 2for1 deal which is usually part of April's magazine and may work out better than annual passes. Find out more here.
Family admission to Bamburgh Castle is £42.10 and an annual pass is £55 per family. TO me, it seems worth paying a little more and upgrading to an annual pass if you live close by and are likely to visit more than once across the year. Find out more here.
January 2024 Update: An annual pass remains at £60 for a family
December 2022 Update - An annual pass is now £60 per family.
Raby Castle
At the moment, there is only pricing available to visit the Deer Park. The castle is closed for the winter and the walled gardens are closed until summer 2023. Day admission is £17 per family and an annual pass is £60.
Personally, I would wait until the walled garden and castle reopen before purchasing an annual pass. You can visit the adventure playground and stables cafe at any time free of charge. Find out more here.
January 2024 Update: An annual family pass is now £80 per family (Castle, Deer Park and High Force) - an increase of £20. Or £120 to include Plotters' Forest (and increase of £20).
December 2022 Update - An annual pass is £60 per family (Castle, Deer Park & High Force) or £99 to also include Plotters' Forest.
Historic Houses
Membership is currently £148 per year and includes unlimited admission to places including Alnwick Castle, Chillingham Castle, Ushaw Historic House, Raby Castle, Paxton House and more. Might be worth a look if you are looking for varied days out rather than sticking with the same place. Find out more here. Always double check what's included / restrictions before buying.
January 2024 Update - A family annual pass is now £168 (an increase of £20)
December 2022 Update - A family annual pass remains at £148.
Art Pass
The National Art Pass is currently £104.75 per family of 4 if you pay by annual direct debit. It includes free entry to Wallington, Beningbrough Hall, Cherryburn, Preston Park, Seaton Delaval Hall, Berwick Museum, The Auckland Project, Bowes Museum & more.
Again, a good option if you are looking for an annual pass which covers a varied selection of days out. Find out more here. Always double check what's included / restrictions before buying.
January 2024 Update: The Art Pass is now £103.50 per family.
December 2022 Update - The Arts Pass is currently £92.50 per family if you pay by annual direct debit.
Merlin Annual Pass
We bought Merlin Annual Passes in 2019 and loved them! We planned trips around every school holiday staying in Premier Inns / Camping and it worked out to be good value.
The price in 2021 has increased now and you can expect to pay around £219 per person for a Gold Annual Pass (with pay monthly options available). Very expensive but if you plan on visiting a lot of UK attractions and would like to visit London, may work out well. Sometimes people buy two annual passes and then look for 2for1 tickets for the other members of their family which does help to spread the cost a bit. Find out more here.
January 2024 Update: A Basic Annual Pass (with some restrictions) is currently £99 per person (so £396 for a family of 4). There are various options up to £299pp for a Platinum Pass (£1196 for a family of 4).
December 2022 Update - There are currently black Friday deals running and annual passes are available from as little as £69 per person (so £280). These are the cheaper passes though and they do have quite a lot of restrictions. A gold pass is currently on offer for £179 per person which is a fair bit cheaper than last years price.
Blackpool Pleasure Beach Annual Pass
Standard admission is £148 for a family of 4 or you can purchase a platinum season pass for £580 which is very expensive but if you visit Blackpool a lot, might be worth it. They do sometimes offer discounts and deals on annual passes across the year too.
January 2024 Update : You can now buy a 2 month pass for £99pp (so £396 for a family) OR a full season pass which includes entry to some European Theme Parks including Efteling and Portaventura for £189.60 per person (so £758.40).
Gardeners' World 2for1
Look out for the Gardener's World 2for1 deal which is usually part of April's magazine and may work out better than annual passes. Find out more here.
Which Annual Passes offer the Best Investment for 2024?
For me, I couldn't justify buying a farm annual pass. They're just so expensive and I would much prefer to spend the £ visiting a few different farms across the year which wouldn't be as boring. The exception to this is Northumberland College Zoo which is currently £50 for a family pass so a bit of a bargain (use code JANSALE and purchase before 31 Jan 2024)
I always say National Trust membership is a fantastic investment - brilliant playgrounds, walks, houses and events. Something for everyone! Likewise, now Belsay Hall has a playground, I'd recommend English Heritage too. If your kids like Horrible Histories they run lots of fun storytelling events and re-enactments at their venues in school holidays.
Beamish is always excellent value with lots to see and do across the year or it's just nice for a walk at anytime. There are constant new developments too.
Woodhorn and Preston Park Museum are both less then £15 for a family annual pass and offer loads of events across the year. Definitely worth considering these ones, especially if you're on a budget.
If you love a good day out, although expensive, I'd say Historic Houses is worth looking at as it includes entry to quite a few attractions which have pricey entry fees so if you're likely to use it regularly, you will save £.
And finally, if you're local and have little ones, the Adventure Valley Term Time Pass is such a good deal.
If you are looking for more ideas for days out, I post lots of ideas and recommendations over on Instagram. You can follow North East Family Fun here.
If you are looking for more ideas for days out, I post lots of ideas and recommendations over on Instagram. You can follow North East Family Fun here.
Let me know if you have a favourite annual pass.
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Wow Sam this is quite some post, it must have taken you ages! So much information here, thank you!
ReplyDeleteAt the moment we just have a National Trust membership but we really love it, as you said it feels like you're getting a free outing so even when you're broke and waiting for pay day you can still enjoy visiting somewhere lovely. We also use it a lot when we're on holiday, it's great visiting new sites when you're in a different part of the country.
I had no idea there were so many annual passes available in the North East!
Brilliant post!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for letting us know there is somewhere that is NOT dog friendly - Alnwick Garden. My son has ASD and is terrified of dogs and our days out have dwindled to just about city centre locations only! He can cope if it's a dog he sees all the time but loads of different ones - no way!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for updating this!
ReplyDeleteGutted by the increase of whitehouse farm as I'd considered a pass but can't justify that hike.