Merlin Annual Pass earns the Mumsnet Rated badge

A first rollercoaster ride. A return trip to a family favourite. A day out the children are still talking about years later. There’s more than one way to make a family memory, as Mumsnet users’ stories about Merlin attractions show.

Merlin Annual Pass gives Passholders access to attractions including Alton Towers Resort, LEGOLAND® Windsor Resort, SEA LIFE centres and the London Eye. 

In a Mumsnet poll of members who’d used the Pass within the previous two years, 80% said they’d recommend it to a friend or family member, excluding undecided and blank responses.*

Merlin Annual Pass: Rated result at a glance

How did Mumsnet rate Merlin Annual Pass?

Mumsnet Rated recognises products and services that Mumsnet users would recommend to friends or family. To earn the badge, at least 80% of those giving feedback must respond positively to the recommendation question.

– Jordan Middleton, Head of Loyalty (Merlin Annual Pass)

We asked 54 people who’d used Merlin Annual Pass within the previous two years when they’d last used it and whether they’d recommend it to friends or family. Excluding undecided and blank responses, 80% said they would definitely or probably recommend it, meeting the threshold for Mumsnet Rated.*

What Mumsnet users say about Merlin days out

The poll gives us the recommendation result, but the Talk boards have a few stories to go with it. In a separate sponsored thread held last year, Mumsnet users shared their experiences at Merlin attractions.

One Mumsnet user put their Passes to work on a summer holiday, fitting in two visits to LEGOLAND Windsor before heading to the London Eye and London Dungeon. That’s a fairly busy itinerary, even before you add the caravan:

“We planned one summer holiday around our Merlin Passes! We trundled down to Henley upon Thames with our little caravan to a wonderful caravan site. Then booked LEGOLAND® Windsor Resort, went there twice, once as a family then another day with friends.

“Then we booked 2 nights in a Travelodge in London, went on the train from Henley, went on the London eye and the London dungeon using our Merlin Passes. Visited the museums as they were all free!

“We made the most of our Passes and saved an absolute fortune on a holiday that would usually be out of our budget.

“Had the most memorable and adventurous holiday that my kids still talk about now a few years later.”

Another parent’s highlight was watching their daughter work her way up to the bigger rollercoaster at LEGOLAND® Windsor Resort. Being tall enough for the next ride is a big deal when you’ve been waiting for it:

“Watching my daughter form a love of rollercoasters both on the Dragon's Apprentice and then (once tall enough) on The Dragon at LEGOLAND® Windsor Resort.”

So, what is the Merlin Annual Pass?

Merlin Annual Pass gives Passholders access to participating UK attractions, including theme parks, SEA LIFE centres and the London Eye. The attractions, eligible dates and benefits depend on the Pass you choose.

Compare current Merlin Annual Pass options and check restriction dates before buying.

Is Merlin Annual Pass worth the money?

It depends on how often you’ll use it and what those trips would cost without a Pass. The easiest way to figure it out is to - for a family of four - compare the cost of everyone’s Passes with the advance tickets you’d actually buy for the same attractions and dates. 

Merlin Annual Pass pass prices

To work out a rough break-even point, divide your total Pass cost by the admission cost for one typical family visit, then round up to a whole visit. 

For example, four Gold annual Passes at the usual price cost £956. If the advance tickets you’d otherwise buy cost £150 per family visit, you’d Pass the admission break-even point on your seventh visit. (The £150 ticket spend is illustrative, not a quoted Merlin family ticket price).

Be realistic about the diary, too. A Pass gets more use when there are attractions within easy reach and dates that work for your family. 

Does everyone in the family need their own Pass?

Passes are individual, so one Pass doesn’t cover a whole family. Merlin currently says children accompanying a Passholder need their own Pass once they reach 90cm, regardless of age. 

Children below 90cm can enter with a free child ticket; check the current child-entry and booking rules before visiting.

What extra costs should we budget for?

Allow for travel, food, accommodation if you’re staying overnight and parking where it isn’t included. Some seasonal experiences, such as scare mazes and Santa’s grottos, cost extra, so check what your chosen visit includes.

Can we pay monthly?

Yes. Gold membership is usually £19.99 per person per month, with a minimum 12-month cost of £239.88. Platinum is usually £24.99 per person per month, with a minimum 12-month cost of £299.88. 

Both have a 12-month minimum term, so compare the full commitment before signing up. 

What’s the difference between Merlin Essential, Gold and Platinum?

• Essential is the lowest-priced of the three, with more excluded dates and fewer extras. 

• Gold offers fewer date restrictions and includes standard parking at participating attractions. 

• Platinum adds benefits including selected free friends-and-family tickets and a one-shot Fastrack benefit at participating theme parks, subject to the terms.

Start with the dates you need, then compare the extras you’ll use. Paying more for benefits that don’t fit your plans won’t help the family budget. 

Merlin’s current Pass comparison sets out the full differences.

Which attractions are included in the Merlin Annual Pass?

The Pass includes:

• LEGOLAND® Windsor Resort

• Chessington World of Adventures

• SEA LIFE centres

• Alton Towers Resort

• Thorpe Park

• The London Eye

• Warwick Castle

• and other participating UK attractions. 

You can use the same personal Pass across included attractions, subject to its restrictions and booking availability.

Check Merlin’s full attraction list before buying, especially if one particular place is the main reason you want a Pass.

Can you use the Merlin Annual Pass during school holidays?

Yes, on dates your Pass allows, subject to opening times and booking availability. Essential has excluded dates that fall during some holiday periods. Gold has fewer restrictions, while Platinum offers the broadest date access, although separately ticketed events still need checking.

If school holidays are your only chance to visit, check your actual dates on the restriction calendars before choosing. 

Do Passholders still need to book tickets?

Yes, attraction visits must be pre-booked, even when admission is included in your Pass. A valid Pass doesn’t guarantee a space on your preferred day, so book ahead and check opening times before travelling.

Does the Pass include parking?

Gold and Platinum include standard parking at participating attractions; Essential doesn’t. This isn’t a blanket promise of free parking everywhere, so check the attraction and parking terms before setting off.

How could we plan a week around London and Windsor?

If you’re wanting to make the most of your time spent in the Capital, one possible plan is LEGOLAND® Windsor Resort on one day, Chessington on another, then a London day with the London Eye and SEA LIFE London. 

Spread the visits across the week, with time between them for travelling and a less hectic day - especially if you have younger Pass holders in tow. 

Choose attractions that suit your children’s ages and heights, check the journey times from your base and secure bookings before committing to accommodation. 

For regular days out closer to home, use Merlin’s attraction list to see what’s within a journey you’d happily repeat.

How does Merlin Annual Pass work with Ride Access Pass and carer Passes?

These are separate arrangements. Merlin Annual Pass covers admission on eligible dates. Ride Access Pass is a queue-access arrangement for eligible guests, with its own application process; buying an annual Pass doesn’t automatically qualify someone for it.

Eligible annual Passholders who need assistance can apply separately for a complimentary carer Pass. Ride Access Pass and carer Passes have different criteria, and approval for one doesn’t automatically mean approval for the other.

Merlin has announced changes to Ride Access Pass for 2027. Check the current accessibility guidance and your chosen attraction’s requirements well before your visit, rather than relying on arrangements from a previous trip.

*Based on a Mumsnet on-site poll with 54 responses from members who’d used Merlin Annual Pass within the previous two years. The 80% recommendation figure excludes undecided and blank responses and combines “I would definitely recommend” and “I would probably recommend”.