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Original poster

AIBU to feel annoyed about discounted attractions for benefit claimants?

696 replies

Sheldonsheher · 10/04/2026 10:01

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-15721199/Benefit-claiming-families-UK-attractions-working-Brits.html

I know I’ll get slated as the origin is the daily fail but, but this kind of annoys me too! I mean as a single parent I don’t want to pay £60 to go to the zoo either.

Benefit-claiming families pay just £4 for top UK attractions

More than 80 attractions give discounts to benefit claimants, with MPs reacting furiously with one saying the system created a 'two-tier system that punishes work'.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-15721199/Benefit-claiming-families-UK-attractions-working-Brits.html

OP posts:
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11
PinkStarJumps · 10/04/2026 10:39

On the one hand, I don't think it's "fair", no but on the other, I like the fact that these children have access to culture that their parents could not afford to give them otherwise. That's the bigger picture and I like that. Personally, I would make places like the Tower of London/ historic royal palaces free or heavily discounted for domestic visitors and charge more for tourists from abroad. Plenty of other countries do this, it isn't unheard of.

youalright · 10/04/2026 10:39

Everanewbie · 10/04/2026 10:36

It does though. If a discount is provided to some, general admission is higher to subsidise the discount.

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Do you honestly believe if they cut all discounts that prices would come down. Or do you think they would just make more profit

youalright · 10/04/2026 10:38

Itchthescratch · 10/04/2026 10:36

I didn't get to go to these places either but my parents weren't on benefits. Not many working families who aren't on benefits can go to these places a lot. They are prohibitively expensive.

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I don't know if my parents where on benefits or not I just know we where poor. And that my mum had multiple jobs

DreamyJade · 10/04/2026 10:37

Sheldonsheher · 10/04/2026 10:14

Apologies I didn’t know or I might have just read that. I was just considering what to do in the holidays and was annoyed how everything is so expensive now it puts you off going and saw this. Where I live every thing seems to be free for UC etc JSA.

In short, these cheap tickets are an act of charity, by a charity because they have to. If they didn’t perform acts of charity, they wouldn’t keep their charitable status.

You are jealous because you believe that you should get free charity too. You aspire to be so disadvantaged that you qualify for charity. You begrudge young children a day out.

Everanewbie · 10/04/2026 10:36

MyLuckyHelper · 10/04/2026 10:35

What are you questioning though? Cheaper access to attractions for those struggling financially? It's a non issue, it doesn't cost you more to enter because they are being offered a cheaper rate. In the same way my bus journey doesn't cost more because an OAP is getting it for free.

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It does though. If a discount is provided to some, general admission is higher to subsidise the discount.

PandoraSocks · 10/04/2026 10:36

Itchthescratch · 10/04/2026 10:34

Yes, but that argument works with any socioeconomic group and arguably would be better for the attraction if they targeted people with more disposable income.

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Well presumably these businesses are currently successful and viable and so know what they're doing in offering discounted rates.

youalright · 10/04/2026 10:36

BridgetJonesV2 · 10/04/2026 10:32

I get the argument that children shouldn't suffer from their parents' lifestyle choices. But as a business owner, I don't think it's good business sense to have different pricing tiers. The people who pay most are going to be the ones put out - and losing their business ultimately means the biggest money loss.

But all businesses do it blc, senior discounts, student discounts, large group discounts, family discounts. Its always been a thing and nobody cared until reform decided to comment. So do you think its only uc discount that should be got rid of what about the other discounts

Itchthescratch · 10/04/2026 10:36

youalright · 10/04/2026 10:33

We never went to zoos, theme parks, museums, restaurants or even the cinema as kids. Its sad really all kids should get these life experiences

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I didn't get to go to these places either but my parents weren't on benefits. Not many working families who aren't on benefits can go to these places a lot. They are prohibitively expensive.

MyLuckyHelper · 10/04/2026 10:35

Itchthescratch · 10/04/2026 10:32

Yes, but just because it's being going a long time largely under the radar it doesn't mean that it's right or has public support. I imagine you would try and apply the same logic to for example questioning Prince Andrew's behaviour or sewage being dumped into our seas? Just because something has been happening for a long time going largely unchallenged doesn't mean that we shouldn't debate and question it now.

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What are you questioning though? Cheaper access to attractions for those struggling financially? It's a non issue, it doesn't cost you more to enter because they are being offered a cheaper rate. In the same way my bus journey doesn't cost more because an OAP is getting it for free.

Itchthescratch · 10/04/2026 10:34

PandoraSocks · 10/04/2026 10:29

People will probably spend a little bit of money once they are through the doors. It all adds up.

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Yes, but that argument works with any socioeconomic group and arguably would be better for the attraction if they targeted people with more disposable income.

Everanewbie · 10/04/2026 10:34

Holesinmesocks · 10/04/2026 10:30

Ricky Gervais is a wanker, what's he got to do with my comment?

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It was a comment on your discussion where a poster has gone on to a thread, read it, and then commented that we shouldn't be discussing it. Ricky Gervais compared this phenomenon on social media in his stand up, to an advert for guitar lessons where people respond aggressively that they don't want Guitar lessons instead of just ignoring an finding something they are interested in.

I like him. I think he's funny.

Iraniantrump · 10/04/2026 10:33

Snorlaxo · 10/04/2026 10:05

I got an online social media ad from Robert Jenrick (Reform) on this. I suspect it’s because I read the thread on here about it.

I mean it’s been trending on twitter

youalright · 10/04/2026 10:33

MyLuckyHelper · 10/04/2026 10:31

Exactly this. There are so many children who otherwise will never see these places. It's not taking money out of anyone else's pocket (if they stopped doing it, everyone else wouldn't pay less).

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We never went to zoos, theme parks, museums, restaurants or even the cinema as kids. Its sad really all kids should get these life experiences

BridgetJonesV2 · 10/04/2026 10:32

I get the argument that children shouldn't suffer from their parents' lifestyle choices. But as a business owner, I don't think it's good business sense to have different pricing tiers. The people who pay most are going to be the ones put out - and losing their business ultimately means the biggest money loss.

Itchthescratch · 10/04/2026 10:32

MyLuckyHelper · 10/04/2026 10:29

It's not a new phenomenon though, it's just the daily mail (and RJ's) latest scapegoat. We've moved on from Motability cars.

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Yes, but just because it's being going a long time largely under the radar it doesn't mean that it's right or has public support. I imagine you would try and apply the same logic to for example questioning Prince Andrew's behaviour or sewage being dumped into our seas? Just because something has been happening for a long time going largely unchallenged doesn't mean that we shouldn't debate and question it now.

MyLuckyHelper · 10/04/2026 10:32

Sheldonsheher · 10/04/2026 10:30

I suppose I’m not objecting to benefit recipients paying so little but that I am expected to pay so much. And don’t get me started on the price of ice cream out. £6 and do you want sprinkles that will be £7. It’s all a bit much now.

Then surely the thread you meant to start is AIBU to think zoos are too expensive?

Original poster
Sheldonsheher · 10/04/2026 10:32

from outdoor venues and attractions the icecreams at the zoo are £6

also no I have not lost my reasoning faculties I’m not a right wing reform voter. You can’t say anything without being shouted down. You are not allowed to have your own rational opinion. Probably by people that are benefiting from the status quo.

OP posts:
youalright · 10/04/2026 10:31

Sheldonsheher · 10/04/2026 10:30

I suppose I’m not objecting to benefit recipients paying so little but that I am expected to pay so much. And don’t get me started on the price of ice cream out. £6 and do you want sprinkles that will be £7. It’s all a bit much now.

Wtf where are you getting ice cream from

MyLuckyHelper · 10/04/2026 10:31

Onlyontuesday · 10/04/2026 10:29

I visited a zoo with my kids and a friend in their 30s last week. She grew up in a family living off benefits. I found out there that she had never been to a zoo before and do had never seen lions, giraffes, zebras or any exotic animals before.

My family were not well off, my dad was a physio and my mum a secretary, but day trips were an ordinary part of my childhood I completely took for granted.

Even if you take emotion out of it, keeping children stuck at home in a small world because of the choices/circumstances of their parents does not encourage them to act differently or break the cycle of poverty.

Exactly this. There are so many children who otherwise will never see these places. It's not taking money out of anyone else's pocket (if they stopped doing it, everyone else wouldn't pay less).

UnderHousemaid · 10/04/2026 10:31

Sheldonsheher · 10/04/2026 10:30

I suppose I’m not objecting to benefit recipients paying so little but that I am expected to pay so much. And don’t get me started on the price of ice cream out. £6 and do you want sprinkles that will be £7. It’s all a bit much now.

Do you also object to discounts for OAPs?

youalright · 10/04/2026 10:30

PandoraSocks · 10/04/2026 10:29

People will probably spend a little bit of money once they are through the doors. It all adds up.

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Exactly this the same reason supermarkets sell their veg for 15p at Christmas it gets people through the door. It's how businesses work

PandoraSocks · 10/04/2026 10:30

SimonQuinlanksWeakLemonDrink · 10/04/2026 10:29

Gosh, the Reform propaganda machine strikes again. It stalks these boards like something from War of the Worlds.

Oh, that is a great image. It really does do that.

Original poster
Sheldonsheher · 10/04/2026 10:30

I suppose I’m not objecting to benefit recipients paying so little but that I am expected to pay so much. And don’t get me started on the price of ice cream out. £6 and do you want sprinkles that will be £7. It’s all a bit much now.

OP posts:
MrsOni · 10/04/2026 10:30

People are being a bit harsh here.

Being a single parent supporting a family on 1 income is shit, and I can understand why someone in that position who could very likely be treading water as much as people on UC are and say "hang on, that's not fair". Sometimes it's fine to just feel sorry for yourself.

But, it shouldn't be a race to the bottom. The answer is not to take help like this from people who need it, but to give it to a wider group of people.

Dickheads like Badenoch will never see it that way though.

Holesinmesocks · 10/04/2026 10:30

Everanewbie · 10/04/2026 10:27

"I don't want guitar lessons!!!!"

Ricky Gervais

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Ricky Gervais is a wanker, what's he got to do with my comment?