New deal offers 'two parks for the price of one' at Alton Towers, Legoland, Thorpe Park and more

With the school summer holidays now in full swing, families across the UK could soon be feeling the pinch as they try to keep children entertained without breaking the bank. From pricey entrance fees and snack stops to souvenir shops and meal deals, a fun-filled day out can quickly turn into a costly affair.

To help ease the burden, Merlin Entertainments has launched a limited-time "Twice the Fun" offer that gives families a second theme park visit absolutely free, saving at least £29 per person. Running until August 18, the offer allows guests who purchase tickets to one of Merlin’s major UK attractions - Alton Towers, LEGOLAND® Windsor Resort, Thorpe Park or Chessington World of Adventures - to claim free entry to a second participating theme park of their choice.

The promotion is only available to snap up until August 17, so families are being encouraged to book early. That said, fun lovers have until September 30 to redeem their second visit, extending the thrills and spill beyond the school holidays.

READ MORE: Yorkshire skincare brand shoppers 'wish' existed 'when my breakouts were bad as a teen'

READ MORE: Charlotte Tilbury's 'perfect' lip oil that 'lasts a long time' now under £20 in set

Visitors can mix and match their entertainment choosing from four of the UK's biggest attractions. These include:

LEGOLAND Windsor

Packed full of fun for brick lovers of all ages, LEGOLAND Windsor feature a range of family-friendly rides, live shows and building activities, along with Miniland areas that recreate local landmarks and attractions using LEGO bricks.

This summer there is also a new Ninjago celebration with interactive activities and a 4D film, an updated pirate show featuring Captain Redbeard and a treasure hunt, refreshed Miniland missions and the launch of a new ride, Minifigure Speedway.

To book tickets for LEGOLAND Windsor, click here.

Chessington World of Adventures

Offering more than 128 acres of fun, Chessington World of Adventures brings together a zoo, Sea Life aquarium, theme park and resort-style accommodation.

This year, visitors can explore Sea Life Island inspired by Animal Crossing: New Horizons, meet PAW Patrol characters, enjoy two new live shows and discover over 1,000 animals alongside rides and attractions across the park.

To book tickets for Chessington World of Adventure, click here.

Alton Towers

Based in Staffordshire, Alton Towers is the largest theme park in the UK, home to another world of adventure. Set in the 550 acres of land in a historic country estate, it's a firm favourite with thrill seekers of all ages.

The park features lots of high-adrenaline rides like The Smiler, Wicker Man, Nemesis Reborn, and TH13TEEN, alongside family-friendly attractions including CBeebies Land and waterpark.

widget

Thorpe Park

A high‑octane theme park located in Surrey, Thorpe Park is famous for its intense rollercoasters, record-breaking thrill rides and water attractions.

Visitors can plunge into the likes of Hyperia, Stealth, Colossus, Nemesis Inferno, The Swarm and SAW – The Ride, alongside water attractions and a variety of family-friendly rides like Flying Fish, Zodiac, and Quantum.

If the Merlin deal doesn't suit, Wowcher is offer cut price entry tickets to Gulliver's Theme Park locations in Matlock Bath, Rother Valley and Milton Keynes. Prices start from £12.50 per person and are valid on selected dates until September, 28.

Elsewhere, Virgin Experiences is offering Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter and Lunch for Twofor £88.50 each. A full day of food and entertainment, visitors have called this deal "excellent value for money" and "a must for HP fans."

As some of the UK's best loved attractions, Merlin resorts have received plenty of glowing reviews on Tripadvisor. One visitor to Alton Towers said: "Amazing! I have no words! If you want to have a fun day with family or friends or just on your own! Alton Towers is the place. It's a must!"

Another added: "Absolutely had a great time weather was brilliant. All the rights were working and the staff were very helpful in every manner everyone enjoyed themselves. Highly it’s a great day out."

When it comes to Chessington World of Adventure, one review said: "Absolutely fantastic day out! So much to do with plenty of rides and rollercoasters for all ages as well as loads of animals to see and an aquarium. Brilliant value for money."

Not every thrill seeker was quite so impressed, with a visitor to Thorpe Park saying: "We went for a day at Thorpe Park with no fast track ticket and they were the worst queues i have seen at a park ever. Ignoring that though the are great and brilliantly made and really fun to ride."

Despite some displeasure about queue lengths, most visitors loved their time at Thorpe Park: "Swarm and Collosus are amazing top thrills. Rate 5 star cause absolutely amazing park money well spent."

LEGOLAND Windsor also wins high praise with one fan exclaiming: "Absolutely brilliant! Absolutely hands down the best day we have had! We have never been before but will definitely be back."

How to get the "Twice the Fun" deal from Merlin

• Customers should begin by booking their Twice the Fun tickets and downloading them for easy entry.
• After booking, they will receive an email containing their booking details and unique barcodes—this email must be kept safe, as it is required to redeem the second visit.
• The complimentary second theme park visit can be redeemed any time up until September 30. To do so, customers should select the logo of their chosen second theme park and follow the booking instructions.
• When prompted, they must enter the unique barcodes from their original confirmation email. Each guest's ticket has a separate barcode, so all barcodes must be entered—for example, four guests will require all four individual barcodes to complete the second booking.