Merlin Pass - worth it?

united4ever

Family of 2 adults/2 kids (10 and 13). Holidays are often a bit anti climatic, with kids bickering and crap British weather or kids just not interested in the places we go (museums/city breaks etc), my wife hates the beach/very hot weather too.

Thinking of not having such a holiday this year but getting a Merlin pass and in addition paying £100 to £150 a day for fast tracks for the two kids and one adult. They loved Alton Towers and Blackpool but queing up for 90 minutes per ride was brutal and ruined it for me. I know it's a horrible system with fast track and I would be supporting it by doing this is very hypocritical.

Anyway, it's looking like £716 for four annual passes (there is a small sale on right now). Then each time we go would be fast track cost plus a bit for parking.

Was thinking of doing easter and visit the south east attractions (we are in north west) of Chessington/Thorpe Park/Legoland and a day in London to do the dungeon and madame tussauds. Maybe then Bear Grylls experience near Birmingham on way home or Warwick castle.

Then over the next year maybe a few trips to Alton Towers which could be done in a day trip.

Thoughts? Anyone done this? Am I missing out any costs besides parking/fast track passes - they are all free to get in if you have the pass right?

It is probably going to cost about 2k ish to do all of the above including accommodatiion (got 3 free nightrs with hotels.com) and petrol and eating out but my kids would probably enjoy that more than a 2k holiday in the UK or abroad. I am aware that 2k buys very little holiday these days.

By the way, I was surprised how close Chessington/Thorpe Park and legoland are - maybe could choose one hotel in Surrey/South Berkshire and stay there which makes life easier since no packing and unpacking required every day. Any budget hotel recommendations?

jon81uk

the simple answer is to work out how many attractions you will visit and the lowest cost you could normally enter for considering things like the Kellogg's 2for1.
If you have a nearby Sea Life centre or similar then that will increase how many visits you will make, when we were in London we went to the London one quite often.

thegreenone

I live about 15 mins drive from Chessington so here's my take: 

There is an hotel at Chessington WOA or the Premier Inn (Monkey Puzzle) with a Beefeater restaurant right next door.  The area around Chessington is not beautiful but you could take a short drive to West Ewell station and get the train into London (around 40 mins).   This is the final Oyster Card stop but you can buy a normal Day trip card to use on all transport in London.  Your 10 year old may travel free - check TfL (Transport for London) website.  A short walk from London Waterloo takes you to the SeaLife Centre, London Eye and along the river. Plus The Dungeons and Madam Tussauds.  A busy day but do-able.

From Chessington, it's approx 35 min drive to Thorpe Park and 45 min to Legoland.

Or: with your free nights (love Hotels.com!) may be look around Shepperton.  There's a station to London and around 20/30 mins drive to Thorpe Park/Legoland/Chessington.

Ibrahim5

We did it a few years ago. Sat down with the kids and agreed no foreign holidays for a year. Buy passes and hammer them instead. They agreed. Probably the best year of our family life. Highly recommended.

united4ever

Thanks all, i booked the Doubletree Hilton between Wokingham and Bracknell: https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Hotel_Review-g227132-d227163-Reviews-DoubleTree_by_Hilton_St_Anne_s_Manor-Wokingham_Berkshire_England.html

If we wanted to incorporate a day trip into London what is the best way? I have about £50 on an Oyster Card to use up if that helps. Obviously would need parking at the local train station and wouldn't want to drive anywhere thet would incur congestion charges.