If you have children and live in the UK, chances are you have heard of Merlin Pass.
LEGO has always been a big part of our family life. LEGO bricks seem to appear in every corner of the house, and every time we move, several large boxes of LEGO somehow become a significant part of the packing process.
The obsession extended beyond building sets. We also loved visiting Legoland parks and Legoland hotels. At one point, visiting every Legoland in the world felt like a family mission.
Over the years, we visited Legoland California, Legoland Germany, Legoland Denmark, Legoland Windsor, and even Legoland Korea.
Now that the children are getting older, we are gradually moving beyond the Legoland stage. Looking back, though, many of our happiest family memories were made there.
When we first moved to Britain, one of the very first memberships we purchased was Merlin Pass.
At the time, my husband was working in another European country and regularly flew back to the UK on weekends. We were still new to Britain and looking for ways to spend weekends together as a family. Merlin Pass quickly became one of the best-value purchases we made.
What Is Merlin Pass?
Merlin Pass is an annual membership that gives access to more than twenty popular attractions across the UK, including theme parks, aquariums, and some of London’s most famous tourist sites.
The upfront cost can feel expensive, but if you have young children who enjoy theme parks or if you regularly visit paid attractions, it is surprisingly easy to get your money’s worth.
As of June 2026, Merlin is running a summer promotion with discounts of up to £50 off selected passes. Gold Passes start at around £189, while Platinum Passes are approximately £249.
For our family, the value added up quickly.
In a single year, we visited Legoland Windsor several times, Chessington World of Adventures multiple times, Alton Towers once, SEA LIFE centres in both Brighton and London, and rode the London Eye whenever friends or relatives came to visit from overseas.
By the end of the year, we had easily recovered the cost of the membership.
Why Families Love Merlin Pass
One of the biggest advantages of Merlin Pass is the variety.
It combines major theme parks with some of the UK’s best-known tourist attractions, meaning the pass remains useful whether you want a full-day adventure or simply need somewhere to go on a rainy weekend.
Legoland Windsor
For families with younger children, Legoland Windsor is often the main attraction.
The park features LEGO-built miniature cities, rides, driving experiences, boat rides, and seasonal water play areas. Children under the age of ten can easily spend an entire day there without running out of things to do.
When our children were younger, we visited at least once every season.
Chessington World of Adventures
Personally, Chessington may have been our favourite.
It combines a theme park, zoo, and aquarium in one location, making it ideal for families with children of different ages.
Because we live in South London, it was less than half an hour away by car. That convenience meant we often visited for just a few hours rather than feeling pressure to make a full day of it.
It is easy to understand why many British families buy annual passes and return again and again.
Alton Towers and Thorpe Park
As children get older, attractions such as Alton Towers Resort and Thorpe Park become increasingly appealing.
Alton Towers is one of the UK’s largest theme parks and is famous for its roller coasters. It also has a water park and enough attractions to keep teenagers and adults entertained for an entire weekend.
London Attractions Included in Merlin Pass
One feature that sets Merlin Pass apart from many theme park memberships is that it also includes several major London attractions.
These include:
- London Eye
- Madame Tussauds
- The London Dungeon
- Shrek’s Adventure! London
- SEA LIFE London Aquarium
The London Eye alone can be expensive for a family, so having access through Merlin Pass often feels worthwhile.
Whenever relatives or friends visited from abroad, we found ourselves returning to the London Eye again and again.
Madame Tussauds was another pleasant surprise. I had always wondered whether a wax museum could really be worth the admission price. With Merlin Pass, however, we visited without hesitation and ended up enjoying it far more than expected.
Children especially seem to love taking photos with film stars, athletes, and members of the Royal Family.
A Lifesaver on Rainy Days
Any parent in Britain knows that outdoor plans can disappear quickly when the weather changes.
That is one reason SEA LIFE centres became regular destinations for us.
Whether in Brighton or central London, they provided an easy indoor activity that worked in almost any season.
Other attractions included in Merlin Pass range from Warwick Castle to Cadbury World, as well as various SEA LIFE centres and Dungeon attractions throughout the country.
The result is a long list of potential family day trips throughout the year.
Would We Buy It Again?
These days, probably not.
As the children have grown older, our weekends look very different. We spend more time visiting museums, travelling, or letting the children meet friends. Theme parks no longer hold quite the same appeal they once did.
That said, when I think back on our years in Britain, Merlin Pass remains one of the memberships we used most and appreciated most.
For families with children in primary school or younger, it can offer excellent value and a year’s worth of memorable days out.
If you are new to the UK and wondering how to make the most of weekends with children, Merlin Pass is certainly worth considering.
