The UK's best family membership schemes for 2022

The Merlin Annual Pass is perfect for families who love visiting theme parks, aquariums, dungeons and more. The 30 Merlin attractions in the UK include Alton Towers, Chessington World of Adventures, Legoland, the London Eye, Warwick Castle, The York and Edinburgh Dungeons, 11 different SEA LIFE centres and more. Phew!

The Gold Pass costs £229.87 per person for 12 months; the Platinum Pass costs £299.87 per person for 12 months. Both memberships give you free parking, money off food, drinks, gift shops and hotel stays. The difference? The Gold Membership excludes some popular dates, like Easter and Halloween.  

There’s also a cheaper Discover Pass, which costs £89 per person. This is great for people with younger kids as it can used for term-time, off-peak days during the week, and on Sundays.

Another money-saving tip for theme-park loving families: for £99 for a year, Gulliver’s Annual Passport holders can have free unlimited entry to all four Gulliver’s Theme Parks: Warrington, Matlock Bath, Milton Keynes & Rother Valley; and to Gulliver’s Dinosaur and Farm Park in Milton Keynes.

Plus, passport holders get half-price entry to Gulliver’s indoor attractions, like splash zones; roller zones; blast arenas and more. And there's 50% off Christmas tickets; and special rates on Gulliver's Resort stay and play dates.

The National Trust membership gives you free entry to more than 500 places across England and Wales, including National Parks, estates and gardens, beaches, coastlines, forests and woodlands. The National Trust is the biggest conservation charity in Europe: your membership money goes towards supporting the work they do protecting places for future generations.

There are two family memberships available from the National Trust: 'Family 2 adults' costs £126 a year and means two adults living at the same address can attend with children or grandchildren. And 'Family 1 adult' costs £78 a year for one adult and their children or grandchildren to attend. (Under 5s go free) You’ll also get free parking at most NT car parks, a handbook and three magazines a year

The cheapest membership on our list is just £10. The National Trust Junior Membership gives you free entry to more than 500 places; a welcome pack and membership card to help you get the most from your membership; guides to help you plan your next adventure; and other online inspiration and ideas.

(Junior membership doesn't give you free parking, a handbook or the National Trust magazine.)

Junior memberships are great for grandparents, parents or other guardians who are over 60 and entitled to the senior concession rate to buy for their grandchildren or children. 

Like the National Trust, the English Heritage Family membership gives you free access to more than 400 historic monuments, buildings and places in England. It also gives you concessions on Cadw, Historic Scotland and OPW and Heritage New Zealand properties and sites.

Membership includes a members’ handbook and magazine, free or reduced price entry to events and other Members’ rewards. 

The Family 1 Adult membership (for a family of one adult and up to 6 children) costs £64 for a year. The Family 2 Adults membership (for a family of two adults living at the same address and up to 12 children) costs £111 for a year.

A great money-saving tip for Londoners who love history, the Historic Royal Palaces Membership gets you free, unlimited entry to Hampton Court Palace; the Tower of London; Banqueting House; Kensington Palace and Hillsborough Castle in Northern Ireland.

Plus you get 10% discount on admission to Kew Gardens; a magazine subscription and 10% discount in certain shops, cafes and restaurants.

Family 1 membership for one named adult and up to six named children (aged between 5-15years) costs £82 for the year. Family 2 membership for two named adults and up to six named children costs £116.

Love visiting historic houses, castles and gardens? Then this could be the membership scheme for you. Historic Houses membership includes places like Hever Castle; Arley Hall; Blenheim Palace; and Chatsworth House.

While there isn't a family membership scheme for Historic Houses, a Joint Membership + Additional Member costs £144 for the year. You can also buy a Junior Membership for kids aged 3-16 years for just £25 a year.

Membership gives you free entry to around 300 historic houses, castles and gardens; a handbook; members’ magazine and preferential booking for private tours.

Garden lovers will be in heaven with unlimited free access to Wisley, Rosemoor, Hyde Hall, Harlow Carr and Bridgewater RHS gardens.

Individual RHS Membership costs £49.95 and allows you to bring along a family guest or 2 children for free. Joint RHS membership gives you the chance to bring a family guest and up to 4 children for free. There are also more than 200 Partner Gardens you can access for free.

RHS membership also comes with a monthly subscription to The Garden magazine, and regular emails with exclusive member content; plus the chance to attend Members’ Days or cheaper public days at RHS Shows like the RHS Chelsea Flower Show and RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival.

WWT Membership gets you free entry to 10 wonderful wetlands across the UK, including WWT London Wetland Centre; WWT Slimbridge Wetland Centre; WWT Welney Wetland Centre; WWT Castle Espies Wetland Centre and more.

The Family (1 Adult) membership allows one adult and up to 6 children (4-16 years) free access to the 10 UK wetlands sites for £72 a year. The Family (2 Adults) is for two adults and up to 6 children and costs £92 a year. Your membership includes a membership pack; and a subscription to Waterlife magazine.

Your WWT membership will mean more can be done to protect species that have fallen victim to habitat destruction and ensuring the charity can continue essential campaigns against climate change, water pollution and biodiversity loss.

RSBP members get unlimited entry to more than 170 UK nature reserves; a welcome pack; and a subscription to Nature's Home magazine full of gorgeous photography, fascinating features and wildlife news.

Children will also receive a magazine tailored to their age and jam-packed with wild inspiration. For little ones, there are beautifully illustrated bedtime stories, while older explorers can enjoy wild facts and fun activities. And there’s a special magazine just for teens.

Family membership for up to 2 adults and 5 children costs from £72 a year. 

ZSL is the perfect membership for animal mad families who live near London Zoo or Whipsnade.

ZSL Membership offers you free entry to both ZSL London and Whipsnade Zoos for a year; Buy a Gold Membership for free entry, plus 10% off in the shops and restaurants, 50% off car entry at Whipsnade; exclusive Hullabazoo Indoor Play sessions at Whipsnade; priority booking on selected events; free off-peak parking at London Zoo and more ...

Gold memberships for adults start at £105; Silver memberships cost from £80. Child memberships offering unlimited visits to both London and Whipsnade Zoos start at £70.

A National Art Pass lets you enjoy free entry to hundreds of museums, galleries and historic houses across the UK as well as 50% off major exhibitions. Your Membership also gives something back: it helps the Art Fund charity to support your favourite places, so everyone can enjoy brilliant museums.

A National Art Pass costs £73 for an individual for a year; a Double costs £110. You can add kids under the age of 16 for an additional £10.

Members receive a membership card; regular emails; a subscription to Art Fund’s magazine; and an Art Map – your comprehensive annual guidebook on using your Arts Pass at more than 700 venues across the UK.

Tate members get free entry into exhibitions at Tate Modern and Tate Britain; unique spaces just for members; a subscription to Tate Etc magazine, 10% off in Tate Shop and more. Members can bring up to six children with them for free when they visit.

One membership costs £84; Member and Guest membership costs £126. There are other add-ons for Tate Liverpool and Tate St Ives.

Families in and around York can save money by becoming a York Museums Trust Supporter.

Supporters get a year’s complimentary entry to all York Art Gallery Exhibitions; the Yorkshire Museum; and York Castle Museum. Plus you’ll get priority booking for events. YMT Supporter membership is just £7 a month. 

Culture-hungry families in Liverpool will love the benefits and discounts the National Museums Liverpool membership offers to venues such as the Museum of Liverpool; the Walker Art Gallery; the World Museum; the Maritime Museum; and Sudley House.

With membership, you can get free entry to exhibitions and the Planetarium as well as discounts, special invitations and fun family trails to explore and discover these venues together.

One adult family membership, for one adult and up to three children costs £45 for the year. Two adult family membership, for two adults and up to three children costs £75 for the year.

Members of the Imperial War Museums group get free entry to IWM Duxford; the Churchill War Rooms; and HMS Belfast. Plus there’s 10% off tickets to the Duxford Air Show; and 10% discount in their shops. And you’ll get a welcome pack, regular eNewsletters and priority booking on selected events and exhibitions.

One Adult Family IWM membership for one adult and up to 6 children costs £72 for the year; Two Adult Family IWM membership costs £114 for the year.  

If you live in South East London and love exploring the museums around Greenwich, this is the membership for you. Become a member of Royal Museums Greenwich, and you can enjoy free unlimited entry to the Royal Observatory, Peter Harrison Planetarium, Cutty Sark and exhibitions at the National Maritime Museum.

You'll also be able to attend members' events and talks; get 10% off food and drink and in the gift shops; and receive The Wave, a magazine for members.

One adult Family Membership (with up to four children) costs £70 for the year. Two adult Family Membership (for two named adults and up to four children) costs £85.

Families in Northern Ireland can save with a National Museums NI membership, offering free entry to the Ulster Museum; Ulster Folk & Transport Museum; and the Ulster American Folk Park. Members also enjoy 10% discount in the gift shops, cafes and tea rooms.

Family 1 membership (for one adult and up to three children) costs £56.25 for a year. Family 2 membership (For two adults and up to three children costs £70.31.

You can get unlimited free entry to the National Museum of Scotland; the National Museum of Flight; and the National Museum of Rural life with a National Museums Scotland membership.

Members can also benefit from 20% discount in the cafes; 10% off in the museum shops; and 10% off entry to Edinburgh Castle. You’ll also receive a magazine, invites to exclusive member experiences; and free or discounted entry to NMS events.

Family membership (for 2 adults and 3 children under the age of 16; or 1 adult and 4 children) costs £64 for the year.

If you’re in Scotland, a National Trust Scotland membership is another great way to save money on trips to National Trust for Scotland places. The NTS Membership also gives you free or concessionary entry to NT organisations worldwide including in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Plus, you get free parking, a guidebook and members’ magazine.

The Two Adult Family National Trust for Scotland membership (for two adults and up to 6 children) costs £117.60 for a year. The One Adult Family (for one adult and up to 6 children) costs £79.20 for a year.

The money you give helps NTS undertake vital work such as maintaining mountain footpaths so they remain accessible, making vital repairs to our historic castles and palaces, and restoring meadows to help birds, butterflies and bees flourish. 

Another tip for Scotland: get discounts at castles, abbeys, cathedrals and more with a Historic Scotland membership. Join, and you’ll have free access to Stirling, Edinburgh and Urquhart Castles, as well as more than 300 other heritage attractions in Scotland.

Plus, there’s a magazine, a membership pack; 20% discount in the shops and 10% discount in the cafes. And half-price entry to more than 500 English Heritage and Cadw attractions.

Cadw is the body that looks after monuments, historic buildings, and parks and gardens in Wales.

Become a member, and you’ll receive unlimited access to more than 100 historical sites in Wales (castles, abbeys, forts, gardens and more) as well as 50% off entry to English Heritage and Historic Scotland sites; and 10% off Cadw gift shops.

Family membership for 2 adults and all children under 18 costs £82.60 for the year; family membership for 1 adult and all children under 18 costs £58.10.

Look into your local museums, art galleries, zoos, safari parks, theme parks, adventure farms and others for annual money-saving memberships.