
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.
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.
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 Two for £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.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles

Rhyl Journal
11 hours ago
- Rhyl Journal
Football comes home: Jubilant fans greet Lionesses on return to England
The team landed back in the country on Monday afternoon after defending their Euros title in a penalty shootout win over Spain in Basel, Switzerland, on Sunday. Supporters, many of whom were dressed in England kits and holding flags, cheered as they waited outside Southend Airport in Essex to greet the Lionesses. Among them were twins Poppy and Daisy Macdonald, 11, from Benfleet, Essex, who were holding a sign asking for a photo with star striker Alessia Russo. Poppy said: 'We're so proud. They've won it two times in a row and they've worked so hard for it. 'They've had a lot of injuries and setbacks but they've done really well.' Daisy admitted she struggled to watch the penalty shootout, adding: 'I couldn't watch, I was very nervous, but very happy that they won.' In a post on X, the team shared a photo of the Euros trophy draped in an England flag on a seat on the plane. Welcoming back the CHAMPIONS! 🫡🎊 — Lionesses (@Lionesses) July 28, 2025 The team will be welcomed to a celebratory reception at Downing Street later on Monday, hosted by Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner and sports minister Stephanie Peacock. Team captain Leah Williamson was seen smiling and holding the Euros trophy as the team left their hotel in Zurich and began their journey home in the rain. Other team members, wearing their medals, smiled as they high-fived supporters waiting outside the building and signed autographs. 🏆😍 — Lionesses (@Lionesses) July 28, 2025 Lauren Hemp was seen carrying a Beauty and the Beast castle made out of Lego on her journey home. Other players have discussed hobbies outside of football which they have used to help unwind during the tournament, with star striker Michelle Agyemang revealing she had brought a piano with her to Switzerland. Tuesday will see the team enjoy an open-top bus procession along The Mall and a ceremony in front of Buckingham Palace. However, the Lionesses began their celebrations in Switzerland and can be seen cheering, raising a glass and dancing with Reggie, the dog, in a video posted on the team's official social media accounts. The team can be seen wearing their gold medals, chanting the white Cavapoo's name and waving his paw after the match. Reggie belongs to Cheals on Wheels, a barista company that travelled with the team to the tournament. Posting on Instagram, the company wrote that Reggie had 'gone international' and was 'soaking up all the love (and sneaky treats) from the team' in Switzerland. After the game, the King said the team had the royal family's 'warmest appreciation and admiration' in a post on X, adding: 'The next task is to bring home the World Cup in 2027 if you possibly can'. A trip to Buckingham Palace or Windsor Castle may be on the cards for the winning squad as it is understood possible plans for a reception in the autumn are being explored by royal aides. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer hailed the team's triumph, saying the Lionesses had 'once again captured the hearts of the nation' and were 'an inspiration for young people across the country'. Alessia Russo gave the Lionesses hope of retaining their Euros title with her second-half equaliser after Mariona Caldentey netted the opener for Spain in the 25th minute. The Lionesses went on to triumph 3-1 on penalties. A picture of the Prince of Wales with his arm around his daughter Princess Charlotte was posted to X, with the caption 'champions of Europe'. At the presentation ceremony, William congratulated Agyemang on being named young player of the tournament, appearing to say 'well played, fantastic, well done' at the presentation ceremony. Home again 🔜🛫 — Lionesses (@Lionesses) July 28, 2025 Agyemang, 19, who had one England cap before the tournament, scored crucial equalisers in the Lionesses' quarter-final and semi-final comebacks. On Monday, a mural at Russo's first grassroots club, Bearsted FC, was unveiled to mark the victory and celebrate National Lottery funding for the game. The red, white and blue image depicts the player alongside a St George's cross and a roaring lioness at the club in Maidstone, Kent. To celebrate the win, the Royal Mail will mark the occasion with a congratulatory postmark – which will be applied to stamped mail across the UK from Monday to Friday. Fans can attend the homecoming celebrations in London for free and it will be broadcast live on BBC, ITV, and Sky.


Powys County Times
12 hours ago
- Powys County Times
Football comes home: Jubilant fans greet Lionesses on return to England
The Lionesses have returned to the UK after triumphing at the Euros, as hundreds of jubilant fans waited to greet the team. The team landed back in the country on Monday afternoon after defending their Euros title in a penalty shootout win over Spain in Basel, Switzerland, on Sunday. Supporters, many of whom were dressed in England kits and holding flags, cheered as they waited outside Southend Airport in Essex to greet the Lionesses. Among them were twins Poppy and Daisy Macdonald, 11, from Benfleet, Essex, who were holding a sign asking for a photo with star striker Alessia Russo. Poppy said: 'We're so proud. They've won it two times in a row and they've worked so hard for it. 'They've had a lot of injuries and setbacks but they've done really well.' Daisy admitted she struggled to watch the penalty shootout, adding: 'I couldn't watch, I was very nervous, but very happy that they won.' In a post on X, the team shared a photo of the Euros trophy draped in an England flag on a seat on the plane. Welcoming back the CHAMPIONS! 🫡🎊 — Lionesses (@Lionesses) July 28, 2025 The team will be welcomed to a celebratory reception at Downing Street later on Monday, hosted by Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner and sports minister Stephanie Peacock. Team captain Leah Williamson was seen smiling and holding the Euros trophy as the team left their hotel in Zurich and began their journey home in the rain. Other team members, wearing their medals, smiled as they high-fived supporters waiting outside the building and signed autographs. 🏆😍 — Lionesses (@Lionesses) July 28, 2025 Lauren Hemp was seen carrying a Beauty and the Beast castle made out of Lego on her journey home. Other players have discussed hobbies outside of football which they have used to help unwind during the tournament, with star striker Michelle Agyemang revealing she had brought a piano with her to Switzerland. Tuesday will see the team enjoy an open-top bus procession along The Mall and a ceremony in front of Buckingham Palace. However, the Lionesses began their celebrations in Switzerland and can be seen cheering, raising a glass and dancing with Reggie, the dog, in a video posted on the team's official social media accounts. The team can be seen wearing their gold medals, chanting the white Cavapoo's name and waving his paw after the match. Reggie belongs to Cheals on Wheels, a barista company that travelled with the team to the tournament. Posting on Instagram, the company wrote that Reggie had 'gone international' and was 'soaking up all the love (and sneaky treats) from the team' in Switzerland. After the game, the King said the team had the royal family's 'warmest appreciation and admiration' in a post on X, adding: 'The next task is to bring home the World Cup in 2027 if you possibly can'. A trip to Buckingham Palace or Windsor Castle may be on the cards for the winning squad as it is understood possible plans for a reception in the autumn are being explored by royal aides. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer hailed the team's triumph, saying the Lionesses had 'once again captured the hearts of the nation' and were 'an inspiration for young people across the country'. Alessia Russo gave the Lionesses hope of retaining their Euros title with her second-half equaliser after Mariona Caldentey netted the opener for Spain in the 25th minute. The Lionesses went on to triumph 3-1 on penalties. A picture of the Prince of Wales with his arm around his daughter Princess Charlotte was posted to X, with the caption 'champions of Europe'. At the presentation ceremony, William congratulated Agyemang on being named young player of the tournament, appearing to say 'well played, fantastic, well done' at the presentation ceremony. Home again 🔜🛫 — Lionesses (@Lionesses) July 28, 2025 Agyemang, 19, who had one England cap before the tournament, scored crucial equalisers in the Lionesses' quarter-final and semi-final comebacks. On Monday, a mural at Russo's first grassroots club, Bearsted FC, was unveiled to mark the victory and celebrate National Lottery funding for the game. The red, white and blue image depicts the player alongside a St George's cross and a roaring lioness at the club in Maidstone, Kent. To celebrate the win, the Royal Mail will mark the occasion with a congratulatory postmark – which will be applied to stamped mail across the UK from Monday to Friday.

Leader Live
12 hours ago
- Leader Live
Football comes home: Jubilant fans greet Lionesses on return to England
The team landed back in the country on Monday afternoon after defending their Euros title in a penalty shootout win over Spain in Basel, Switzerland, on Sunday. Supporters, many of whom were dressed in England kits and holding flags, cheered as they waited outside Southend Airport in Essex to greet the Lionesses. Among them were twins Poppy and Daisy Macdonald, 11, from Benfleet, Essex, who were holding a sign asking for a photo with star striker Alessia Russo. Poppy said: 'We're so proud. They've won it two times in a row and they've worked so hard for it. 'They've had a lot of injuries and setbacks but they've done really well.' Daisy admitted she struggled to watch the penalty shootout, adding: 'I couldn't watch, I was very nervous, but very happy that they won.' In a post on X, the team shared a photo of the Euros trophy draped in an England flag on a seat on the plane. Welcoming back the CHAMPIONS! 🫡🎊 — Lionesses (@Lionesses) July 28, 2025 The team will be welcomed to a celebratory reception at Downing Street later on Monday, hosted by Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner and sports minister Stephanie Peacock. Team captain Leah Williamson was seen smiling and holding the Euros trophy as the team left their hotel in Zurich and began their journey home in the rain. Other team members, wearing their medals, smiled as they high-fived supporters waiting outside the building and signed autographs. 🏆😍 — Lionesses (@Lionesses) July 28, 2025 Lauren Hemp was seen carrying a Beauty and the Beast castle made out of Lego on her journey home. Other players have discussed hobbies outside of football which they have used to help unwind during the tournament, with star striker Michelle Agyemang revealing she had brought a piano with her to Switzerland. Tuesday will see the team enjoy an open-top bus procession along The Mall and a ceremony in front of Buckingham Palace. However, the Lionesses began their celebrations in Switzerland and can be seen cheering, raising a glass and dancing with Reggie, the dog, in a video posted on the team's official social media accounts. The team can be seen wearing their gold medals, chanting the white Cavapoo's name and waving his paw after the match. Reggie belongs to Cheals on Wheels, a barista company that travelled with the team to the tournament. Posting on Instagram, the company wrote that Reggie had 'gone international' and was 'soaking up all the love (and sneaky treats) from the team' in Switzerland. After the game, the King said the team had the royal family's 'warmest appreciation and admiration' in a post on X, adding: 'The next task is to bring home the World Cup in 2027 if you possibly can'. A trip to Buckingham Palace or Windsor Castle may be on the cards for the winning squad as it is understood possible plans for a reception in the autumn are being explored by royal aides. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer hailed the team's triumph, saying the Lionesses had 'once again captured the hearts of the nation' and were 'an inspiration for young people across the country'. Alessia Russo gave the Lionesses hope of retaining their Euros title with her second-half equaliser after Mariona Caldentey netted the opener for Spain in the 25th minute. The Lionesses went on to triumph 3-1 on penalties. A picture of the Prince of Wales with his arm around his daughter Princess Charlotte was posted to X, with the caption 'champions of Europe'. At the presentation ceremony, William congratulated Agyemang on being named young player of the tournament, appearing to say 'well played, fantastic, well done' at the presentation ceremony. Home again 🔜🛫 — Lionesses (@Lionesses) July 28, 2025 Agyemang, 19, who had one England cap before the tournament, scored crucial equalisers in the Lionesses' quarter-final and semi-final comebacks. On Monday, a mural at Russo's first grassroots club, Bearsted FC, was unveiled to mark the victory and celebrate National Lottery funding for the game. The red, white and blue image depicts the player alongside a St George's cross and a roaring lioness at the club in Maidstone, Kent. To celebrate the win, the Royal Mail will mark the occasion with a congratulatory postmark – which will be applied to stamped mail across the UK from Monday to Friday. Fans can attend the homecoming celebrations in London for free and it will be broadcast live on BBC, ITV, and Sky.