A single family day out at a UK theme park can now cost more than an overseas sunshine break, according to new figures. Ticket prices at major attractions have risen by as much as 200 per cent in the past decade, undermining hopes that a 'staycation' might help families cut costs during the school summer holidays.
Thorpe Park in Surrey charges up to £229.96 for a family of four on the gate, £155 more than in 2005. With additional expenses such as queue-jumping tickets at £80 each, parking and on-site lunch, the total for a day can exceed £600. That compares with £565 for a four-night self-catering break in Brittany, France, including flights with easyJet.
Elsewhere, a family ticket to the London Dungeon costs £93.80 on the door, up from £62.90 in 2005, while London Zoo charges £75.60 against £45 ten years ago. The Eden Project in Cornwall prices families at £69, a £39 rise. At 21 venues across Britain, gate prices rose by an average of 9.3 per cent each year, more than double the average inflation rate of 3.7 per cent.
Blackpool Pleasure Beach, however, has kept its wristband at £30 for a decade. Rachel Burrows of parenting group Netmums advised families to hunt for discounts before turning up on the day, suggesting loyalty card points swaps, cashback sites and money-off coupons from food brands and newspapers. She added that big days out should be treated as a planned treat rather than a regular occurrence.
The cost of other leisure activities has also surged. A session at a Go Ape treetop adventure centre costs a family £112, up from £70, and the average cinema ticket has risen from £4.71 to £6.72. Merlin Entertainments, which owns Alton Towers and Thorpe Park, said significant discounts were available for those booking online, with family trips costing £32.85 per person at Alton Towers and £29.99 per person at Thorpe Park during school holidays. The company also noted that picnic areas are available at all its theme parks.
