The 2026 Merlin passes
As of October 2026, Merlin sells three passes. The Discovery and Silver passes are no longer sold (existing passes stay valid until they expire).
| Pass | Who it suits |
|---|---|
| Essential | Families who can visit off-peak and avoid school holidays, which have the most exclusion dates. |
| Gold | Families who need school-holiday visits. Almost every day is included, with some event exclusions. |
| Platinum | Frequent visitors who want the most flexibility and extras such as free standard parking at selected parks. |
Prices, perks and exclusion calendars change, so check the official Merlin Annual Pass site before you buy. Monthly payment plans have been offered alongside one-off payments.
What’s included
UK attractions on the pass include LEGOLAND Windsor Resort, Alton Towers Resort, Thorpe Park, Chessington World of Adventures, Warwick Castle, SEA LIFE centres, the London Eye, Madame Tussauds London, the Dungeons, Shrek’s Adventure! London, LEGOLAND Discovery Centres and Cadbury World. Blackpool’s Merlin attractions are no longer included for new or renewing pass holders.
How to work out if it pays off
- List the Merlin attractions you’d realistically visit in 12 months, and on which dates.
- Look up the online day-ticket price for each person for those dates.
- Add parking if you’d pay it (Platinum includes standard parking at selected parks).
- Compare the total with the pass price for each person. If the passes cost less, and the exclusion dates don’t clash with your plans, it pays off.
Remember: you still need to pre-book each visit, and the number of bookings you can hold at once depends on the pass. Our annual pass vs day tickets guide has more tips.
Last updated: 14 October 2026
