Latest news with #MaddyAlexanderGrout
Daily Mail
20-07-2025
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Where should we take the kids? These are the most expensive family days out from Alton Towers to Legoland - so where will YOU go?
Britain's beloved family days out are under threat as high parking charges pile pressure on already cash-strapped parents. A MailOnline investigation can today reveal the shocking cost of parking at some of the country's most popular tourist attractions, with families forking out as much as £30 just to leave the car - on top of steep ticket prices. At Legoland Windsor, a walk-up family ticket for four comes in at a staggering £272, before adding up to £18 just to park. At Chessington World of Adventures, the gate price for a family of four reaches £264, plus £20 for an 'express' car space - taking the total to £284 for a single day. It is a similar story at Blackpool Pleasure Beach, where entry for four costs £156, with a further £20 to park at its North Car Park. At Whipsnade Zoo, families who don't want to use a distant free parking area face a £30 charge for a space closer to the entrance. Money and business expert Maddy Alexander-Grout, 41, said 'It's expensive enough to visit these theme parks without adding parking charges on top. 'Families are already stretched day to day with rising costs, so to then face a hefty parking fee feels like a hammer blow which prices many out. 'Attractions already make huge profits through ticket sales, food and drink, and adding parking charges just feels greedy. You're already spending so much once you're inside the park. 'I really think parking should be free as part of the experience. I'm lucky that at Paultons Park, just down the road from me in Southampton, parking is free - it makes a real difference and more attractions should follow that example.' Standard parking at Alton Towers costs £12, but for a premium space, families must cough up £20. That is on top of £272 for four walk-in tickets. Other Merlin-run destinations do not fare much better - with Thorpe Park charging up to £20 and Warwick Castle asking up to £10 for parking. Meanwhile families in the UK could spend up to £65 on parking alone during day trips to the most popular visitor attractions, which do not have dedicated car parks. The nearest private car park to Buckingham Palace costs £64.99 for an eight-hour Saturday stay, dwarfing the £38 charged near the British Museum, or £36 close to the Tower of London. In Edinburgh, parking near the Castle or National Museum of Scotland could cost up to £40. A few big-name attractions still offer free parking, including Chester Zoo, Flamingoland in North Yorkshire, and Longleat Safari Park in Wiltshire. In Northern Ireland, Titanic Belfast charges by the hour -with a full day and entry for four costing £78.60, though officials insist online deals could bring it down to £65.60 with early booking and shorter stays. A spokesperson said: 'We continually benchmark parking prices across Belfast city to ensure that we are in-line with others.' Many venues offer free or discounted entry for smaller children, and online ticket deals can help cut the cost. ZSL, which runs Whipsnade Zoo, said it offers free parking in an off-site area and free entry for children under three. For visitors to London Zoo, a spokesperson added: 'As well as supporting ZSL's conservation work at London Zoo and beyond, the car parking charge ensures the spaces in it are reserved for London Zoo's visitors.' Merlin, which runs Thorpe Park, Chessington, Alton Towers and Legoland, said: 'We regularly review our prices to ensure that we continue to deliver the best possible value and experience for our guests. 'The prices quoted are our gate prices, however the overwhelming majority of guests book online in advance to get the best deal. A number of our attractions provide on-site parking, with prices in line with market standards. 'In 2024, we saw a further year-on-year increase in visitor numbers and our highest ever levels of guest satisfaction. We are confident that the vast majority of guests will continue to book in advance to get the best deals and have memorable days out at Merlin attractions.' Catherine Warrilow, visitor attraction brand strategist at The Plot, told MailOnline: 'For many attractions, parking fees have become a vital source of revenue to cover rising costs ranging from maintenance and security to staff and insurance. 'Separating parking charges from ticket prices enables attractions to keep headline admission fees more competitive in a market where visitors shop around online for deals and discounts. 'It makes tickets also appear more affordable, even if the total cost tells another story 'However, for many families, the cost of parking is now the straw that breaks the camel's back on a supposedly fun day out. 'It's not just an annoyance, it's a major factor pricing people out of precious summer experiences - that's before you've even got to the restaurant or gift shop.' Lavania Oluban, 38, a parenting blogger from Birmingham, West Midlands, and mother to Arlo, eight, said attractions' steep parking charges 'wind her up'. She said: 'Even when you hunt for special offers or discounts, the hidden costs like parking really sting. 'What's worse is how unclear these charges often are online, so you don't even know the full cost until you arrive. 'It feels unfair when ticket prices are already sky-high and there's no real alternative, especially for theme parks or rural attractions where public transport just isn't practical. 'You'll get there and pay £20, only to be directed onto some boggy overflow field with no attendants. 'Then, at the end of a long day, you're exhausted, the kids are tired, and you end up stuck in a car park gridlock with no proper system to get out. 'It's hard to see how they justify these prices when the service doesn't match. It makes me more reluctant to spend money at these attractions and so I will take my own packed lunch and avoid the gift shop to claw some of that expense back.' How much do some of Britain's top attractions really cost? Attraction Tickets Parking Total Alton Towers £272 £12-£20 £292 Legoland £272 £12-£18 £290 Thorpe Park £264 £12-£20 £284 Chessington World of Adventures £264 £12-£20 £284 Blackpool Pleasure Beach £156 £15-£20 £176 Warwick Castle £156 £7-£10 £166 Longleat Safari Park £157.30 Free £157.30 Eden Project £157 Free £157 Whipsnade Zoo £115.60 £30 £145.60 Tower of London £99 £36 £135 Chester Zoo £131.80 Free £131.80 London Zoo £114.20 £17.50 £131.70 Windsor Castle £105 £24 £129 Edinburgh Castle £77 £40 £117 Roman Baths, Bath £86 £13.90 £99.90 Titanic Belfast £68 £10.60 £78.60 Buckingham Palace Free £65 £65 British Museum Free £38 £38 National Museum of Scotland Free £36 £36 Parking for whole day or eight hours for attractions in italics, which are for parking closest to the site. Tickets are for two adults and two children.
The Sun
22-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Five ways to teach kids how to budget & value money this summer
WITH the school holidays looming, now is the time to educate your kids about budgeting. From pocket money management to summer challenges, here are lots of ways to teach your children the basics, all while making it fun . . . CASH CHATS: Get used to having regular conversations about money. If you have a budget, get them involved. Explain why you save or spend. The more you talk about fiances, the more they will think about its value and how far it goes. SHOPPING TIPS: 'When I go food shopping, I take my kids and give them a budget in cash,' says Maddy Alexander Grout, author of Mad About Money, who has recently written a book for kids called That's My Money. 'I get them to compare prices, brands and deals, so they can learn about the difference it can make. It means shopping is a fun experience and they know the cost of what they like to eat and how that will eat into our food budget.' EARN AND LEARN: Pocket money can teach kids how to manage their own cash. school. Try the tip of getting kids to divide up pocket money into three jars weekly — one for spending, one for saving towards something big and one for giving to a good cause. WANTS VS NEEDS: 'Explain that they need uniforms and food, but toys are wants,' says Maddy. 'I make my kids wait 24 hours if they want something so they have time to think about how it affects their pocket-money budget. 'But I also let them make mistakes as it's important for kids to learn that spending their money all at once means there's none left at the end of the month.' SET A CHALLENGE: Hand over the reins to your kids for a day out. Agree a total sum and make them plan how to use it. You can also give your children tips of what to include, such as bus or train fares, entry tickets and food, and make sure they are the ones to hand over the cash. All prices on page correct at time of going to press. Deals and offers subject to availability. Deal of the day LUG all your festival or camping gear around in the Active Sport folding camping-cart trolley from The Range. It was £99.99, now £49.99. SAVE: £50 Cheap treat SNACK on a pack of McVitie's Jaffa Cakes – previously £1.50, now 95p, at Tesco when you scan your Clubcard. Top swap 7 SCOOP up a tub of Ben & Jerry's Caramel Chew Chew ice cream for £5.55 from Sainsbury's, or try the new Cheeky Caramel Gelatelli American-style tub at Lidl for £2.19. Shop & save ADD a Mr Kipling Angel Slice to lunchboxes this week. Pack of eight was £3.48, now £1.88 at Asda. Hot right now EASYJET has dropped the price of lots of July holidays, with millions of free kids' spaces. Look for 'free child space' at PLAY NOW TO WIN £200 7 JOIN thousands of readers taking part in The Sun Raffle. Every month we're giving away £100 to 250 lucky readers - whether you're saving up or just in need of some extra cash, The Sun could have you covered. Every Sun Savers code entered equals one Raffle ticket. The more codes you enter, the more tickets you'll earn and the more chance you will have of winning!
