What are the best things to do with kids in the UK this summer?

Some of Merlin’s top family days out this summer include LEGO Festival at LEGOLAND Windsor Resort, Chessington World of Adventures Resort, Alton Towers Resort, Thorpe Park, London Eye, Warwick Castle, Cadbury World, SEA LIFE attractions, Shrek’s Adventure! London and The Dungeons.

What is LEGO Festival at LEGOLAND Windsor Resort?

LEGO Festival is a summer event at LEGOLAND Windsor Resort for all the family, bringing together music, creativity, hands-on LEGO building, live entertainment and dedicated family activities alongside the Resort’s rides and attractions.

Is LEGO Festival included with a Merlin Annual Pass?

Yes. LEGO Festival is included with eligible Merlin Annual Passes. The current Merlin Annual Pass tiers are Essential, Gold and Platinum, and all include access to LEGOLAND Windsor Resort. Visits are still subject to pre-booking requirements, attraction opening times and Pass restriction dates. Essential Passholders should check exclusion dates during the Festival period before visiting.

When is LEGO Festival at LEGOLAND Windsor Resort?

LEGO Festival runs from 20 July to 31 August 2026 at LEGOLAND Windsor Resort. The festival also returns to other LEGOLAND Resorts in 2026, including LEGOLAND California Resort, LEGOLAND Deutschland Resort, LEGOLAND Florida Resort, LEGOLAND New York Resort and LEGOLAND Shanghai Resort, with dates varying by resort.

What are the best Merlin attractions for a London family itinerary?

A London family itinerary can include London Eye, Madame Tussauds London, SEA LIFE London Aquarium, Shrek’s Adventure! London and The London Dungeon. These attractions can be combined to create a flexible day out with views, photo moments, sea creatures, character-led fun and theatrical storytelling.

Platinum One-Shot Fastrack Terms & Conditions

A valid Platinum Merlin Annual Pass is required to use your One-Shot Fastrack. <li class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW183131999 BCX8" aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="11" data-list-defn-props="{"335552541":1,"335559685":720,"335559991":360,"469769226":"Symbol","469769242":[8226],"469777803":"left","469777804":"","469777815":"multilevel"}" data-aria-posinset="2" data-aria-level="1"> Fastrack access is subject to ride availability and attraction opening calendars. Due to operational requirements, Fastrack queues may close at Merlin’s discretion. <li class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW183131999 BCX8" aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="11" data-list-defn-props="{"335552541":1,"335559685":720,"335559991":360,"469769226":"Symbol","469769242":[8226],"469777803":"left","469777804":"","469777815":"multilevel"}" data-aria-posinset="3" data-aria-level="1"> All One-Shot Fastrack passes are subject to ride and queue capacity. Availability may be limited or withdrawn at any time, and attraction operation does not guarantee access. <li class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW183131999 BCX8" aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="11" data-list-defn-props="{"335552541":1,"335559685":720,"335559991":360,"469769226":"Symbol","469769242":[8226],"469777803":"left","469777804":"","469777815":"multilevel"}" data-aria-posinset="4" data-aria-level="1"> Merlin reserves the right to limit the number of One-Shot Fastrack passes that can be used on any ride at any time. <li class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW183131999 BCX8" aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="11" data-list-defn-props="{"335552541":1,"335559685":720,"335559991":360,"469769226":"Symbol","469769242":[8226],"469777803":"left","469777804":"","469777815":"multilevel"}" data-aria-posinset="5" data-aria-level="1"> One-Shot Fastrack passes cannot be exchanged for monetary value and are not for resale.

What is this event? We’re testing a new product with an exciting brand partner, and we’d love Passholder feedback before launch. If you have children aged between 4 and 11 years old, then your Passholder family could be just the discerning group we’re looking for! Where is the event being held? Attendees will join us at SEA LIFE London Aquarium. What will we be testing/giving feedback on? It’s secret! I’m afraid, until the event, we can’t reveal any more information but what we can say is that we’re testing a new product aimed at children aged 4–11 years old… What date and time(s) is this running? Saturday 28th March 2026. Time slots are available from 10am – 2pm. How long will the event last? The experience itself will last approximately 2 hours Do you have to be a Merlin Annual Passholder? Yes - at least one member of each group must hold a valid Merlin Annual Pass, which may be checked on arrival. Do I have to also pre-book my space at SEA LIFE London? No, you don’t need to pre-book a slot. Entry will be provided as part of your participation in the trial. What are the age requirements? You must be attending with at least one child aged between 4 and 11 years old. The lead booker must be aged 18+, and children must be accompanied by an adult. What feedback will I be required to give, in what form, and what’s the deadline? Participants will be asked to complete a short feedback survey following the experience. This will be sent to you via email after your visit, and must be completed in order to receive your thank you gift. What’s the free gift, and when will I receive it? Each child participant (aged 4–11) will receive a SEA LIFE plushie and drawstring bag. These will be sent by post to your registered address once your completed feedback survey has been received. Will every Passholder get a free gift? Gifts will be provided to children only aged between 4 and 11 years old who take part and complete the feedback survey. Can I share my experience on social media? As this is a pre-launch experience, attendees must not share, publish or communicate any details, images, audio or video of the experience on social media or any public platforms prior to the official launch. Is the experience accessible? This experience includes an audio-based element. Guests with hearing impairments or medical conditions affecting hearing may find aspects of the experience limited or less accessible. If you have any accessibility requirements, please contact us in advance and we will do our best to support your visit What happens if I can no longer make it? If you are no longer able to attend, please let us know as soon as possible so your place can be offered to another family. Please note that spaces are limited and non-transferable. How do I apply? Where can I find the form? Please complete the sign-up form here: https://forms.gle/W8YHUnRJvDBKZ9Zq5

Take part in an exclusive trial of a brand-new experience at SEA LIFE London Aquarium for a maximum of 4 guests (maximum 2 adults and 2 children per booking; each group must include at least one child aged 4–11 and at least one valid Merlin Annual Pass holder). The experience will take place on Saturday 28th March 2026 only, at allocated time slots from 10am until 2pm. Entry is open to UK residents aged 18+ (lead booker). To register, complete the sign-up form via https://forms.gle/TYYoKi77E2nHvMWv7 . Submission of a booking request does not guarantee participation. Spaces are limited to 25 groups and will be allocated on a first come, first served basis. Participants will receive confirmation of attendance via email within 48 hours of submitting their response. Entry to the attraction and participation in the experience are free of charge . No purchase is necessary. No cash alternative is available in the event of non-attendance. Participants must attend their allocated time slot. Bookings are non-transferable and no alternative dates will be offered. As this is a pre-launch experience, attendees must not share, publish or communicate any details, images, audio or video of the experience on social media or any public platforms prior to the official launch on 1 st April. Participants will be asked to complete a feedback survey following the experience. Upon receipt of a completed survey, participants will receive a thank you gift consisting of a SEA LIFE plushie and drawstring bag (per child participant), which will be sent by post to the address provided. No cash alternative will be offered. Participants should be aware that the experience includes an audio-based element. Individuals with hearing impairments or medical conditions affecting hearing may find aspects of the experience limited or inaccessible. The Promoter reserves the right to amend, postpone or cancel the experience where necessary. Participation is at the attendee’s own risk. By registering, participants agree to be bound by these terms and conditions and the full attraction Terms & Conditions available here: https://www.visitsealife.com/london/policies/terms-conditions/ For Merlin Entertainments Limited enquiries contact Merlin Entertainment's careline on 01753 626416 between 9:00am and 5:00pm, Monday to Friday, excluding Bank Holidays. Promoter: Registered UK office: Merlin Entertainments Ltd, Arbor Building, 16th Floor, 255 Blackfriars Road, London, SE1 9AX, Company Number: 08700412

What dates can the pin badges be claimed? If I go today, can I get one?

Pin badges can only be claimed on special days. These dates will be revealed on social media and through emails. So, keep your eyes peeled!

What’s the password?

We obviously can’t tell you that! Each date for giveaways will come with its own password which you’ll have to work out yourself from clues on social media.

How many pin badges are there?

There are only 500 of each limited-edition pin badge, so you’ll have to be quick to claim one! Staff will only give people in attendance a pin badge, so if you’re a family you’ll need to be together for everyone to get a badge.

How will we know which staff have the badges?

Only our Duty Managers will have a pin badge, which means you need to look out for staff carrying litter pickers. Not ALL staff with litter pickers will be a Duty Manager, so during this time frame, each Duty Manager will have yellow tape around their litter picker – so stay vigilant!

Are theme parks open all year round?

No, Thorpe Park usually closes from November until March, and Alton Towers and Chessington usually close from Christmas until February or March. Exact dates will vary, please check the attraction websites for further details.

Can I upgrade my Pass once I’ve purchased one?

No, once you’ve purchased your Pass you are locked into that tier for at least one year (12 months.) It’s important you think very carefully about which Pass is right for you, as you won’t be able to change it once your contract is set up.

If I have a Pass, can I just walk into the attraction without booking?

You must pre-book your visits or you risk being turned away. Some of our attractions are very small and the spaces available are limited so may need to be booked in advance to guarantee a space. This is especially true during very busy times such as school holidays, especially if the theme parks are closed.

What’s not included with my Annual Pass?

While most events are included with Merlin Annual Pass (Alton After Dark, FRIGHT NIGHTS etc), there are some special events which are not included. For example, the Alton Towers fireworks is only included for Platinum Passholders, and the Castle after Dark event at Warwick Castle is held outside of normal operating hours and is not included. The Dungeons at Warwick Castle is also not included; however, you get a discount to book.

How do I add a Carer Pass?

Adding a Carer Pass is simple! You just add in the Pass details the same way you would a paid for Merlin Annual Pass.

Why is my Pass number not being accepted?

There are several reasons why you may be struggling to add your pass. In this instance you will see an error box. You may have entered your Pass number incorrectly, so please re-enter your number and try again. Your Pass may have expired and be outside of the validity period.

Why can I not make a booking in the Portal?

There are several reasons why you may be struggling to pre-book your tickets. In this instance you will see an error box. You may be attempting to book a date or time for which your Pass type isn’t valid (i.e., if you’re a Discovery Passholder and have tried to book a weekend ticket) - if this is the case and you would like to visit on this date, please purchase an Exclusion Day ticket using the links above You may have exceeded the number of pre-books which you are allowed Your Pass may have expired and be outside of the validity period

I’m not receiving the authentication text message to log in?

When you log into the portal you will need to send a code to your chosen mobile number (used to register). The text will come from ‘MSVerify’. If you do not receive a text message, please check that you entered your mobile phone number correctly when you registered. You can also try re-sending a log in code. If your mobile phone number is correct, you have signal, and you have also attempted to resend a code, then please get in touch with our help centre at info@Merlinannualpass.co.uk , or by using our live chat feature on website.

What happens if I lose my phone or change my number?

Currently you’re unable to change your phone number on the portal, however we are working on this! As a precaution the old booking system will stay in place in the meantime so you can still prebook the old way if you’re unable to log into the Pre-book Portal.

How can I book friends & family discounted tickets?

Please use the normal link in the Perks Hub to book friends and family tickets, as this cannot be done through the Pre-book Portal.

My Pass has expired / I have missed a payment and my Pass has been blocked, but I’m still able to pre-book in the portal?

Please make sure you check if your Pass is valid before making any booking in the Pre-book Portal. It’s your responsibility to ensure your Pass is valid, and you face the risk of being turned away if your Pass is not valid at the attraction.

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