-2026 Annual Pass Price : £106
-2025 Annual Pass Price : £147
-Price Difference : DECREASE of £41
-Need to visit 3 times across the year to make the pass worthwhile.
-Standard family day admission is £47
Alnwick Garden
-2026 Annual Pass Price: £76
-2025 Annual Pass Price: £50
-Price Difference : INCREASE of £26
- Need to visit 3 times across the year to make the pass worthwhile.
- Standard family day admission is £27.50
Alnwick Castle
-2026 Annual Pass Price:£62.96
-2025 Annual Pass Price: £55.65
-Price Difference : INCREASE of £7.31
-An annual pass is the same cost as day admission - make sure you validate your ticket if required.
Adventure Valley
-2026 Annual Pass Price: £360
-2025 Annual Pass Price: £360
-Price Difference : STAYED THE SAME
- Need to visit 7 times across the year to make the pass worthwhile.
- Standard family day admission is £55.80
Whitehouse Farm
-2026 Annual Pass Price: £363
-2025 Annual Pass Price: Not Available
-Price Difference : N/A
- Need to visit 7 times across the year to make the pass worthwhile.
- Standard family day admission is £56.95
WWT Washington
-2026 Annual Pass Price: £117
-2025 Annual Pass Price: £87
-Price Difference : An INCREASE of £30
- Need to visit 4 times across the year to make the pass worthwhile.
- Standard family day admission is £34.20
English Heritage
-2026 Annual Pass Price: £144
-2025 Annual Pass Price: £126
-Price Difference : INCREASE of £18
- Need to visit 5 times across the year to make the pass worthwhile.
- Standard family day admission (based on Belsay Hall) is £30.80
National Trust
-2026 Annual Pass Price: £168.60
-2025 Annual Pass Price: £159
-Price Difference :INCREASE of £9.60
- Need to visit 4 times across the year to make the pass worthwhile.
- Standard family day admission (based on Gibside) is £45
Beamish
-2026 Annual Pass Price: £82
-2025 Annual Pass Price:£71
-Price Difference :INCREASE of £11
-Day Tickets are not (generally) available
Woodhorn Museum
-2026 Annual Pass Price: £20
-2025 Annual Pass Price:£19
-Price Difference :INCREASE of £1
-Day Tickets are not available
Tynemouth Aquarium
-2026 Annual Pass Price: £175.20
-2025 Annual Pass Price: £159.30
-Price Difference : INCREASE of £15.90
- Need to visit 3 times across the year to make the pass worthwhile.
- Standard family day admission is £62.40
Preston Park Museum
-2026 Annual Pass Price: £44 (non-local)
-2025 Annual Pass Price: £15
-Price Difference : INCREASE of £29 (Preston Park has not increased their prices in the 7 years I’ve been tracking prices prior to this)
- Need to visit 2 times across the year to make the pass worthwhile.
- Standard family day admission is £32
Hall Hill Farm
-2026 Annual Pass Price: £215
-2025 Annual Pass Price: £176
-Price Difference : INCREASE of £39
- Need to visit 5 times across the year to make the pass worthwhile.
- Standard family day admission is £48
Northumberland Zoo (Felton)
-2026 Annual Pass Price:£246
-2025 Annual Pass Price: £246
-Price Difference : STAYED THE SAME
- Need to visit 4 times across the year to make the pass worthwhile.
- Standard family day admission is £62.50
Northumberland College Zoo (Kirkley Hall)
-2026 Annual Pass Price:£50 (sale - use code JANSALE26 before the end of Jan) / £100 standard
-2025 Annual Pass Price: £60 (sale) / £120 (standard)
-Price Difference : DECREASE of £10/£20
- Need to visit 2-4 times across the year to make the pass worthwhile.
- Standard family day admission is £27.50
Jarrow Hall
-2026 Annual Pass Price: £30
-2025 Annual Pass Price: £28
-Price Difference : INCREASE of £2
- Day Admission is not available
Ushaw Historic House
-2026 Annual Pass Price:£57
-2025 Annual Pass Price: £49 (non-local)
-Price Difference : INCREASE of £8
- Need to visit 2 times across the year to make the pass worthwhile.
- Standard family day admission is £38
Bamburgh Castle
-2026 Annual Pass Price: £75
-2025 Annual Pass Price: £70
-Price Difference : INCREASE of £5
- Need to visit 2 times across the year to make the pass worthwhile.
- Standard family day admission is £58.50
Raby Castle, Deer Park, Gardens & Plotters’ Forest
-2026 Annual Pass Price: £195
-2025 Annual Pass Price: £139
-Price Difference : INCREASE of £56
- Need to visit 4 times across the year to make the pass worthwhile.
- Standard family day admission is £60
Historic Houses
-2026 Annual Pass Price: £134 (+ kids single admission)
-2025 Annual Pass Price: £128 (+ kids single admission)
-Price Difference : INCREASE of £6
- Need to visit 3 times across the year to make the pass worthwhile.
- Standard day admission to venues varies (Alnwick Castle, Chillingham Castle, Bamburgh Castle, Ushaw Historic House, Paxton House, Auckland Palace & more)
Art Pass
-2026 Annual Pass Price: £112.50
-2025 Annual Pass Price: £92
-Price Difference : INCREASE of £20.50
- Need to visit 3 times across the year to make the pass worthwhile.
- Standard family day admission varies and includes Wallington, Seaton Delaval Hall, Auckland Palace, Preston Park, Bowes Museum & more.
Merlin Annual Pass
-2026 Annual Pass Price: £556 (Essential) / £1196 (Platinum)
-2025 Annual Pass Price: £396 (Basic) / £1196 (Platinum)
-Price Difference : INCREASE of £160 (Basic) / NO INCREASE for Platinum
- Need to visit 5-10 times across the year to make the pass worthwhile.
- Standard family day admission £124 (booked online) based on Alton Towers
*Prices checked online 13 Jan 2026. Prices are based on 2 adults and 2 children (aged 7) for standard weekend admission as listed on the venue’s website and do not include special offers or discount codes. Some venues offer a discount for locals - these have not been included.
2026 Family Annual Passes - Which are worth it?
⭐BIGGEST INCREASE : A family annual pass for Raby Castle, Deer Park, Gardens & Plotter’s Forest faced the biggest increase this year (£56 increase), next in line is Hall Hill Farm (£39 increase). A Basic Merlin Annual Pass also increased by £160.
⭐DECREASED THEIR PRICES THIS YEAR: Bravo to Science at Life - despite opening a brand new multi-million pound exhibition (Light Box), their family annual pass has decreased by £41 this year. And a shout out to Northumberland College Zoo (Kirkley Hall) - their family annual pass has decreased by £10/£20 (depending when you buy it)
⭐ CHEAPEST ANNUAL PASSES : Woodhorn Museum (£20), Jarrow Hall (£30), Preston Park Museum (£44), Northumberland College Zoo (£50 in sale)
⭐ MOST EXPENSIVE ANNUAL PASSES: Whitehouse Farm (£363) & Adventure Valley (£360). The Merlin Annual Pass is priced between £556 and £1196
⭐ BEST VALUE ANNUAL PASSES : You only need to visit the following venues twice in a year to make upgrading to an annual pass worthwhile: Bamburgh Castle, Ushaw Historic House, Northumberland College Zoo (if bought in sale) & Preston Park Museum (does not include venues which only offer annual passes for standard entry).
⭐ ANNUAL PASSES WITH THE MOST VARIETY (covering multiple venues):
-National Trust covers 12 venues (which usually charge admission) across the North East along with access to over 500 venues across the UK
-English Heritage covers at least 10 North East venues (which usually charge admission) plus access to over 400 historic places across the UK
-Art Pass includes free entry to places like Wallington, Seaton Delaval Hall, Auckland Palace, Preston Park, Bowes Museum & more plus half price entry to Beamish
-Historic Houses membership offers admission to Alnwick Castle, Chillingham Castle, Bamburgh Castle, Ushaw Historic House, Paxton House, Auckland Palace & more
-Merlin Annual Pass allows access to 24 top attractions across the UK
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