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Stay overnight at Alton Towers, Chessington or Legoland and get year's free entry to top theme parks

This offer means families could enjoy an entire year of theme park thrills across more than 20 Merlin attractions in the UK ensuring that the kids are kept entertained throughout the school holidays

[Alton Towers rollercoaster]

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You could enjoy a year of access to parks such as Alton Towers(Image: Merlin)

February half-term is coming up soon, and as all parents know, this is just the first of many school breaks where you'll be scrambling around to find something to keep the kids entertained. While taking them to theme parks may seem like a pricey option, there is a deal that means you enjoy many more days out during the school holidays in 2026.

Merlin Entertainment, who own huge attractions across the UK such as Alton Towers, Thorpe Park, Chessington World of Adventures, Warwick Castle and LEGOLAND, is offering a deal they call 'Stay for a night, play for a year'. Families who book a short break this February for certain spring dates can get a free Essential Merlin Annual Pass (MAP) for each guest, giving them free access to its theme parks throughout the year.

Bookings need to be completed before March 1, and stay dates for this offer include:

• LEGOLAND and Alton Towers - stays between March 14 and June 26
• Chessington - stays between March 20 and June 26
• Thorpe Park and Warwick Castle - stays between March 27 and June 26

Look for a banner next to the hotel name that says 'Merlin Pass Included' when booking to see if it's eligible for the offer.

[LEGOLAND Hotel]

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Enjoy a night at a hotel in a park such as LEGOLAND to unlock the offer(Image: Merlin)

Depending on which resort and hotel you choose, guests can enjoy facilities such as themed accommodation, breakfast included in the price, plus two days of fun at the theme park of your choice. You'll also find perks such as access to the 9-hole golf course at Alton Towers and access to the SEA Life centre at Chessington.

And once you check out, you still have a year of fun family adventures to enjoy. You'll get a Merlin Annual Pass delivered to your inbox when you book, offering 339 days of experiences and fun, which includes access to family-friendly days out like the London Eye, Madame Tussauds, and The London Dungeon. Simply activate the pass and it's valid for 12 months with a few restriction dates.

Other attractions where the annual pass can be used include SEA Life centres across the UK, Cadbury World, Shrek's Adventure! London and LEGOLAND's Discovery Centres give plenty of options for days out.

Passholders can also nab 10% off Fastrack passes for days when you want to skip the queues, plus 10% off food and drink at the parks.

You can even redeem your pass before your stay and start using it elsewhere, so if you book now, you could use it on weekdays during the February half term to take the kids to one of Merlin's attractions.

[Alton Towers arctic themed rooms]

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Choose between a wide range of fun themed accommodation(Image: Merlin)

So, how much could families save? It depends on which hotel stay you book and how much you use the pass. A family of four could book a night at the Chessington Safari Hotel on Saturday, March 28 for 418 and get four free passes included. Buying Merlin Essential passes would usually cost 139 each, adding up to 556 for four people, so this is already a cheaper option if you've been considering buying the passes anyway.

Day passes to Alton Towers, as an example, cost 32 online and as much as 68 if you buy on the gates, so if you plan just a handful of theme park visits, this offer could save you hundreds over the year.

Full list of attractions where Merlin's annual pass can be used

• Alton Towers Resort
• Chessington World Of Adventures Resort
• LEGOLAND Windsor Resort
• The London Eye
• Thorpe Park
• SEA LIFE London
• National SEA LIFE Centre Birmingham
• SEA LIFE Manchester
• SEA LIFE Blackpool
• SEA LIFE Brighton
• SEA LIFE Weymouth Adventure Park
• SEA LIFE Great Yarmouth
• SEA LIFE Sanctuary Hunstanton
• SEA LIFE Scarborough
• SEA LIFE Loch Lomond
• Warwick Castle
• Madame Tussauds London
• Shrek's Adventure! London
• LEGOLAND Discovery Centre Birmingham
• LEGOLAND Discovery Centre Manchester
• The London Dungeon
• The York Dungeon
• The Edinburgh Dungeon
• Cadbury World

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