Keep the Kids Entertained All Summer With Entry to 250 Attractions for a One-Off £25
- The Penny Pincher Team
- Jul 28
- 4 min read
The School Holidays Are Here, Now What To Do With Kids That Won't Cost the Earth!?
Six weeks is a long time to keep the kids busy. And if you’re already watching the cost of days out, you’ll know how quickly things add up.
The National Art Pass is one of the best-value options available, and right now, you can get a 3-month trial for a one-off payment of £20, but that's that's the basic package, and you'll likely want to spend £5, or£10 more to make sure your whole family has access.
What does it cost, and what does it include?
Entry to 250+ UK museums, galleries, and heritage sites
Free access for 1 adult is included for £20
Add a second adult for just £5, (called the Plus One upgrade), making the deal £25, so the deal then covers 2 adults.
All kids, under the age of 16, are included with the Plus Kids upgrade, which is £5, taking the deal for 2 adults and kids to £30, which is still great value.
50% off exhibitions at big-name venues
Discounts in cafés and gift shops
No extra fees. No monthly charges. Just one payment for the whole summer.
What Does the National Art Pass Include?
Free entry to 250+ UK museums and galleries
50% off exhibitions at venues like the Tate, V&A, and National Gallery
Discounts in cafés and gift shops
3-month trial for new users only
Plus Kids upgrade: add your children for just £5
How Many Places Can You Visit With a National Art Pass?
There are over 250 participating venues.
Popular options include, but are not limited to:
Portsmouth Historic Dockyard
Historic Dockyard Chatham
Shakespeare’s Birthplace
Cutty Sark
Churchill War Rooms
Design Museum
Brontë Parsonage Museum
In London alone, there are more than 40 venues. There are also dozens of smaller and lesser-known places that are perfect for summer exploring.
👉 Full list by region on artfund.org
Can I Use My National Art Pass at the National Gallery?
Yes, but only for ticketed exhibitions.
The main gallery is free to everyone, but exhibitions often cost £10–£25. With the National Art Pass, you’ll pay half price.
This also applies to exhibitions at the Tate, V&A, Science Museum and other London and regional museums.
Is the National Art Pass Worth It?
That depends on how often you’ll use it, but for most families, it’s great value.
If you visit just two attractions where tickets would normally cost £10 to £15 per person, you’ve already made your money back.
💬 Some users on Reddit say they’ve saved £50+ in a single summer.
People also love that it encourages you to explore places you might not usually think to visit.
What About Students?
If you’re a full-time student aged 18 or older, you can get the Student Art Pass instead.
It costs just £10 for the whole year and includes:
Entry to the same 250+ venues
50% off exhibitions
Access to exclusive creative job opportunities via Art Fund
Quick Comparison Table
Pass Type | Cost | Duration | What You Get | Best For |
3-Month Trial | £20 | 3 months | Entry to 250+ attractions, 50% off exhibitions | 1 adult |
Add Second Adult | +£5 | 3 months | Adds a second adult to the deal, which could be a friend or family member. | 2 adults: The extra adult isn't a set person; you can take a different adult with you each time you go. |
Add Kids | +£5 | 3 months | Add the kids aged 16 or under to the offer, so you can take the kids with you! | 2 adults and kids aged under 16. |
Student Art Pass | £10 | 12 months | Same access + career perks for students | Students aged 18+ |
Annual Art Pass, after the trial ends | £73 to £115 | 12 months | All benefits plus magazine, Art Map, extra discounts | Culture lovers year-round |
Other Great Value Days Out
This isn’t the only way to save this summer. Check out these options too:
Free National Trust Family Passes
Free passes are released through newspaper promotions and the InYourArea app, but these are limited and so it's likely you'll not get one, unless you're fortunate, or you follow me on Instagram, where I'll always shout the free passes out!
Entry to a National Trust property
Covers 2 adults and up to 3 children
Usually valid for a one-time visit during the summer
RHS Low-Income Discount Scheme
If you're receiving certain benefits, you can get 50% off annual RHS membership.
Access to RHS gardens
Discounts on events
Includes partner gardens across the UK
What to Watch Out For
The trial offer only applies if you’ve never had the pass before
Some venues require pre-booking or timed tickets
After 3 months, you’ll be invited to renew at the annual price, so set a calendar reminder if you don’t want to continue.
Is This the Best Summer Pass for Families?
For sheer flexibility and low upfront cost, it’s hard to beat.
£25 covers you for 3 months, for 2 adults, or £30 will cover 2 adults and under 16's within your household, and that means you can plan multiple visits and know you won’t be spending more at the door.
If you’re already planning a few days out, this is a way to do it for less, and make more of the holidays without spending more.
What to Do Now
Visit artfund.org and choose the 3-month National Art Pass trial.
Add Plus Kids for free child access for £5 to include kids under 16 in your household.
Add a second adult for £5, which may be your partner, another family member, or friend. That extra adult doesn't have to be a set person; it can change each time you visit, which can be useful if you want to visit different attractions with different people.
Plan a few days out in advance, and if you need to book, get it booked!
Set a reminder to cancel or renew before the trial ends.
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