Guest blog: Enjoy discounts and special offers on days out this summer
Looking for affordable days out this summer? As part of our Days Out by Rail campaign, we’re pleased to share this guest blog from Good Journey, showcasing attractions across Britain where you can enjoy discounts and special offers when travelling by public transport.
By Good Journey
Good Journey attractions offer discounts and freebies when you visit by train, bus, cycle and on foot. Here’s a selection of family-friendly days out that will keep kids entertained from the moment you leave home and save you money, too. Win-win!
Money off at Stonehenge
Experience the magic and mystery of the world-famous stone circle this summer. Throughout the summer holidays there are traditional family games and activities to enjoy, too. These include fairground games, circus skills, puppets and sandcastles!
Catch a train to Salisbury station then hop on a bus to Stonehenge. You can get 20% off entry for pre-booked online tickets when travelling by train until 31st October 2026. See the full terms and conditions and plan your car-free trip to Stonehenge on the Good Journey website.
Stonehenge
Get a third off at Legoland Windsor
Enjoy family-friendly rides, Lego models and building your own creations among the landscaped gardens of Legoland Windsor. Get one third off when you travel by train to the largest Legoland park in the world.
Save cash at various castles
Enjoy a historic day out for less, with discounts at a range of spectacular castles:
- Save a third when you travel by train to Warwick Castle
- Get 20% off at Leeds Castle in Kent when you visit by train, bus or bike
- Bag a 20% discount at Dover Castle when you visit by train, bus or bike
- Enjoy £5 entry to Hedingham Castle with a valid bus ticket from Braintree
- Get 20% off at Pendennis Castle in Cornwall when you visit by train, bus or bike
- Save 25% at Craigmillar Castle near Edinburgh when you arrive by train, bus or bike
- Get 25% off at Doune Castle when you arrive by train, bus or bike
- Save 20% at Warkworth Castle with a valid bus or train ticket
- Enjoy 20% off at Dunstanburgh Castle in Northumberland when you visit by train, bus or bike
- Grab 10% off (or a free guide book for National Trust Members) at Lindisfarne Castle.
See the full range of castles you can visit car-free on the Good Journey website.
Leeds Castle
Enjoy 30% off at RHS gardens
There are five spectacular RHS gardens across the UK that welcome car-free visitors. Each garden is easy to reach and offers 30% off entry when you travel by train, bus, bike or foot.
Stroll through the gardens to enjoy the glorious sights and sounds of nature in summer. Children will enjoy being Brick Explorers, following trails to find giant sculptures of plants, animals and fungi.
RHS Garden Rosemoor
2-4-1 at Soldiers of Oxfordshire Museum
Discover the stories of soldiers serving on the front lines and folk on the Home Front at the Soldiers of Oxfordshire Museum. Explore the world of real spies and espionage through the lens of James Bond. See a range of displays, which this summer include Lee Miller’s wartime photos for Vogue. Enjoy two-for-one on standard entry when you show a train ticket and this voucher.
The nearby Oxfordshire Museum is free to visit, but you can enjoy a 10% discount in the shop and on hot drinks in the museum café when you visit car-free. This summer you can discover timeless tales from Oxfordshire’s folkloric myths and traditions at the museum.
20% off at Talyllyn Railway, Snowdonia
Train fans will love steaming through Snowdonia National Park past streams and waterfalls on the Talyllyn Railway. Enjoy 20% off when you show a bus or train ticket valid for that day.
How to save money on travel this summer
To save money on rail fares, take a look at the railcards you can apply for. The Family and Friends Railcard covers up to four adults travelling together with up to four kids. So, if you’re teaming up with friends or family for a day out, this could be worth a look.
You may also find it cheaper to buy a split ticket for your journey, rather than a single rail ticket.
If you’re taking the bus, the good news is that children aged 5 to 15 get free bus travel in England this summer. Just head to the bus stop, catch your bus and ask for a free ticket.
In Wales, children aged 5 to 15 pay up to £1 for a single bus fare and £3 for a day ticket on participating services.
In Scotland, everyone under the age of 22 is eligible for free bus travel.
If you’re planning to use several buses as well as the train on a day out, check out PlusBus. It’s quick and easy to add bus tickets when you buy your train tickets. You can use PlusBus in over 280 towns and cities.
About Good Journey
Good Journey provides car-free travel directions to hundreds of top visitor attractions and places to stay across Britain. Enjoy discounts, rewards and freebies when you travel by train and bus to museums, gardens, National Trust properties, water parks and so much more. Check out www.goodjourney.org.uk to get inspiration for your next car-free adventure and to enjoy a day out for less.
