West Midlands Railway reveals family hack in time for May Half Term

With budgets tighter than ever, and research revealing parents spend an average of £323 each half term1, affordable activities are top of the priority list this May half term. 

And, Google search demand amongst the nation paints the same picture. Search queries for ‘cheap family activities near me’ have skyrocketed by 5,000% in the last 30 days, demonstrating that the UK is gearing up to plan fun-filled days out without overspending. 

In an attempt to help families save this spring, West Midlands Railway (WMR) has revealed its top money-saving hacks for making the most out of the school holidays. From theme parks to cinema tickets, here’s how you can secure hundreds of pounds of savings this half term: 

1. Travel by train and save big 

West Midlands Railway offers 2-for-1 deals, and up to a third off for attractions across the West Midlands and beyond. Passengers simply choose an attraction, download and print the vouchers or buy tickets online, travel by train, and present the vouchers and tickets. 

2. Use voucher code websites 

Websites such as VoucherCodes.co.uk, Groupon, and Wowcher, are great for finding a deal that works for you. And if you’re looking for a discount on somewhere specific, Google the place followed by ‘discount codes’ and take your pick. For even easier access to deals, install voucher code browser extensions. These automatically flag any available discounts when you visit an attraction’s website, so you can ditch the manual searching. 

3. Take advantage of loyalty schemes 

These days loyalty schemes are everywhere, from supermarkets like Tesco, where you collect points with a Clubcard to spend at attractions like Thorpe Park and Tenpin bowling, to Sky VIP where you can get free cinema tickets every month to Vue cinemas. Check out Wise for more reward schemes. 

4. Check cereal boxes and newspapers 

Believe it or not, cereal brands such as Kellogg's still offer some great discounts to attractions in a partnership with Merlin, you could have a day out at LEGOLAND, SEALIFE Centre, Alton Towers, and more. Newspapers like The Sun also have ‘Sun Superdays’ that give readers the chance to enjoy tickets to the UK’s top attractions. 

5. Deals and freebies 

On ITV’s This Morning, Coupon King Jordan Cox shares his tips on how viewers can score deals and freebies. If you miss the show or need a reminder, you can see all the updated deals on their website. From cheap cinema and theme park tickets to unlimited kids buffets at Pizza Hut – they’ve got you covered. 

6. Discover where kids can eat free 

Throughout the UK, many restaurants (over half terms in particular), will have deals on so that kids can eat for free or for as little as £1! So, it’s worth doing a quick Google search for an updated list when you’re ready to dine out with the family. 

Jonny Wiseman, customer experience director at West Midlands Railway, said: "With the May half term just around the corner, we know families are looking for ways to make the most of their time together, without breaking the bank. Travelling by train not only offers a more sustainable way to explore fun UK destinations but also unlocks exclusive discounts at some of the nation’s most-loved attractions. By taking advantage of these simple hacks, savvy families can create lasting memories for less.” 

Visit the West Midlands Railway Discounted Offers website to explore the different discounts on offer.