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The best Universal Credit days out in London for families
The cost of planning a day out in London with kids is rarely cheap but there’s good news for those receiving benefits as more and more attractions are offering tickets for as little as £1, with some great value Universal Credit days out in London for families.
It’s not just Universal Credit either, if you receive other UK benefits you could still be able to get the deals at everywhere from London Zoo to some of the city’s historic sites, like the Tower of London.
So I’ve listed 21 of the best Universal Credit days out with kids below, including details of how to book, what you need to do to qualify and any restrictions.
Check out my list of the best free things to do in London with kids as well as more ways to save money on days out in London with kids too
London Zoo
London Zoo offers reduced tickets for those receiving Universal Credit, Working Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit, Employment and Support Allowance, Income Support, or Jobseeker’s Allowance.
Reduced UC tickets for London Zoo can only be booked online in advance and none are available at the gate. You can book for up to six people per household and tickets are available for 11am or 1pm every day of the week.
Tickets cost £6 for adults, £3 for kids (without donation) or £7/£4 with donation.
To use your ticket, you’ll need to bring proof of eligibility in the form of a benefits letter or by logging into your Universal Credit portal. You may also be asked for a photo ID.
Tower of London
The Tower of London offers £1 tickets if you receive Universal Credit, Working Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit, Pension Credit, Employment and Support Allowance, Income Support, Jobseeker’s Allowance.
You can claim the reduced-rate for up to six people and tickets need to be pre-booked online. When collecting your tickets from the Ticket Office, at least one person needs to bring proof of eligibility and a form of ID.
Timed tickets are limited and often completely sell out on weekends and holidays, so it’s best to book at least a couple of weeks before you want to visit.
Hampton Court Palace
Like its sister site The Tower of London, Hampton Court Palace (also run by Historic Royal Palaces) offers £1 reduced-rate tickets for those receiving the above benefit schemes.
You’ll need to book tickets online in advance but you don’t need to select a specific time slot. Weekends and school holidays can sell out. Each recipient can reserve up to six tickets.
When picking up your tickets, you’ll need to bring proof of eligibility and a form of ID, such as a drivers licence, bank card, or utility bill.
Kensington Palace
You can also claim £1 tickets for Kensington Palace for up to six people if you receive Universal Credit, Working Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit, Pension Credit, Employment and Support Allowance, Income Support, or Jobseeker’s Allowance.
To get the reduced rate, you’ll need to pre-book tickets online and select a time slot. These tickets are limited and popular time slots can sell out, so it’s best to book in advance. You can collect your tickets from the Ticket Office with proof of eligibility and a form of ID.
With the reduced £1 tickets, you’ll also get 50% off your food in the Kensington Palace Cafe, while kids under 12 eat free for every paying adult.
Windsor Castle
Windsor Castle is bringing in a new ticket option if you receive Universal Credit (and some other benefits) allowing you to buy £1 tickets.
These will be available initially between January 1 and April 4, with tickets available to book now. You can also bring up to five members of your household for £1 each as part of the deal, although only one person needs to bring proof in order to get the deal.
Other eligible benefits include Working Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit, Pension Credit, Employment and Support Allowance, Income Support and Jobseeker’s Allowance. Numbers are limited so you must prebook tickets. Under-fives go free.
London Transport Museum
The London Transport Museum offers £1 unlimited annual passes for those receiving Universal Credit, Pension Credit, Working Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit, or Employment and Support Allowance.
You can buy the pass online and it remains valid for an entire year. Each passholder will need to show updated proof of eligibility every time you visit the museum. Children under 17 can visit for free, so there’s no need to buy additional passes if you’re visiting with kids.
Even with the annual pass and free tickets, you still need to book a timed entry ticket each time you visit.
Westminster Abbey
Westminster Abbey has a reduced rate ticket of £1 for those receiving Universal Credit (as opposed to £8 previously). You can also get a family ticket for one adult and one child for just £1.
To claim this rate, you’ll need to show your Universal Credit confirmation letter when purchasing a ticket at the entrance. It’s currently not possible to book reduced-rate UC tickets online.
St Paul’s Cathedral
St Paul’s Cathedral has £1 sightseeing tickets for those receiving Universal Credit, which allows an adult and up to four children to visit.
You can book online up to three months in advance, or buy on the door, but will need proof of eligibility and ID.
Kew Gardens
£1 tickets are available for Kew Gardens if you can provide proof of Universal Credit, Pension Credit, Personal Independence Payment, Disability Living Allowance, Housing Benefit, Employment and Support Allowance, Jobseeker’s Allowance, Child Tax Credits, Working Tax Credits, Income Support, or Application registration card.
Reduced tickets are available to buy online or at the gate. Each person is entitled to one Universal Credit adult ticket and up to four additional guest tickets for £1. You’ll need to show proof of eligibility to use your discounted tickets.
Cutty Sark
Royal Museums Greenwich offer £2 tickets to the Cutty Sark for visitors receiving Universal Credit, Working Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit, Pension Credit, Employment and Support Allowance, Income Support, or Jobseeker’s Allowance.
You can purchase reduced-rate tickets online for up to six people per household, then collect them from the Cutty Sark’s admission desk on the day. When collecting the tickets, at least one person needs to bring proof of eligibility (benefit letter) and any form of ID.
Some temporary exhibitions at the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich also have reduced entry tickets if you claim Universal Credit, so it’s worth checking if there’s a particular one you’re interested in visiting. Entry to the Museum itself is free
Old Royal Naval College
£2 Universal Credit tickets are available for The Old Royal Naval College and the Painted Hall, for the benefit holder and one guest. Kids 16 and under can visit for free, but you’ll need to pay full price for any further adult visitors.
Reduced-rate tickets can be purchased online or at the ticket desk and you’ll be asked for proof of eligibility when you visit.
HMS Belfast
HMS Belfast has introduced £3 tickets for anyone receiving Universal Credit, among other benefits, which must be prebooked.
You can get up to give discounted tickets per household, and need to bring proof of eligibility and proof of ID. Children under five go free.
Horniman Museum and Gardens
Although the Horniman Museum and Gardens are free to enter, there’s an extra charge to visit the Aquarium, the Butterfly House (and exhibitions). However, you can get £2 UC tickets online or in person at the museum for the Aquarium and Butterfly House.
You can claim up to four reduced-rate tickets for each paid exhibit if you are currently receiving Universal Credit, Employment and Support Allowance, Income Support, or Jobseeker’s Allowance. You will need to bring proof of eligibility with you to the museum.
The King’s Gallery, Buckingham Palace
Last year, £1 tickets were launched for certain upcoming exhibits at The King’s Galleries at Buckingham Palace. These are currently available to anyone receiving Universal Credit, Working Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit, Pension Credit, Employment and Support Allowance, Income Support, or Jobseeker’s Allowance.
You can claim up to six tickets per household as long as one person brings proof of eligibility and a form of ID.
Tickets can be booked in advance online or at the entrance on the day. However, they are limited so walk-ins can’t always be guaranteed. It’s best to check each upcoming exhibition to ensure it’s included.
Tate Modern & Tate Britain
If you want to visit any of their paid exhibitions, the Tate Modern and Tate Britain both offer £5 tickets to those receiving Universal Credit, Pension Credit, Income Support, Personal Independence Payments, or Job Seekers Allowance.
Reduced rate tickets are only available for the UC claimant, but there are plenty of other discounts available. Children under 12 can visit all Tate galleries for free, while teens between 12-18 get reduced £5 tickets. Those under 25 can get £5 tickets for joining the Tate Collective for free.
V&A exhibitions
Entry to the V&A museums, including the V&A South Kensington and the Young V&A, is always free but you can also get free access to exhibitions if you claim Universal Credit.
You’ll need to show a valid Universal Credit document when you arrive, and children under 12 also go free.
Prebooking is recommended for popular exhibitions, although there’s no information on how many tickets you can book, but you can also get tickets on the door which is usually fine at off-peak times or for less popular/long-running exhibitions.
The Cartoon Museum
The Cartoon Museum has £5 tickets for visitors claiming Universal Credit, which can be prebooked online or bought on the door on the day.
You’ll need to bring proof of eligibility with you. Under-18s go free regardless, and tickets allow access to all the exhibitions inside.
Dulwich Picture Gallery
There are £1 tickets available for exhibitions at the Dulwich Picture Gallery as well as free entry to the main collection if you claim Universal Credit, which can be booked online.
You’ll need to show your Universal Credit statement, either on your mobile app or a paper copy, as well as bringing some form of ID (which needn’t be photo ID).
Museum of Brands
The Museum of Brands has £1 tickets for those claiming Universal Credit, as well as other benefits including Income Support and Jobseeker’s Allowance.
The ticket includes ongoing exhibitions, and can be booked online. You need to bring proof of eligibility, such as an award letter, app screenshot or official documentation.
WWT London Wetland Centre
The London Wetland Centre is currently offering £5 adult and £3 kids tickets (age 3-17) for visitors receiving Universal Credit, Working Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit, Pension Credit, Employment and Support Allowance, Income Support, or Jobseeker’s Allowance.
To take advantage of this offer, tickets must be pre-booked online in advance. Only full priced tickets are available on the door. Each person can book for up to six people per household (no more than 3 adults in the party), but proof of eligibility is required at the entrance.
Chelsea Physic Garden
There’s reduced entry if you claim Universal Credit or Pension Credit at Chelsea Physic Garden – £5 without the optional donation, or £6.50 with it.
You’ll need to bring proof of eligibility and ID with you to claim, and you can buy on the day or prebook online. Children under 5 go free.
Pay What You Can theatre tickets
Some of London’s smaller theatres and arts centres have Pay What You Can ticket options – usually limited performances or limited numbers, so check each venue for their specific restrictions and booking information.
That includes Battersea Arts Centre, Stratford East, the Arcola Theatre, while the Little Angels Theatre in Islington has some free tickets – you’ll need to receive benefits and join their Puppets For All list to be notified when they’re available.
Shakespeare’s Globe has a £5 Rush offer on Fridays for its Groundlings tickets – you’ll be standing, so it’s better for older kids but part of the fun of enjoying a performance as the Tudors would have. Must be booked online.
The National Theatre also has a ‘Friday Rush’ option for £10 tickets on performances for the following week. Performances here tend to be better for teens than younger kids.
There are also Pay What You Can cinema screenings at the Barbican on Fridays, as well as discounted tickets at the BFI Southbank.
Main image/Westminster Abbey/HMS Belfast/Tate Modern/Globe theatre courtesy of Depositphotos, all others copyright MummyTravels
