7 ways to get the best value at Blackgang Chine

This blog has now been updated 94 times, as offers keep changing. It also used to incorporate Robin Hill but rather tragically it is up for sale and isn't open. Anyway, hopefully it still makes sense and will save you some money.

This chap welcomes you to Blackgang Chine

We are big fans of Blackgang Chine with its oddball collection of moving dinosaurs, talking bins and waterslides. Many of our best days out have been held there, particularly now child one and child two are tall enough to go on most things. For many of us, it offers both nostalgia and new curiosities each time we visit.

Prices went up quite a bit from £35 for a family in 2008 to £126 in 2022. However, they have now dropped to £15-£25 per person, which is excellent news. 

To be fair, a lot has been invested in the last 15 years. For example, back in 2008 Blackgang Chine didn't have big evening parties included as part of the price. Also, they didn't used to have peak and off-peak prices, so it's not a very fair comparison. I’m sure there are also multiple other expenses that have increased and Blackgang Chine always looks clean and freshly painted, unlike the flaky-paint you find at some cheaper parks.

Discount codes and money off vouchers for Blackgang are rarer than the residents of Dodo Valley but there are several ways to get better value out of a trip to Blackgang Chine:

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1. Visit at the start of your holiday

Blackgang Chine offers a 7 day free return. You can probably see all of the park in a day, but you may want to revisit things if a rain cloud arrives twenty seconds after you’ve coughed up £100 (the weather is weird at Blackgang Chine). Most things operate in the rain but the snakes and ladders slide at Blackgang Chine shuts - and of course it’s utterly miserable walking round a theme park whilst raindrops drip off your nose and the map turns into a soggy mess.

You’ll feel better about it if you come back at the end of your week for another go, even if you do end up spending twenty quid on unicorns and plastic cap guns in the gift shop.

Don't leave your visit to Blackgang Chine until your final day on holiday

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**Read our other money saving guides to ferries, attractions and accommodation**

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2. Arrive early and then Come back in the evening

During the summer months Blackgang Chine puts on excellent evening shows, which are included in the ticket price. Some people visit the park during the day and then return for an evening show later in the week.

We went along to one of Blackgang Chine's foam parties and fireworks displays in summer 2023 and enjoyed it greatly. If you consider it two different family days out for the price then it starts to feel like much better value.

It's also worth arriving at 10am when the park opens and then heading for the most popular rides to avoid wasting time in queues. Double check that the opening time hasn't changed before you go.

There's a golden hour between 10am and 11am when Blackgang Chine is much quieter because most parents are still arguing with their children about getting out the house/caravan/tent.

I would head right as you come in the Blackgang Chine entrance and head for the waterslide and other rides. Most of the stuff on the left hand side of the park is imaginative play stuff that you walk through so you don't need to queue for it.

The gradient is steep but Blackgang Chine isn't as expensive as it was in 2022

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3. Visit with a 99cm tall child

Blackgang Chine has changed its pricing structure so you pay based on height rather than age. 

Children under one metre get in free whereas it used to be free for under fours. This is probably a fairer system, as it reflects what you will able to do at the park. Generally, a child reaches one metre around their fourth birthday so it won't make much difference to most people.

You may wish to turn up wearing well worn shoes...

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4. Buy an annual pass

This one’s no use to most holidaymakers, but an annual pass may be better value for some. As I write this, Blackgang Chine is offering annual passes for £49. 

Standard entry prices for 2024 look like this:

• Easter holidays - £18
• May half term and July/August school holidays - £24.50
• October half term - £22
• Term time - £15

For most people, you will need to visit three times in a year to make an annual pass worthwhile. Also remember that you get free returns within seven days.

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5. Buy in advance if visiting off peak (probably)

Our advice on this one keeps changing. For a couple of years, booking online was a whopping saving of £20 for a family of four.

However, for 2024 it depends on whether you are visiting on peak or off peak.

When I checked, there was a £3 saving for booking online during term time but just a 45p saving for booking online during peak times.

You also have to pay a £1.95 booking fee for each order (i.e. not for each ticket).

Personally, I would avoid booking early at peak times. The booking fee will wipe out your saving and you may decide to change your plans depending on the weather. Blackgang Chine is OK in the rain, but it's certainly preferable on sunny days.

However, I would probably book in advance for off peak dates as a family of four would save about £10 (£12, minus the booking fee of £1.95). 

Thanks to Helen who spotted this change and to Mr Savvy who noticed the booking fee.

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6. Visit off peak (and then return on peak)

Not much use to most holidaymakers, but Blackgang Chine is considerably cheaper outside of school holidays when there aren’t the evening events. Many years ago, it was the same price all the time. During 204, an off-peak ticket to Blackgang is £15, compared to £24.50 on-peak.

If you have different school holiday dates to most people then you may be able to pay the off peak prices.

There is also a little loophole that I haven't tested myself, but which I think will work. Thanks to Dan for pointing this out (please blame him if it doesn't work).

If you visit for the first time on an off-peak date, then I think that you can use your free return on a peak date as long as it is within seven days.

My hesitation with this is that I have a vague memory of some special events being excluded from the seven day free return offer. 

Please leave a comment below if you have tried this!

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7. Get your in-laws to pay

Ruthless pennypinchers on a family holiday with the wider family should attempt this strategy:

• On the day before your visit, make a generous gesture such as buying your mother-in-law an ice cream (“I’ll get the ice creams today folks!”). Bargain hunters may like to get a multipack from Sainsburys.
• On the approach to Blackgang Chine confidently offer to pay again (“We’ll get this today!”). You might like to refer to the in-laws as ‘mum and dad’ to really butter them up.
• At this point, they will most likely respond: “No no, we’ll get this, you got the ice creams”. This works particularly well if they haven’t yet seen the admission price.
• Loudly accept their generous offer and encourage the children to give them three cheers. This move locks them into a watertight agreement to pay for everyone.
• Busy yourself in the gift shop whilst the transaction takes place.
• Gently slap your father-in-law on the back and say ‘cheers Dad’ as he coyly puts his credit card back into his bum bag and wonders if he has gone into his overdraft.

Got any other suggestions for discounts at Blackgang Chine? Please feel free to comment below...