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 it is now owned by a different company so it doesn't make sense to combine the two in one guide. Anyway, you will save 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, by 2025 they were £15 - £30 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 seven 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 Blackgang Chine's foam parties and fireworks displays in summer 2023 and 2024 and enjoyed them 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 £59. 

Standard entry prices for 2025 range from £15.95 to £31.95 depending on when you visit. Prices are generally higher during school holidays, but that's not always the case. For example, Easter holidays 2025 is a real bargain at £15.95 and is actually cheaper than visiting mid-week in June at £23.95. 

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. You may decide to just pay once and then binge on Blackgang every day until the kids have had their fill for the year. Of course, they might just want to come back a couple of weeks later and then you'll have to pay out again.

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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.

For 2024, it depended on whether you visited on peak or off peak. The off peak saving was considerable but the on peak saving was only a few pennies, so not really worth the risk that you might cancel or get terrible weather. Blackgang Chine is OK in the rain, but it's certainly preferable on sunny days.

For 2025, we haven't quite figured it out yet as the park has only just re-opened. 

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

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.

This opens up 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.

For example, during the August summer holidays it is £29.95 on every day but £31.95 on Wednesdays due to the fireworks and summer party. 

If you were to visit on Monday or Tuesday then you'd pay £29.95 and then you could come back on Wednesday for free. 

Similarly, Sunday 20th July 2025 is £23.95, whilst prices jump up from Monday 21st July 2025 to £29.95. 

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...

You'll have a whale of a time, but you can expect evening events to bump up the price at Blackgang Chine