When it comes to money, we all know that times have been tough over the last year or so with the cost of living crisis squeezing us from what feels like every direction. Even at William’s Den we’ve not been immune to huge energy price increases and price hikes all along the supply chain.

But we still know how important it is that kids get to spend time outside, doing fun stuff with their families, making friends and memories and learning new skills. So we’ve put together a list of eight money-saving hacks which can make a trip to William’s Den a little easier on the pocket so that you can say yes to more days out despite the economy.

1. Book in advance

Booking in advance not only guarantees your places for our busiest play days and events - which can often sell out - but did you also know that tickets at William’s Den are up to £3 per ticket cheaper when bought online in advance?

2. Give yourself the gift of play

If you know that you’ve got some big expenses coming up around the corner, why not give yourself - and your youngsters - the gift of play through a William’s Den gift card. You can buy gift cards online or at the Den and load them up from £10 to £100. E-vouchers can only be used against tickets and need to be used within one year of being bought, whereas physical gift cards can be used for tickets or used in our shop or Pizzeria coffee shop. Gifting yourself a gift card might seem counter-intuitive, but future you will thank you! 

3. Buy a seasonal pass

If William’s Den is one of your favourite places to hang out, then a seasonal pass can make it easy for you to say yes to visiting more often. The 2023 Summer Pass gave passholders the choice of visiting up to 52 times from July 7 to September 4 for just £29.99 per person, so you only need to visit a couple of times to have earned your investment back. These passes can only be bought online and are non-transferable (your pass has your picture on it so we know it’s yours!), and are a great solution for an upcoming holiday stretch.

4. Bring a picnic

The food at William’s Den is award-winning for a reason - it’s made on site from scratch, uses locally-sourced ingredients, and tastes brilliant. But if you’re bringing a small army of hungry children (and grownups!) with you, it’s a cost that can quickly add up. At William’s Den you’re very welcome to bring your own packed lunches, just please eat them outdoors or in the Teepee so there’s plenty of room for those preferring to dine in our restaurant. Why not top-up your packed lunch with something sweet from the cafe or one of our homemade ice creams as a treat?

5. Sign up for our mailing list

No-one wants an inbox chock full of rubbish. Not even us. So we only send out good stuff via email. Our emails include upcoming dates for events and ticket launches (so you can plan around what’s coming up); news and ideas about new features, tickets or products (like seasonal passes); exclusive early access to event tickets - often at a time-limited discounted rate; and (drum roll) occasional discount codes. If you don’t like getting cool offers and early access and all of the above, then you’re free to unsubscribe at any time.

6. Follow us on social media

You can find us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter/X, TikTok, LinkedIn, even Threads, where we post pretty pictures, exciting event news, day-to-day info like weather forecasts, discounts or special offers… and also competitions to win tickets or other treats at William’s Den. 

7. Check your doormat leaflets

Every so often we’ll send special leaflets out to different areas to try and spread the word about how much fun you can have at William’s Den. If you’re someone who goes straight from the post pile to the recycling bin - always check first! We recently sent out a leaflet with a special money off code hidden inside.

8. Use your golden (or white) tickets

 If your little one went to a party or on a school trip to William’s Den and hasn’t stopped raving about it since, then check their book bag or party bag. Every child who comes to see us as part of a school trip or birthday party gets a free return visit voucher. This might be white or gold - depending on when they came - so make sure you check the expiry date and come and check out the Den for yourself. You don’t need to book these tickets (although it’s worth booking a ticket for everyone else who’s coming with the free ticket holder) - just turn up with the ticket and hand it in and voila: one child free.