National Rail deals

If you register with Days Out Guide and buy a National Rail ticket, you can get 2for1 entry to 250+ UK attractions, including Thorpe Park, Kew Gardens, Chessington World of Adventures, Alton Towers and Legoland Windsor (see the full attractions list). You must pre-book the attraction tickets online – though confusingly, the 2for1 is only valid on full-price tickets, so you can't get 2for1 on the usually-cheaper 'advance' price.

How to get 2for1

• Choose which attraction you want to visit at the Days Out Guide website and you'll be given a 2for1 code.
• Go via Days Out Guide to the attraction's own website and use the code to book two full-price tickets online.
• On arrival at the attraction, you'll need to present your tickets alongside a valid train ticket (one for the station nearest the attraction) dated for the same day. Only one discount voucher may be used per two people. You must print your ticket – those shown on a phone will not be accepted. 

If you don't present a valid train ticket at the attraction on the day, you'll be required to purchase your second ticket on the gate.

Check if booking online without this deal is cheaper

The 2for1 is based on the 'on the day' gate price (despite needing to book online), and these can be over-inflated at some attractions compared to the online advance price, which can be much cheaper at some venues – so always compare prices first.

We've picked out a few of the top attractions and compared the total cost of getting 2for1 tickets via this deal and the total price of simply booking in advance.

While for some the 2for1 saves a decent amount, for other attractions it's the same or very close to the advance price – and of course you need to factor in the cost of train tickets, to decide whether this deal is worth it or not.

What if I live near the attraction/am travelling by other means?

If you're not travelling by train but this deal would still work out cheaper for you, you can buy a cheap single ticket (usually for a couple of quid) to the nearest station to your attraction – just get a train ticket from the next station along.

Other need-to-knows

• You can visit multiple attractions on the same day that your rail ticket is valid, so if you're travelling to 'London Terminals', you can go to several attractions in London on the same day.
• Electronic ticket barriers can sometimes retain your ticket (especially if it's a single), so to make sure you don't lose your proof of travel, ask a member of the station staff at a manned gate to help you through.
• Excludes Oyster cards, Freedom Passes, DLR, bus, Eurostar, Heathrow Express and tickets and travelcards bought from London Underground.
• This deal can't be used with other offers or promotions. However, Railcard-discounted National Rail tickets are valid for the offer.

Visit the full Days Out Guide terms and conditions for more.

Get a 16-25, Family & Friends, Senior or Two Together Railcard via Tesco Clubcard* for £15 in Clubcard vouchers instead of the usual £30. You'll be sent a code that can be used on the Railcard* site.

What discounts do the railcards get you?

16-25: A third off fares if you're aged 16 and over and under 26.
Family & Friends': A third off adult and 60% off child fares, a minimum of one adult and one child, and a maximum of up to four adults and four children (age 5-15) can travel using one card.
Senior: Those aged 60 and over get a third off rail fares.
Two Together: A third off rail fares for two named adults when they travel together.

If you have a disability that makes travelling by train difficult, you may qualify for a Disabled Person's Railcard (see 'Are you eligible?' below).

It costs £20 for one year, or £54 for three years (equivalent to £18 per year), and gets you one-third off most train travel. That means if you spend over £60 on eligible rail fares in a year (or £55 if you have a three year card), then it's worth getting one as the savings beat the cost of the card.

Unlike most other railcards, there are no time restrictions for when the Disabled Person's Railcard can be used, although it won't work on season tickets. What's more, if you travel with another adult, they'll also get one-third off. The accompanying adult does not have to have a disability, but does need to travel the whole duration of the journey with the card holder to qualify.  

Are you eligible?

You should qualify for a Disabled Person's Railcard if...

• You are registered as deaf or use a hearing aid.
• You are registered as having a visual impairment.
• You receive personal independence payments (PIP) or adult disability payments (ADP).
• You receive disability living allowance (DLA) at either the higher or lower rate for the mobility component, or the higher or middle rate for the care component.
• You have epilepsy and have repeated attacks, even though you receive drug treatment, or are currently prohibited from driving because of epilepsy.
• You receive attendance allowance, severe disablement allowance, or pension age disability payment.
• You receive war pensioner's mobility supplement.
• You receive war or service disablement pension for 80% or more disability.
• You buy or lease a vehicle through the motability scheme.

You'll need to provide evidence of your eligibility when applying – see the Disabled Person's Railcard site for a list of accepted proof.

The railcard can't be bought at station ticket offices, but you can pick up an application form which you'll need to complete and post – or you can apply for either a physical or digital card online.

Can children get this railcard?

If your child (aged 5-15) has one of the eligible disabilities, you can apply for a Disabled Person's Railcard on their behalf. They won't get discounted child fares, but the card will allow one adult travelling with them to get one-third off.