The best discounts for the over-60s

Whether you are eating out, shopping or enjoying a day out there are plenty of discounts to tempt older customers. Make sure you aren’t missing out with our round up of the best deals.

• Cut the cost of retirement hobbies

Days out

• English Heritage: Over 65s qualify for cheaper membership at English Heritage which offers unlimited access to over 400 historic sites across the UK. Single over 65s pay £49 a year, compared to £56 for its standard adult rate. A joint adult membership is £99 compared to £74 for two over 60s. You can bring along the grandchildren for free too.
• National Trust: A discounted senior membership deal is offered to the over 60s who have been a member of the National Trust for five years out of the last 10. It’s £51.48 a year for an individual over 60s membership, compared to £69 for a standard adult. A joint over 60s membership is £82.50, compared to £114 for a standard joint membership. Call the Supporter Services Centre on 0344 800 1895 for more information.
• Museums and attractions: Many museums and attractions will offer discounts so it’s always worth asking. For example, entry to Longleat Safari Park, House and Gardens is £26.73 for over-60s if you book online, compared to £29.70 for standard adults. Meanwhile, adults visiting the Beamish Open Air Museum pay £19 while over-60s pay £14, and you can return for free for a whole year.

Eating out

• Hungry Horse pubs offers a ‘Golden Years’ menu for over 60s. It entitles you to two-courses for £4.69 but you can add a third course for £1.50. Portions are smaller than the standard menu, however.
• Certain Greene King pubs also offer senior menus at reduced prices and with smaller portions.
• You don’t have to be retired to take advantage of the many short-term 2-4-1 restaurant vouchers available online, or to sign up for a Tastecard which offers 50% off food or 2-4-1 meals at more than 6,200 UK restaurants (currently £1 membership for 60 days). Tastecard also offers up to 40% off at the cinema and discounts for other excursions too. With the best deals often limited to daytime or midweek, those that are retired may be better placed to take advantage.

Top 10 cheap eats of the week

Entertainment

Cinemas usually offer concessionary rates for older viewers while some do specific discounted screenings.

• Odeon: Odeon’s Silver Cinema screenings start at just £3 for over-55s. Tea, coffee and biscuits are thrown in before the film.
• Picture House: This smaller chain, which has cinemas across London and in major cities, offers membership packages. For £45 a year, retired members get four tickets for screenings in Picture House’s regional cinemas plus £2 off further tickets at any cinema. Added perks are priority booking and 10% off food and drink. The Retired Member Plus package costs £85, offering the same perks but with eight free tickets. Prices rise to £50 and £95 respectively for the London-based cinemas.
• Vue: Vue offers Senior Screenings at selected cinemas for a discounted price. You need to be over 60 and although there is no free popcorn, you do get a cuppa and a biscuit.

Theatres very often offer discounted rates for senior citizens so it’s always worth asking before you book tickets.

Shopping

• B&Q: The Diamond Club offers over 60s a 10% discount when shopping in store on Wednesdays. New members also get £5 off a £30 shop. By registering the card and using it every time you shop you can also earn discount vouchers.
• Boots: Shoppers aged over 60 with a Boots Advantage card can join More Treats for Over 60s. You’ll get 10 points for every £1 you spend (compared to four points per £1 for regular cardholders) plus £25 off glasses at Boots Opticians.
• Specsavers: In addition to a free eye test, customers aged 60 also qualify for 25% off glasses and lenses.
• Wyevale Garden Centres: The Garden Club loyalty scheme is available to all customers but over 60s get double points on Tuesdays.

How to find the best cheap cruise deals

Sport and exercise

• Football: Watching Premiership football is notoriously expensive but the discounts for retired fans are impressive. Season tickets at Manchester United start at £532, but for over-65s prices start at £266.
• Gym, swimming, racquet sports and exercise classes: Check out your local leisure centre for off-peak or pensioner discounts. It may well work out much cheaper than a standard gym membership.

Travel

Every pensioner gets free bus travel when they reach female state pension age and London residents over 60 get free travel across the capital with the Freedom Pass. However, if you want to see more of the UK there are plenty of discounted travel options on offer.

• Once you are 60 you become eligible for a Senior Railcard. For £30 a year you get a third off all rail travel.
• If you live in or visit Wales and are aged over 55 you can travel throughout the country by train at discounted rates with an Arriva Club 55 ticket. This offer means that all return tickets in Wales are £27, potentially saving you a lot of money. Senior Railcard holders get a further discount of £1.
• Scot Rail’s Club 50 is available to everyone aged over 50 and offers 20% off tickets for journeys in Scotland if they are booked online. The discount reduces to 10% for tickets purchased over the phone or in stations. Annual membership costs £15 a year and you must carry the Club 50 card when you travel.
• National Express offers a third off its standard coach fares for over 60s. The Senior Coachcard costs £12.50 a year plus £2.50 postage and packaging. Other local coach companies may also offer discounts.