How can my child get a Blue Peter Badge? 200 free UK days out!

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Want to enjoy over 200 UK free days out to UK attractions? Then it’s time for your child to send off for their Blue Peter Badge. I only discovered this a few years ago – and wish I’d known sooner – but the Blue Peter Badge scheme is absolutely brilliant. There are eight different badges that your child can apply for, and once they’ve been awarded their very own badge they’ll gain free entry to loads of UK attractions! (So, it’s well worth an afternoon of crafting or story writing!) When the kids are free, it halves the cost of so many pricey days out around the UK.

It’s a great way to entertain the kids on a budget at the weekends, and really useful for cheap days out when you’re on holiday. Whenever we travel in the UK, we always take the badges with us and see what’s on offer close by to where we’re staying. So, keep reading to find out all about what Blue Peter Badges are, how they work, where you can visit for free, which badges are available and how to apply. They’re a great way to make the summer holidays more affordable – just be sure to apply in time!

What is a Blue Peter Badge?

A Blue Peter Badge is a special award given to people who appear on the show, or earn one by posting in an application. Applicants must be 6 to 15 years old. There are eight different badges up for grabs, some are easier to get your hands on than others, and they’re totally free.

Why apply – what does a Blue Peter Badge get you?

Blue Peter Badge holders can get free entry to over 200 Blue Peter Badge attractions around the country such as theme parks, zoos and castles. Just check their website before you book a day out, to see if the kids can enter for free. Adults will still need to purchase an entrance ticket as usual, but with the kids going free it makes your day out so much more affordable!

Attractions: Where can you go for free with a Blue Peter Badge?

Here are just a few examples of the places that you can visit for free with a Blue Peter Badge…

Use this link to check out all of the UK attractions that can be visited for free with a Blue Peter Badge: https://www.bbc.co.uk/cbbc/attractions. We’ve used our Blue Peter Badges to get the kids in free at places like The Heights of Abraham, Dover Castle and Howletts Zoo (though unfortunately Howletts have left the scheme now 😪) – and they’re valid at attractions like the Eden Project, The Tower of London, Portsmouth Historic Dockyard and ZSL London Zoo too.

How does it work – how can my child get a Blue Peter Badge?

Your child can get their Blue Peter Badge by completing a relevant activity – have a look at the different badge colours below and what they mean for more info and ideas. It can be something as simple as drawing a picture, writing a story or a letter, or creating something crafty. Please be aware that Blue Peter get thousands of applications and they read them all, so it takes a while to receive the badge. Don’t expect to hear from them for a few weeks/months. To have your child’s badge ready for the summer holidays, be sure to complete the application by April/May time.

Children must apply for badges themselves but those with additional needs can have support from a grown-up when they make their application. When your child receives their Blue Peter badge, check the letter that comes with it. The letter will either confirm that your Blue Peter badge card will be arriving in the near future or, if they need extra info, they’ll ask you to register your details with the badge ID card form. Your child will need to take their badge ID card and their badge to gain free entry to the attractions when you enjoy your days out – so remember to keep them somewhere safe! (Accompanying adults will need to pay for their entry as usual.)

How long are Blue Peter badges valid for – do they expire?

Your child’s Blue Peter Badge will be valid until their 16th birthday – so you can benefit from a decade of cheap days out and lots of fun exploring the wide range of attractions available in the UK under the scheme.

Which Blue Peter Badge should I get?

Here’s a list of all the Blue Peter badges your little one’s can apply for. Please note that the application process for each badge is different, so click on the various links below to get instructions on how to apply for that particular badge – they’ll take you through to the relevant page on the Blue Peter website.

Blue badges: Blue badges are awarded for sending in interesting letters, stories, makes, pictures, poems, good ideas for the programme, and for having appeared on Blue Peter. Find out how to post your application and what to include here. My children sent in stories for their blue badges – and they received lovely letters back with their badges, referencing the plots of their stories which was a really thoughtful touch.
Green badges: You child can get a Green Badge for becoming a Blue Peter Climate Hero. They have to complete three pledges to help the environment, for at least two weeks. Photos and artwork can then be uploaded to show how much they care about nature, the environment and our planet. Find out how to apply for your Green Badge here!
Silver badges: Silver badges are awarded to Blue badge holders who go the extra mile to achieve even more! For example, if your child won a Blue badge for an interesting letter or email, they could win a Silver badge by sending in something different such as artwork or a poem. Find out how to post your application and what to include here.
Purple Fan Club badges: Is your child a Blue Peter super fan? Purple badges are awarded for joining the Blue Peter fan club and answering some questions about the show and the website. You can apply online, or print off the Purple badge form, fill it in and send it to them by post. Find out more about applying for a Purple Fan Club badge.
Music badges: Ed Sheeran designed a special Blue Peter music badge – this one’s awarded to those who show off their passion for music by learning a new instrument or being part of a musical performance. Here’s how to apply for a Music badge.
Sport badges: The Sport badge is awarded to your child for getting active and trying a sport that they have never tried before. Find out more about how to apply for the Sport badge here – the latest badge was designed by footballer Leah Williamson.
Orange badges: Orange badges are given to winners and runners up of Blue Peter competitions. To have a chance of winning one of these badges you have to enter a Blue Peter competition but there’s no guarantee of a badge, and these only run during certain times of the year. For more information visit the competition page.
Gold badges: Only a few Gold Badges are awarded – these are for outstanding achievements, for example being solely responsible for saving someone’s life, or showing amazing and unique bravery, courage and citizenship. Apply for a Gold badge. (Your child must already have at least one of the other badges).

How else can I save on days out with the kids in the UK?

Never pay full price for your days out with the kids without having a good hunt around for the best offers! Lots of reward schemes and discount providers offer brilliant savings to make your family adventures more budget-friendly, so here are some ways to save money on the pricier activities and UK attractions when you’re out and about with the kids:

lovetovisit.co.uk: The ‘Love to Visit’ website offers discounted tickets for family-friendly days out with the kids all over the UK – so it’s worth checking their current prices for your favourite attractions before you book.
Tesco Clubcard points: Lots of popular attractions are part of the Tesco reward scheme so save your points and you could visit for free!
National Rail 2-for-1 offers: If you’re travelling by train you can get 1/3 off or 2 for 1 tickets on loads of attractions when booked through the National Rail 2 for 1 scheme.
Kids Pass: You can sign up to a Kid’s Pass trial for just £1 to access discounts on days out and eating out all over the UK.

Supermarket promotions: Cereal brands like Kelloggs run promotions for discounted tickets (things like 2 for 1 tickets) for days out with the kids by purchasing specially-marked boxes so look out for these in the supermarket.
English Heritage: English Heritage memberships can be a great investment; once you’ve signed up you can use them time and time again for free days out. Payments can be made monthly so that they don’t seem too overwhelming – family memberships are usually about a tenner each month.
Multi-attraction tickets: Look for combination tickets to get the best deals. For instance, Merlin have five main London attractions with each typically priced at around £30pp, but with a multi-attraction ticket the price can be as little as £12 per attraction! (This includes SEA LIFE London Aquarium, The London Eye, Shrek’s Adventure, Bus Tours, Madame Tussauds and the London Dungeon.) You get 90 days to enjoy your chosen attractions so it’s worth buying in bulk.

Merlin Annual Pass: With a Merlin Annual Pass you can access absolutely loads of attractions including: Alton Towers, Chessington, LEGOLAND Windsor and Thorpe Park; indoor fun like SEA LIFE centres, Shrek’s Adventure!, The London Eye and Madame Tussauds; and historical and immersive experiences like Warwick Castle, The Dungeons and even Cadbury World. Kids under 90cm go free and you can check out all of the pass options and what’s included here: Are Merlin Annual Passes worth it and which pass is best?

A final word

I hope that you’ve found this article useful. The Blue Peter Badges are a fantastic way to make fun days out with the kids more affordable – and with over 200 UK attractions to choose from you really are spoilt for choice. Let me know in the comments where you’ve used yours, and you can follow our adventures on Instagram!