Visitor Attractions & Rainy Day Guarantees

It can be hard to rely upon the great British weather, particularly when planning ahead and booking outdoor attractions. Over the past few years, a number of attractions have introduced rainy day guarantees to help you hedge your bets against the weather.

Not many people realise that top visitor attractions & theme parks often offer a FREE return visit should the weather has hamper your day out.  We’ve put together a round-up of weather guarantee promises available at top visitor attractions including Thorpe Park, The View from The Shard, Warwick Castle & Chester Zoo, (check the t&c’s as terms vary).

1. Whipsnade Zoo; Weather Buster Guarantee, (FREE Return Visit)

Whipsnade Zoo runs a Weather Buster Guarantee that offers you a FREE return visit should the weather hamper your day out.  To take advantage of this offer, there must be 90 minutes of continuous rain or substantial high winds during Zoo opening hours on the day of your visit and you must have purchased booked tickets online and in advance through Whipsnade Zoo.  You can then re-visit within the following 2 months for free; simply keep your original tickets safe and present for your return visit alongside photographic ID for the lead booker. Qualifying dates for the Weather Buster Guarantee will be posted online.

More information available over at Cheap Tickets for Whipsnade Zoo & Weather Buster Guarantee.

2. Thorpe Park; Island Return Guarantee

The Island Return Guarantee, also known at the Weather & Return Guarantee, allows you to hedge your bets against the weather when planning your next visit. Thorpe Park state that if park-wide ride availability is affected for an hour or more continuously during your theme park visit, selected guests can return for FREE.

Simply keep hold of your original tickets, check online to ensure your date is among the list of eligible dates & pre-book your return visit. All return dates must be used within the same season as your original visit date unless stated otherwise.

More information available over at Thorpe Park; Island Return Guarantee.

3. Warwick Castle; Rain Day Promise

Warwick Castle runs a Rainy Day Promise for guests that purchase tickets directly from Warwick Castle, (excludes school & group bookings). Should it rain persistently for more than one hour during your visit, guests can return for free within 60 days of their original ticket date. Simply retain your original paperwork & check to see if your visit is eligible for their Rainy Day Promise.

Warwick Castle state there is no need to pre-book on the day of your return visit although you will need to produce your original tickets at the ticket kiosks.  Whilst any return visit is subject to availability and won’t include parking, Castle Dungeons or the festive ice-rink, it does offer you a like-for-like free return visit.

More cheap ticket offers available at Warwick Castle; Rainy Day Promise.

Hyperia at Thorpe Park

4. Knowsley Safari Park; Rainy Day Promise

Here’s a great way to hedge your bets against the great British weather with this Rainy Day Promise from Knowsley Safari Park. This Rainy Day Promise comes into operation if continuous heavy rain persists for more than 90 minutes between 11am & 3pm and you can claim a FREE return visit.

Tickets for the original visit must have been purchased online in advance and you’ll need to present the original ticket & valid photographic ID on the day of your return visit. Return visits must take place within 3 months of the affected day, (t&c’s apply)

TO BOOK GO TO Knowsley Safari Park; Rainy Day Promise.

5. SEA LIFE; Rainy Day Promise

Here’s a chance to hedge your bets against the great British weather when you visit SEA LIFE Weymouth. As this attraction is a mix of indoor & outdoor areas, this Rainy Day Promise offers you a FREE return visit if poor weather has impacted your experience.

Available to those that have purchased tickets in advance, here’s a chance to return for free within 60 days of your visit. This offer is available should it rain persistently for more than an hour during your visit. Simply check if visit is deemed eligible, produce your original booking reference number & visit again within 60 days.

More information available over at SEA LIFE Weymouth.

Knowsley Safari Park

6. Chessington World of Adventures; Return Promise

Chessington World of Adventures now runs a Returns Promise, (replacing the previous Rainy Day Guarantee), that offers a FREE return visit should particular circumstance disrupt their rides & attractions. This includes inclement weather, (rain, snow, wind) continuous for over an hour, extreme weather, (heatwaves, high winds), power cuts and loss of water.

Although the Return Promise comes into play should ride availability be disrupted continuously, it’s vague on details simply stating that decisions ‘will be based in internal factors & measurements.’  Ticket holders can return for FREE within 9 months, simply keep your original tickets, check if your date has been listed as eligible & pre-book your free return visit. This does not include annual passes, hotel stays & special events such as Winter’s Tail, Zootastic or February half term.

TO BOOK GO TO Chessington World of Adventures & Returns Promise.

7. London Zoo; We Care Guarantee – FREE Return Visit

London Zoo operates a WE Care Guarantee that offers you a FREE return visit should something unexpected happen that negatively impacts your experience. Whereas Whipsnade Zoo operates a Weather Buster Guarantee, London Zoo they are more mysterious around what this could be other than to say that qualifying dates will be listed online. Tickets must be purchased online via London Zoo and return visits must be made within 2 months of the initial visit.

TO BOOK GO TO London Zoo Tickets with a We Care Guarantee.

Mandrill Mayhem at Chessington World of Adventures

8. Blackpool Pleasure Beach; Rainy Day Return

This summer Blackpool Pleasure Beach is again running a Rainy Day Return that’s a great way to hedge your bets against the great British weather. Should it rain for more than 3 hours during your visit, you could enjoy a FREE return visit within 7 days of your original booking, (t&c’s apply).

9. The View from The Shard; View Guarantee

For those planning a visit to The Shard you’ll want to know the view from the top won’t be hampered by the weather.  Here’s a chance to pick up savings on online tickets & ensure a good view with their London Landmarks Guarantee. This secures a FREE return visit if you cannot see at least 3 of the following landmarks; London Eye, St Paul’s Cathedral, The Gherkin, Tower Bridge & 1 Canada Square.

Visitors will be issued with a ticket for a free return visit, valid for 3 months, once you place a request with staff  before exiting the venue.

More information available at The View from The Shard; View Guarantee.

10. Chester Zoo; Rainy Day Guarantee

If you book online with Chester Zoo and it rains continuously for 3 hours during your visit, you can take advantage of their Rainy Day Guarantee.  This allows you to visit again for FREE on another day within 30 days of your original visit.  If eligible, you’ll receive an email from Chester Zoo advising you of how to redeem your free visit in which you’ll need to present your original tickets & valid ID on the day of your subsequent visit. Rainy Day Guarantee does not include special events or experiences, (t&c’s apply)

More information available over at Chester Zoo; Rainy Day Guarantee.

London Zoo Penguin Beach, (photo; Phil Loach)

11. Drayton Manor; Rainy Day Guarantee

You can upgrade your Drayton Manor tickets with a Rainy Day Guarantee that offers a FREE return visit if it rains more the 4mm rainfall during park opening hours.  Whilst this used to be a free perk, there’s a charge per person to include this rainy day guarantee when booking online with Drayton Manor.  Should bad weather hamper your day, check if your visit is eligible under this scheme and pre-book your return within 30 days of your original visit. Excludes schools, groups, short break packages, Clubcard vouchers and 3rd party partners. To find more cheap ticket offers go to Drayton Manor Deals.

12. Pleasurewood Hills; Rainy Day Guarantee

Pleasurewood Hills offers a Rainy Day Guarantee, (small additional fee applies), when you book tickets online and in advance directly from the attraction. If 5mm of rainfall is captured during operation hours on the day of your visit, you can redeem a FREE return visit. Visitors will receive an email on how they can redeem their FREE return visit.  Return visits must be booked in advance and used within 30 days of their original visit.  Not valid for the free return offer, schools, groups, Clubcard tickets or third party partners, (t&c’s apply).

More information available at Pleasurewood Hills; Rainy Day Guarantee.

13. Hoo Zoo Dinosaur World; Rainy Day Return

Visitors who book general admission tickets, in advance, directly with HooZoo can pick up a FREE return visit should it rain continuously for 2 hours or more during your visit. Free return visits must take place within 1 month and tickets purchased on the day are not valid. If your date is eligible, you will receive contact from Hoo Zoo and will need to book your return visit in advance.

More information available at Hoo Zoo; Rainy Day Return.

The View from The Shard, (photo; Phil Loach)

14. ROARR’s Rainy Day Guarantee

If you visit ROARR between May & September, selected guests can enjoy a rainy day guarantee if the weather hampers your day out. To access the guarantee, guests must have booked tickets, in advance, directly via the attraction. Should it rain consistently for 2 hours or more during your visit, you can return for free within 4 weeks of your original booking date. More information at ROARR’s Rainy Day Guarantee.

15. Highland Wildlife Park; Rainy Day Guarantee

Take advantage of the Highland Wildlife Park’s rainy day guarantee if it rains continuously for more than 2 hours during opening hours. This guarantee relates to visits taking place between June & September when tickets have been pre-booked in advance.  Rainy day guarantee emails will be issued within 72 hours of the rainy day and return visits can be taken up to the end of the year. What we particularly love with this option is that unused rainy day guarantee tickets will be donated to local community groups & charities – what a nice touch.  More information at Highland Wildlife Park Rainy Day Guarantee.

Chessington World of Adventures

When Can I Return With My Rainy Day Guarantee?

Each attraction has different rules in place ranging from 30 days to 9 months of your original visit.  Worth checking if the stipulated return dates would work for you before you book.

How Long Must It Rain For?

Each setting interprets this guarantee slightly differently in terms of what constitutes poor weather and, unfortunately a quick shower, will not suffice for these rainy day offers to become valid. Some attractions stipulate hours of continuous rain & and some measure the amount of actual rainfall. Worth knowing the terms & conditions before you set off.

Rainy Day Guarantee; Costs

Most visitor attractions offer a rainy day perk for free as part of the package of booking directly with the attraction. We are seeing a few attractions that are offering a rainy day guarantee at an additional cost, (Drayton Manor, Pleasurewood Hills). As the cost is per ticket rather then per booking, you’ll need to balance costs against your peace of mind.

How Can I Tell If I Can Return For Free?

Many visitor attractions now list the days in the season that have been deemed ‘rainy days’ under this offer so always worth checking online to see if your initial visit has been listed. Some visitor attractions now state they will contact you directly if your visit is eligible for a free return visit.

Rainy Day Guarantee; Hold On To Your Tickets

Often you will need to hold onto your original tickets to prove you were at the park on the rainy day in question and require you to pre-book your return visit online. Many require you to provide ID on the subsequent visit to ensure eligibility.

Does A Rainy Day Guarantee Offer Value for Money?

Predominantly outdoor settings are using these weather guarantees to entice guests to book in advance without having to consider the great British weather.  Often you are required to book online directly with the visitor attraction to take advantage of this offer.  Whilst this does give you a chance to recoup your losses should the weather take a turn for the worst, it does mean you cannot take advantage of promotional vouchers & other concessions to reduce your entry charges further.

That said, online tickets often provide substantial discounts off standard ticket prices and can come with other perks such as rainy day guarantees.  You will need to weigh up the benefits of booking online including rainy day guarantees, against further potential savings you could make by taking advantage of vouchers/third party ticket offers.

Check if your local visitor attractions are running a rainy day guarantee that can make your initial outlay go further with a FREE second visit.