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We reveal a range of discounts on travel and entertainment for older people
Thursday 08 Aug 2019 Author: Laura Suter

Reaching your 60th birthday might seem like a daunting prospect for some, but you’ll get handed a surfeit of birthday presents as you’ll be able to access lots of discounts. Some of the over-60s discounts are pretty lucrative, so we’ve compiled the best list.

SENIOR RAILCARD 

Anyone who uses the train a lot should sign up to the Senior Railcard, which gives a third off prices for anyone over 60.

If you’re eager you can buy the railcard two weeks before your 60th birthday, and it will then kick in on the big day.

The card gives you a third off Standard and First Class Anytime, Off-Peak and Advance fares. It costs £30 for a year or £70 for a three-year card, so you need to think about how often you travel and whether you’ll make back this money in savings.

Be careful though, you can’t use it on morning peak time services in London and the south east from Monday to Friday and you also can’t use it on season tickets.

CHEAPER COACH TRAVEL

Coach company National Express offers a similar deal, with a third off Standard and Fully Flexible fares, but there are no restrictions that mean you have to travel off peak. The card will cost you £15 a year, so work out how much you’ll use it to see if it’s worth it. The great thing about this card is that if the journeys you make don’t cover the cost of the card in the first year you can get your money back – win-win. You just need to remember to contact National Express within 30 days of the card expiring.

FREE TRAVEL IN LONDON

If you’re 60 or over and live in a London borough, you can get a 60+ London Oyster photocard, which gives you free travel on the tube, bus, tram, overground, DLR, TfL Rail and most National Rail services across London.

It costs £20 and you will need to travel from 9:30 on weekdays, but you can travel whenever you like at weekends and on bank holidays. Once you reach state pension age you’ll be eligible for the Older Person’s Freedom Pass instead.

DAYS OUT

Both National Trust and English Heritage give a decent discount. For English Heritage you have to be 65 or older to get the discount, but you pay £51 a year for an adult pass rather than £60 a year; or £78 for two adults, compared to £105 a year.

National Trust offers 25% off once you reach 60, so you pay £54 for a single membership and £90 for a joint one, compared to £72 and £120 a year. However, if you’re an existing member National Trust is a bit sneaky and doesn’t automatically give you the discount – so you’ll need to call up to get the money off.

NIGHTS OUT

Lots of cinemas will offer discounts for over-60s, although sometimes it requires going in the middle of the day.

For example, Odeon offers its Silver Screen showings, which are for those over 55 and cost £3, including a cuppa and biscuits. Vue has discounts for those over the age of 60, while PictureHouse has a Silver Screen Club membership, which is free, and has showings at a reduced price with free tea, coffee and biscuits.

FREE MEDICINE

Definitely not as exciting as the other offers, but this could save you a decent amount of money. If you’re over 60 in England you’re eligible for free prescriptions, which are usually £9 per item.

You get this automatically as your age is printed on the prescription; you just need to tick the right box on the back of the form.

You can also join Boots’ More Treats For Over 60s’ club, hich gives you 25% off glasses and extra Advantage card points – you get 10 for every £1 spent on Boots’ own products, including brands like No7 makeup and Soltan suntan lotion.

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