Butlins

Butlins offers a genuine, confirmed military discount — and it's one of the better ones in the UK holiday sector. Free day visit entry for serving personnel and veterans. Twenty pounds off holiday bookings. Twenty-five percent off entry for up to four guests accompanying a forces visitor on a day trip. Three resorts. Real savings.

Here's how to claim each one.

Free Day Visits for Serving Personnel and Veterans

Serving members of the British Armed Forces and veterans get free entry for day visits to any Butlins resort — Bognor Regis, Minehead or Skegness. Present valid military ID at the gate. Up to four people travelling with you qualify for 25% off their own entry on the same visit. That's a family of five getting into a Butlins resort for the price of four discounted tickets, with the forces member paying nothing.

£20 Off Holiday Bookings

Book a Butlins break through the Defence Discount Service website and £20 comes off the total. Alternatively, call Butlins reservations directly and quote your service details — the discount applies by phone too, without needing to go through DDS. For online booking, go to butlins.com/phc, enter code QQ248 in the Q number field at checkout, and "BRITISH FORCES DISCOUNT" should appear to confirm the saving is applied.

Who Is Eligible?

The discount covers serving personnel across all branches — Army, Royal Navy, Royal Air Force and Royal Marines. Reservists are included. Veterans are eligible for both the free day visit and the holiday booking discount. Military families and spouses can benefit from the 25% accompanying guest rate on day visits. For holiday bookings, the £20 saving applies when the booking is made through official channels by an eligible service member.

The Three Butlins Resorts

Butlins has three resorts. Bognor Regis sits on the West Sussex coast and is the most popular for younger families — CBeebies-branded entertainment, a waterpark and a large outdoor pool. Minehead in Somerset is the biggest site, 165 acres backing onto Exmoor, with good entertainment facilities and decent access to the southwest coast. Skegness is the original, opened in 1936, the biggest resort by footprint at 200 acres, popular with families from the Midlands and the north. All three follow the same all-included model: live shows, fairground rides, swimming pools and activity programmes are part of the package.

Accommodation ranges from budget chalets through to hotel rooms and self-catering lodges. For forces families looking for a broader range of UK holiday options, the Travel and Days Out section covers everything from UK breaks to holidays abroad.

How to Claim the Butlins Forces Discount

1. Day visits: Turn up at any Butlins resort and present valid military ID at the gate. Serving personnel and veterans enter free. Up to four accompanying guests pay 25% off their entry.
2. Online holiday bookings: Go to butlins.com/phc, enter QQ248 in the Q number field at checkout, and confirm "BRITISH FORCES DISCOUNT" appears before completing the booking.
3. Via Defence Discount Service: Log in to your DDS account, find the Butlins offer, and book through the link on the DDS site to apply the £20 saving.
4. By phone: Call Butlins reservations directly, identify yourself as serving or a veteran, and the £20 discount applies to the booking.

Is Butlins Worth It for Forces Families?

For a no-planning-required family break, yes. Everything is on-site, kids of different ages are catered for, and the accommodation and entertainment are bundled together. The military discount brings the cost down meaningfully — free entry on a day visit, plus 25% off for up to four guests, is a significant saving for a family. Trustpilot reviews are mixed overall but generally positive for the entertainment and family experience. The forces discount is confirmed and genuine.

If you're comparing UK holiday options, Haven Holidays is another option worth checking for forces families — they run regular deals on their holiday parks. For a day out rather than a full break, the Days Out and Attractions page has regularly updated forces offers from UK attractions.

Tips to Keep Costs Down

• Book midweek breaks rather than weekends — pricing is significantly lower off-peak.
• Use code QQ248 at butlins.com/phc for the online forces discount — it takes seconds to apply.
• Day visits are free for the forces member — a good option if you're near a resort and want a day out without committing to a full break.
• Call reservations directly if you prefer not to book online — the £20 discount applies by phone too.
• Check what's on at the resort before your visit — themed weekends and special events run throughout the year and are often included in standard admission.
• Self-catering accommodation options are cheaper than meal-inclusive packages if you want to manage food costs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Butlins offer a military discount?

Yes — and it's one of the most comprehensive in the UK holiday sector. Serving personnel and veterans get free entry for day visits. Up to four accompanying guests pay 25% less on day visits. Holiday bookings through Defence Discount Service or by phone get £20 off. The online code QQ248 at butlins.com/phc also applies the British Forces Discount to web bookings.

Is the Butlins military discount available to veterans?

Yes. Veterans qualify for free day visit entry at any Butlins resort. The £20 holiday booking discount is also available to ex-service personnel. Bring valid veteran's ID — a veteran's card or equivalent proof of service — when visiting or booking by phone.

Do reservists qualify for the Butlins forces discount?

Yes. Reservists are included in the eligibility for both the day visit and the holiday booking discount. Bring your reservist ID card as proof of service when visiting.

How do I claim the Butlins forces discount online?

Go to butlins.com/phc, find the Q number field at checkout and enter QQ248. The words "BRITISH FORCES DISCOUNT" should appear to confirm the saving has been applied. You can also book through the Defence Discount Service website to access the £20 off deal.

Can I book by phone to get the Butlins military discount?

Yes. Call Butlins reservations directly, tell them you're serving or a veteran, and the £20 discount applies to phone bookings without needing to go online or through a third-party platform.

Does the 25% guest discount apply to the whole family?

Up to four guests accompanying a forces member on a day visit get 25% off their entry. The serving member or veteran enters free. A family of five — one forces member and four guests — would pay the discounted rate for four, with one person entering at no cost.

Which Butlins resorts can I use the military discount at?

The discount applies at all three Butlins resorts: Bognor Regis in West Sussex, Minehead in Somerset, and Skegness in Lincolnshire. All three offer day visits and residential breaks.

What's included in a Butlins day visit?

Day visitors get access to live entertainment shows, swimming pools, fairground rides and activity areas. Some activities — climbing, go-karting, certain classes — cost extra on top of entry. Check the resort website before visiting to see what's on during your planned date.

What's the difference between the three Butlins resorts?

Bognor Regis suits families with younger children — CBeebies tie-ins, a waterpark and a beach location. Minehead is the largest resort, set against Exmoor, with strong entertainment programming. Skegness is the original site, the biggest footprint, and popular with families from the Midlands and East Midlands. All three offer the same forces discount.

Is Butlins worth it for forces families?

For a no-planning-required family break, yes. Everything is on-site, the kids are catered for across different ages, and accommodation and entertainment come bundled together. Free entry for the forces member plus 25% off for up to four guests makes the day visit option particularly good value. Trustpilot reviews are generally positive for the entertainment and family experience.

Can military families use the Butlins discount for Disneyland Paris or other holidays?

The Butlins discount is for Butlins resorts only. For Disneyland Paris forces deals, the Disneyland Paris military discount page covers the separate military rate available there. For other UK holiday options with forces deals, check the Travel and Days Out section.

Do I need to pre-book a Butlins day visit to get the forces discount?

No pre-booking is required for day visits. Turn up at the resort, present your military ID at the gate, and the free entry and 25% accompanying guest discount are applied on the day. For holiday bookings, the £20 saving applies at the point of booking through DDS or by phone.

More Forces Deals You Might Like

For another UK holiday option with forces-friendly deals, Haven Holidays is worth a look — their holiday parks offer regular promotions open to forces families. If you're planning something further afield, the Disneyland Paris military discount page covers the forces rate available at Europe's most popular theme park resort. For days out rather than breaks away, AttractionTix has advance tickets for hundreds of UK and international attractions at below-gate pricing. The full Days Out and Attractions section has current forces offers across the UK in one place.