The Most Expensive Family Days Out: Alton Towers to Legoland

Britain's beloved family days out are under threat as high parking charges pile pressure on already cash-strapped parents. A MailOnline investigation can today reveal the shocking cost of parking at some of the country's most popular tourist attractions, with families forking out as much as £30 just to leave the car - on top of steep ticket prices.

At Legoland Windsor, a walk-up family ticket for four comes in at a staggering £272, before adding up to £18 just to park. At Chessington World of Adventures, the gate price for a family of four reaches £264, plus £20 for an 'express' car space - taking the total to £284 for a single day. It is a similar story at Blackpool Pleasure Beach, where entry for four costs £156, with a further £20 to park at its North Car Park. At Whipsnade Zoo, families who don't want to use a distant free parking area face a £30 charge for a space closer to the entrance.

Money and business expert Maddy Alexander-Grout, 41, said 'It's expensive enough to visit these theme parks without adding parking charges on top. Families are already stretched day to day with rising costs, so to then face a hefty parking fee feels like a hammer blow which prices many out.'

Standard parking at Alton Towers costs £12, but for a premium space, families must cough up £20. That is on top of £272 for four walk-in tickets. Other Merlin-run destinations do not fare much better - with Thorpe Park charging up to £20 and Warwick Castle asking up to £10 for parking. Meanwhile families in the UK could spend up to £65 on parking alone during day trips to the most popular visitor attractions, which do not have dedicated car parks.

The nearest private car park to Buckingham Palace costs £64.99 for an eight-hour Saturday stay, dwarfing the £38 charged near the British Museum, or £36 close to the Tower of London. In Edinburgh, parking near the Castle or National Museum of Scotland could cost up to £40. A few big-name attractions still offer free parking, including Chester Zoo, Flamingoland in North Yorkshire, and Longleat Safari Park in Wiltshire.

In Northern Ireland, Titanic Belfast charges by the hour -with a full day and entry for four costing £78.60, though officials insist online deals could bring it down to £65.60 with early booking and shorter stays. Many venues offer free or discounted entry for smaller children, and online ticket deals can help cut the cost.

ZSL, which runs Whipsnade Zoo, said it offers free parking in an off-site area and free entry for children under three. For visitors to London Zoo, a spokesperson added: 'As well as supporting ZSL's conservation work at London Zoo and beyond, the car parking charge ensures the spaces in it are reserved for London Zoo's visitors.'

Merlin, which runs Thorpe Park, Chessington, Alton Towers and Legoland, said: 'We regularly review our prices to ensure that we continue to deliver the best possible value and experience for our guests. Lavania Oluban, 38, a parenting blogger from Birmingham, West Midlands, and mother to Arlo, eight, said attractions' steep parking charges 'wind her up'.

Catherine Warrilow, visitor attraction brand strategist at The Plot, told MailOnline: 'For many attractions, parking fees have become a vital source of revenue to cover rising costs ranging from maintenance and security to staff and insurance. 'Separating parking charges from ticket prices enables attractions to keep headline admission fees more competitive in a market where visitors shop around online for deals and discounts. It makes tickets also appear more affordable, even if the total cost tells another story.'

Lavania Oluban, 38, a parenting blogger from Birmingham, West Midlands, and mother to Arlo, eight, said attractions' steep parking charges 'wind her up'. She said: 'Even when you hunt for special offers or discounts, the hidden costs like parking really sting. 'What's worse is how unclear these charges often are online, so you don't even know the full cost until you arrive. 'It feels unfair when ticket prices are already sky-high and there's no real alternative, especially for theme parks or rural attractions where public transport just isn't practical. 'You'll get there and pay £20, only to be directed onto some boggy overflow field with no attendants. 'Then, at the end of a long day, you're exhausted, the kids are tired, and you end up stuck in a car park gridlock with no proper system to get out. 'It's hard to see how they justify these prices when the service doesn't match. It makes me more reluctant to spend money at these attractions and so I will take my own packed lunch and avoid the gift shop to claw some of that expense back.'