Cards, companion tickets, free places to visit and practical access tools for disabled children, adults and their families.
Official scheme and venue information checked 12 October 2026. Offers, prices and availability can change; check the linked provider before paying or travelling.
Three different kinds of help: a discount reduces the ticket price; a companion ticket admits an eligible helper free; an access scheme helps with facilities or queues. One does not automatically include the others. A paid card is not a guarantee of free family admission.
Cards and passes worth knowing about
CEA Card — cinema companion ticket
Help: one free assisting-companion ticket when the cardholder buys a full-price ticket for the same screening in one transaction at a participating cinema.
Who: disabled people aged five or over who need someone to accompany them. Parents apply for under-16s. Accepted benefit/sight-registration evidence is listed; other circumstances can be considered individually.
Cost: £6.50; valid for one year. The disabled person’s own ticket is still payable. Cinemas should consider reasonable adjustments even without a card.
Help: discounts or free admission at participating attractions. Each venue decides the offer and how many family members it covers.
Who: eligible children/young people with SEND and foster families, through local distributors. The national FAQ gives an age range up to 25; local issuing criteria and charges vary.
The child must be present. Cards are issued by councils/selected charities, not directly by the national scheme. Check the card’s expiry and today’s venue offer.
UK participating venues; local availability varies.
Access Card — communicating access needs
Help: a photo card with symbols describing barriers and adjustments, recognised by participating venues and ticketing systems.
Cost: £15 for three years. Application evidence is assessed. This is an access card, rather than a universal discount or free-entry card; companion entitlement depends on assessed symbols and the venue’s policy.
UK and other participating providers; check acceptance before buying a ticket.
Free companion admission
National Trust — Essential Companion pass
At National Trust places, an eligible disabled visitor can bring one or two carers/companions without paying for their admission. The free pass makes this easier, but the Trust says companions can still enter free without it. Non-member visitors still pay their own admission.
Area: National Trust in England, Wales and Northern Ireland; Scottish organisations have separate arrangements.
Disabled visitors can bring an assisting companion/helper free. The visitor’s own admission or membership rules still apply. Check the individual historic site’s accessibility, booking arrangements and event exclusions.
Merlin attractions — carer admission and Ride Access Pass
Eligible disabled annual-pass holders can obtain a free Carer Pass under the published terms. Day-ticket companion arrangements and accepted evidence are attraction-specific, so check the attraction before booking.
A Ride Access Pass is a separate queue-access scheme. It does not itself provide admission. Check current assessment, registration and pre-booking requirements; do not buy an annual pass assuming it guarantees queue access.
Participating UK attractions; individual attraction and pass restrictions apply.
National Trust — Links Pass for organised groups
Eligible groups affiliated with disability charities, care homes, day centres and other specified caring organisations can access half-price admission at participating places, with carers free. Visits must be booked and are subject to venue approval; weekends and bank holidays are excluded.
This is a group-organiser route, not a general family discount pass.
Max Card offer: one adult and one child free per card. The Max Card venue listing specifies the child is under 11; confirm age/booking rules before travelling. Additional people may need paid tickets.
Essential carers: no admission charge; select the carer option when pre-booking and take accepted evidence. The museum also offers a quiet space, sensory preparation resources and ear-defender loans.
General museum admission is free; book a free ticket, especially for busy periods. Cinema screenings and some activities have separate prices. Accessibility information includes a Changing Places toilet and quiet space.
General museum entry is free. Book a free ticket through the museum’s own website and check the accessibility/visit information. Special events and extras may carry a charge.
Free general admission offers include Bradford Industrial Museum, Bolling Hall, Cartwright Hall and Cliffe Castle Museum. Check opening days, current closures, access and any separately priced events before travelling.
Reduced prices for eligible Bradford residents at participating council leisure facilities. Qualifying benefit, age and dependent-child rules apply. Check the current cost of the card and the price of your chosen activity; this is not automatically free swimming or a nationwide attraction pass.
Eligible holders can save a third on qualifying National Rail fares, with the same discount for one adult travelling with them. It costs £20 for one year or £54 for three years. For eligible children aged 5–15, normal child fares apply and the accompanying adult gets the Railcard discount.
Area: Great Britain’s participating rail services; Northern Ireland has separate arrangements. Check evidence, ticket restrictions and the saving for your journey.
West Yorkshire disabled/blind and companion travel passes
Eligible West Yorkshire residents may receive concessionary travel. A companion entitlement must be separately approved if you need someone to travel with you. Local bus/train concessions, times and boundaries differ; a companion concession is not automatically valid across England.
Passenger Assist helps arrange railway assistance and is separate from a fare discount. AccessBus offers local accessible booked journeys; qualifying concessionary-pass holders travel free under published rules.
Maps and little practical helpers
Changing Places toilet map
Find registered facilities with adult-sized changing benches, hoists and space for carers. Check opening hours, keys/access arrangements and equipment details with the venue; an ordinary accessible toilet is not necessarily a Changing Places facility.
A key can help eligible disabled people use participating locked accessible toilets. Buy through the official scheme or ask your local council/charity about provision. It does not open every accessible or Changing Places toilet, and may carry a purchase charge.
The free digital Bladder & Bowel Community card explains an urgent need for toilet access. It can make asking for help easier, but does not guarantee access to every private toilet or replace a RADAR key.
Sensory guides, quiet spaces and borrowed equipment
Ask venues about visual stories, sensory maps, quieter sessions, ear-defender loans, wheelchair hire and a place to take a break. For Halifax, Eureka!’s own sensory guide helps prepare for the visit; Bradford’s museum sensory map is linked above. Facilities and availability vary.
Before you book
Ask exactly who gets a discount or free ticket, and whether the disabled visitor’s own ticket must be paid.
Check accepted evidence, age limits, expiry, booking notice and whether special events are excluded.
Explain what support you need: step-free routes, personal care, two companions, changing facilities or help with queues.
Ask whether offers can be combined; never assume a Max Card, CEA Card and companion offer stack.
Check parking, travel and food costs as well as entry prices. Save a copy of the confirmed offer.
Families without a formal diagnosis can still ask about adjustments and individual consideration. Each card or concession has its own rules; describe the practical barriers and help needed rather than assuming every scheme needs the same paperwork.
