The best discounts for over 50s and 60s in the UK
Last updated 30th January 2026 by the SunLife Content Team
7 min read
Getting older is not without its perks.
As you reach your 50s and 60s, you're entitled to a range of concessions and free services that can help your money go further.
We’ve broken them down by category and age, highlighting some of the best benefits and discounts available to over 50s and 60s in the UK.
What discounts are available for over 50s?
When you turn 50, you start to get many different perks and discounts in the UK. These can help you to save on travel, the cinema and more.
Travel discounts
If you like to explore, you can take advantage of a number of travel discounts for over 50s.
Whether you want a trip to the Highlands or a city break, you can discover more of Scotland with a Club 50 membership from ScotRail(www.scotrail.co.uk opens in a new tab).
For £15 a year, your Club 50 card gets you discounted train travel across Scotland. As well as 50% off hot and cold drinks on board .
In England, you can join Greater Anglia’s Club 50(www.greateranglia.co.uk opens in a new tab) for discounted travel across many of the home counties and beyond.
Cheap cinema tickets
Trips to the cinema can get a whole lot cheaper when you turn 55. There are deals at independent venues like London’s Regent Street Cinema(www.regentstreetcinema.com opens in a new tab) and Showroom Cinema in Sheffield(www.showroomworkstation.org.uk opens in a new tab). Details vary by chain, location and day of the week. It is always worth checking for special pricing before you book.
Over 50s life insurance welcome gift
Getting life insurance is a step that many people take at this age. And you might as well reap the rewards if this is something you plan to do. When you take out a Guaranteed Over 50 Plan or Guaranteed Inheritance Plan with SunLife, you’ll get a free welcome gift card. You can spend it in all your favourite shops like M&S, Argos, Boots and many more.
What discounts are available for over 60s?
Some of the best discounts are for over 60s in the UK. All of the real money savers come into play at this age, with loads of free stuff and discounts on offer.
A bonus freebie for over 75s – if you or your partner receive Pension Credit, you can apply for a free TV licence.
Healthcare and prescriptions
Trips to the pharmacy can become much cheaper with free NHS prescriptions for over 60s(www.nhs.uk opens in a new tab). This could save you a lot of money given that prescriptions otherwise cost £9.90 per item.
People in their 60s are also entitled to free NHS eye tests(www.nhs.uk opens in a new tab). If you need glasses, Boots Opticians(www.boots.com opens in a new tab) and Specsavers(www.specsavers.co.uk opens in a new tab) offer big discounts for over 60s. So you can get more bang for your buck on everything from reading glasses to designer shades.
Depending on your circumstances, you could be eligible for support with other healthcare costs such as:
- Dental care on the NHS
- Travel costs to receive NHS treatments
- The cost of wigs and fabric supports.
For more information, visit Age UK’s guide to NHS health costs(www.ageuk.org.uk opens in a new tab).
Retail bargains for over 60s
Many shops have deals that are exclusive to over 60s. It’s worth checking online or asking in-store before you buy.
For example, Boots offers over 60s rewards for Advantage Card holders(www.boots.com opens in a new tab). These include extra points on your purchases and free points when you sign up for a free card or take a hearing test.
You can get cheaper car care with Club 60 from ATS Euromaster(www.atseuromaster.co.uk opens in a new tab). It gives you reduced MOT prices as well as 15% off servicing and certain car parts.
On Tuesdays over 60s can also claim a 10% discount on your weekly shop at Iceland(www.iceland.co.uk opens in a new tab). Small discounts that can be repeated weekly are a great way to save money on your regular food shop.
Eat out for less
Heading out for a bite to eat? Look out for restaurants that have reduced prices for over 60s. Several pub and restaurant chains such as Greene King(www.greeneking-pubs.co.uk opens in a new tab) have a discounted seniors menu at many locations.
Discounts on days out, culture and leisure activities
Just at the age when you’re starting to get more free time, you can plan day trips for a fraction of the cost. Whatever you’re into, over 60s can enjoy discounts on a wide range of activities:
- With a National Trust Membership(www.nationaltrust.org.uk opens in a new tab), you get free entry to over 500 locations across the UK. The price is 25% less for over 60s, but you must have been a member for the last three years to qualify.
- Senior membership with English Heritage(www.english-heritage.org.uk opens in a new tab) is around 10% cheaper than the standard price. This type of membership is only available to over 65s.
- Fancy seeing a play or a musical? The National Theatre(www.nationaltheatre.org.uk opens in a new tab) and Royal Shakespeare Company(www.rsc.org.uk opens in a new tab) offer reduced prices on selected matinees for over 60s and over 65s.
- Discounted cinema tickets are available nationwide through Odeon’s Silver Cinema(www.odeon.co.uk opens in a new tab). Picturehouse(www.picturehouses.com opens in new tab) also offer discounted tickets and over 60s membership(www.picturehouses.com opens in new tab). Ask about discounts at your local independent cinema.
- Most football, rugby, and cricket clubs across the UK have discounted tickets for older fans, with prices cut by as much as 50% in some cases.
- Many museums and other attractions offer discounted entry for over 60s, so it’s always worth checking when you go. For example, Tate galleries offer an over-60s rate for their paid-entry exhibitions. But, like most public museums and galleries in the UK, you can browse many of the exhibits for free.
Cheaper travel for over 60s in the UK
You can get over-60 bus passes throughout the UK, which allow you to travel on buses and other public transport for free.
You can apply at age 60 in Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and London, or at state pension age elsewhere in England. You can learn about the rules in your area and apply for an older person’s bus pass(www.gov.uk opens in a new tab) via the gov.uk site.
Train travel is also cheaper for those over 60. A Senior Railcard(www.senior-railcard.co.uk opens in a new tab) gives you a third off the price of train tickets and costs £35 for one year or £80 for three years. You can make your money back in just a few trips. There is also a range of other offers for railcard holders(www.senior-railcard.co.uk opens in a new tab), including:
- Discounted rates at Hoseasons Parks and Lodges.
- A 3 month Tastecard membership for discounted meals out.
- 20% off Virgin Experience Days.
- Up to 50% off at the theatre with Railcard Theatre Tickets.
Winter Fuel Payment
The Winter Fuel Payment(www.gov.uk opens in a new tab) can be a huge boost in colder months, to help pay for heating bills. The Government offers a tax-free lump sum between £100 and £300 to those who live in England or Wales, and were born before 22 September 1959.
You’ll get a letter in October or November telling you how much Winter Fuel Payment you’ll get(www.gov.uk opens in a new tab), if you’re eligible. The amount you get is based on when you were born and your circumstances between 15 and 21 September 2025. This is called the ‘qualifying week’.
Those who get the State Pension or other social security benefits will receive this money automatically. You can still make a claim on the gov.uk site(www.gov.uk opens in a new tab) if this doesn’t apply to you.
The deadline for you to make a claim for winter 2025 to 2026 is 31st March 2026.
Free gas safety check
If you are over state pension age or receiving pension credit, council tax benefit or housing benefit, you could get a free gas safety check from your supplier. This not only ensures your appliances are safe, but could save you money on your bills if they find a leak.
If you rent your home, your landlord is responsible for arranging regular gas safety checks.
National Insurance exemption
Once you reach State Pension age, you’ll also be exempt from paying National Insurance(www.gov.uk opens in a new tab) if you keep working.
You still have to pay Income Tax, but you'll save a good chunk of your earnings, as the National Insurance contribution (NIC) rate is currently 10%.
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