Boundless membership review

Boundless says it can save you up to £599 a year – but only if you work in certain sectors

Right now it’s got two membership schemes – Boundless, which costs £40 a year, and Boundless Plus, which is £68 a year, each promising free tickets for days out and membership for things like Tastecard.

But are they any good, and are you even eligible to get one?

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What is Boundless?

Boundless is a membership club specifically for people who work – or have worked – in the public sector or civil service. It’s been around for 100 years providing savings and discounts as well as organising events for its 165,000 members. 

Who can get Boundless?

Sadly it’s only available to people who currently work for or having previously worked for the public sector or civil service. You’re also eligible if you’ve retired from these types of jobs. 

This includes the NHS, armed forces, education, emergency services, government agencies and local authorities, as well as an organisation that was originally formed within the structure of the civil service of public sector, like Royal Mail or BT.

You can see a full list over on the Boundless website.

Boundless memberships

You have two memberships to choose from, Boundless and Boundless Plus.

Boundless

The basic Boundless membership costs £40 a year and gives you free access to a handful of UK attractions, a free Kids Pass (worth £39.99 a year or try for 30 days for £1) and Tastecard (worth £29.99 a year).

The basic membership costs £40 a year and will get you entry into Kew Gardens, south west London, and Wakehurst, West Sussex, which usually cost £24.50 and £16.50, respectively (for an adult ticket booked online for a Saturday). You’ll also get a 50% discount for any other adults and free entry for up to five children. 

On this tier, you get free access for yourself and another adult, plus up to six kids, at nine Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust centres (usual ticket price is £50.85 for a family of four).

A Kids Pass gives you discounts on family days out, including theme parks, zoos and cinema tickets. And with a Tastecard you can get two-for-one meals at popular restaurant chains such as Zizzi, Prezzo and Frankie and Bennies. 

Boundless Plus

The premium membership, Boundless Plus, costs £68 a year and includes free entry into more attractions. In addition to what you get with the standard membership, families can also get free entry to 100 National Trust sites in Scotland, including Culross Palace (usually £13 for an adult ticket) and Fyvie Castle (£16 for an adult ticket), and Historic Royal Palaces, including the Tower of London (£38.30 for an adult ticket without a donation) and Kensington Palace (£24 for an adult ticket).

Boundless Plus also gives you free roadside assistance with Britannia Rescue, worth £33, and access to 50,000 guided walks for yourself and a guest with walking community, the Ramblers Association UK (membership usually costs £3.42 a month).

Both memberships offer discounts on shopping, car insurance, money off new cars and 20% off its own Boundless holiday properties. It has three options: cabins in Whitemead Forest Park in the Forest of Dean, West Cliff Hotel in Bournemouth, Cotswold Cottages in Bourton-on-the-Water.

Is Boundless any good?

I think this is a great deal if you’re eligible and you love exploring the UK’s historical and botanical attractions with your family. 

Just one solo visit to Kew Gardens and Wakehurst would cover the cost of the basic membership card, and one family visit to a Wetlands centre would already be worth more.  

There’s also other savings to be made with the Kids Pass and Tastecard. While Boundless Plus is more expensive, it does give you access to more attractions, including pricier ones in London, so if you already do this for fun, you could cover the cost quite easily.

However, I will say you’re very limited by location. There are only nine Wetlands centres in the UK and they’re really spread out. The National Trust sites are only in Scotland and the Royal Palaces are in London and surrounding areas. So unless you live near these sites or tend to explore the UK with your family, it might not be the best deal for you.

Saying that, the Kids Pass and Tastecard, which are worth about £70 combined (at full price), cover more ground so even using these regularly will make up for the cost.