Complete Guide to Visiting Alton Towers

Should you’re considering of visiting Alton Towers, you’re in the proper place. We’ve put collectively this detailed information that can assist you plan your go to to one of many UK’s best-known theme parks.

Alton Towers is positioned in Staffordshire England and is at the moment the biggest and most visited theme park within the UK, that includes all kinds of rides and points of interest from youngsters’s rides to thrilling curler coasters. This information goes to cowl quite a bit, and is predicated on our private experiences visiting Alton Towers.

We’ve visited Alton Towers quite a few instances, my first experiences have been as a youngster and twenty-something previous.  Most not too long ago I visited with Jess and with buddies who on the time of our go to had a three-year-old and a six-year-old.

My buddies have additionally visited Alton Towers a number of instances, and we’re going to be incorporating their experiences and ideas of visiting Alton Towers into this information. So hopefully we may give you some ideas from the views of younger single individuals, a married couple of their 30s and 40s, and of a household with younger children.

We’re going to undergo every part it’s worthwhile to know to have an superior time at Alton Towers. Whereas most of you studying are most likely residing within the UK, a visit to Alton Towers will also be a enjoyable expertise for worldwide guests as nicely!

We’ll cowl all of the rides and what to anticipate from every one, tips about find out how to take advantage of your time and get essentially the most time truly using quite than queuing, share our ideas on the Alton Towers lodging and eating, and hundreds extra.

Whether or not you might be visiting as a household, a pair, with buddies, or by yourself, this information goes to present you every part it’s worthwhile to know on your Alton Towers go to. Let’s get began.

Alton Towers Overview & Historical past

Alton Towers (technically known as Alton Towers Resort) is the most-visited amusement park within the UK. It’s additionally greater than a theme park, because it additionally has a collection of accommodations, a water park, a spa, and a mini-golf course.

The theme park is discovered on a big property which was as soon as the house of the Earls of Shrewsbury and was owned by the Talbot household from 1412 till 1924. In addition they owned the close by Alton Fort which dates again to the eleventh century.

The mansion home on the Alton Property, which largely dates to the 18th century, remains to be there, though it’s in a ruined situation. There’s additionally a big lake and landscaped gardens on website.

Alton Towers has been open to the general public ultimately for the reason that nineteenth century, when guests have been capable of pay to tour the gardens. Sights have been added all through the twentieth century together with a boating lake, mannequin railway, and chairlift. My mom remembers visiting Alton Towers throughout her childhood within the Sixties and having a beautiful time out.

So when you’re visiting right here you might be on the grounds of what was for hundreds of years the massive property and residential of the Earls of Shrewsbury. The magnificent ruins of the house and a number of the outbuildings and follies, in addition to the landscaped backyard are nonetheless there. You may nonetheless stroll via components of the gardens.

In some locations you’ll don’t know you might be in the course of an amusement park because it appears like you might be in a park or forest. A really distinctive and British setting for a theme park!

The theme park as it’s identified at the moment, with thrill rides and everlasting points of interest, actually began in 1973. At the moment, Alton Towers is operated by the Tussauds Group, who additionally function areas together with Thorpe Park, Madame Tussauds London, and the London Eye.

At the moment, the theme park is likely one of the most well-known and standard theme parks within the UK, with one thing to supply everybody from children to adults alike.

It has had quite a few spectacular experience accomplishments, together with the world’s first dive coaster, the world’s first “flying” rollercoaster, the curler coaster with essentially the most inversions on the earth, and Europe’s first inverted rollercoaster.

There’s an enormous quantity to see and do at Alton Towers, greater than sufficient to fill two or three days even. That stated, you possibly can positively do quite a bit with simply sooner or later at Alton Towers should you plan correctly.

 

The best way to Get to Alton Towers

Alton Towers is within the county of Staffordshire close to the village of Alton in England. The deal with is Farley Ln, Alton, Stoke-on-Trent ST10 4DB.

It’s basically between Manchester (44 miles drive to the north) and Birmingham (47 miles drive south).

Listed here are the primary choices for attending to Alton Towers:

 

Driving to and Parking at Alton Towers

The simplest strategy to get to Alton Towers is unquestionably to drive. It’s pretty near each the M1 and the M6 motorways, though the final stretch is on smaller roads.

When driving, after leaving the motorway we suggest following the brown “Alton Towers” indicators quite than your sat-nav or GPS.

It is because the agricultural location of the park signifies that there are a number of small nation lanes across the park. The brown indicators will preserve you on the bigger roads which is able to normally be faster.

 

Parking at Alton Towers

There may be a number of on-site parking obtainable, and stewards will normally direct you to the closest automotive park as you arrive. This does rely upon how busy the day is and what time you arrive.

There’s a charge to park at Alton Towers, relying on the place you park, which is as follows:

£7 for a day in the usual parking, 15-25 minutes’ stroll from the primary entrance
£19 for a day in categorical parking, 1-3 minutes away from the primary entrance

There are additionally methods you will get free parking at Alton Towers.

Resort friends staying in a single day within the resort can park within the designated resort carpark, after which both enter the park from the resort visitor entrance (close to the Galactica experience and Rollercoaster Restaurant) or take the monorail to the park entrance.
Company staying at CBeebies resort can park free of charge within the Specific Parking zone
Holders of Gold, Platinum or Premium Merlin passes can park free of charge in normal parking. They’ll improve to Specific parking for £12.

Parking will be booked on-line prematurely right here. That is necessary for Specific Parking, except for CBeebies friends, who should present resort affirmation on arrival.

You can too usually add automotive parking to your buy when shopping for your theme park entry tickets.

 

Public Transport to Alton Towers

Alton Towers is in a comparatively rural location, so while it’s attainable to achieve the resort by public transport it is going to contain some good planning.

The closest prepare station is in Uttoxeter, which is 10 miles from the station. From right here you possibly can take a bus to Alton Towers. The X41, operated by D&G Bus, runs from Uttoxeter to Alton Towers Resort. You may see the schedule right here.

You can too take a taxi from Uttoxeter prepare station, which is a couple of 20-minute drive from Alton Towers.

Different comparatively shut prepare stations are Stoke on Trent (15 miles from Alton Towers) and Derby (25 miles from Alton Towers). Nonetheless, you will have to take a taxi from each of those areas to achieve the resort.

You may ebook taxis on-line prematurely right here.

If you’re counting on public transit, you may wish to think about developing the night time earlier than and taking the D*G bus or a taxi from a close-by prepare or bus station to an Alton Towers Resort resort.

Then you possibly can stroll from any of the resort’s accommodations to the park within the morning (or take the Monorail) with no need to depend on a taxi or public transit to get round.

 

Alton Towers Opening Dates and Instances

Alton Towers is open seasonally in addition to for sure holidays and college breaks. It’s usually open from March via to November. Outdoors of this time the resort has particular themed opening instances, usually for the Christmas interval and in addition for varsity half phrases.

By way of opening hours, the park usually has the next opening hours:

Theme Park opens at 9am (rides open at 10am).
Theme Park closes at 6pm throughout peak instances and on weekends, and at 4pm on off-peak days.

It’s necessary to notice that the closing time is the time that the experience queues shut. When you have joined a queue earlier than theme park closing time, it is possible for you to to complete queuing and full your experience even after closing time.

You may verify the newest opening dates and hours for Alton Towers on-line right here.

For particular occasions park hours do change so it is very important verify what they’re earlier than visiting. Additionally throughout the vacation and particular opening durations, some sections of the park might not be totally open so be sure you verify which rides and points of interest are open.

Word that the Alton Towers Waterpark and Extraordinary Golf mini golf are subsequent to however separate from the park and function with completely different hours.

The Alton Towers Waterpark (positioned within the Splash Landings resort) is open nearly all of the 12 months.

The Extraordinary Golf course (subsequent to the Splash Landings resort) can also be open nearly all of the 12 months, and is usually open fairly late into the night. Resort friends usually obtain a complimentary spherical of mini-golf as a part of their keep.

Word that each the above points of interest will be visited individually from the theme park and also you don’t want a theme half ticket for these points of interest, that are charged individually.

 

The best way to Get Round Alton Towers

The primary means most individuals get round at Alton Towers is on foot. The park is pretty unfold out, however there are footpaths in all places.

One factor to pay attention to is that there aren’t a number of indicators or maps across the park, and so they additionally now not supply paper park maps. As a substitute, you might be anticipated to make use of the cellular app.

That is truly a fairly respectable cellular app, and the map a part of it has inbuilt navigation. It even helps you to keep away from steps. Nonetheless, it may be a battery drain, so we’d recommend bringing a USB battery pack like this to keep away from working out of juice midway via the day.

Word that these visiting in wheelchairs and people with mobility points ought to take a look at the accessibility information for the park right here.

There are two extra choices for getting round Alton Towers. These are the Monorail and the Skyride.

 

Alton Towers Monorail

The Alton Towers Monorail runs from the primary park entrance to the resort space. It’s additionally near a number of the automotive parks. This solely has two stops, one close to the accommodations and extra distant parking heaps, and one on the principal entrance to the theme park.

Use of the Monorail is free for all park friends. It may possibly positively be a fast strategy to get from the resort and a number of the automotive parks to the primary theme park entrance, nevertheless there are some caveats.

On busy days, and particularly within the mornings and evenings, the monorail will get very busy. Queuing instances can exceed 40 minutes. On condition that it’s a couple of 15 – 20 minute stroll from the Monorail station to the primary theme park entrance, whether it is notably busy it’s usually faster to only stroll.

Moreover, Alton Tower Resort resort friends are eligible to enter the park from a park entrance close to the accommodations. That is simply previous the Monorail station, and brings you into the park subsequent to Galactica.

We’d positively suggest resort friends who have already got their park tickets think about using this entrance quite than take the Monorail if there’s a lengthy wait.

 

Alton Towers Skyride

The Alton Towers Skyride is a gondola model cable automotive experience which gives transport across the park.

There are three stations, one close to the primary park entrance on Towers Road, one close to the Blade experience within the Forbidden Valley, and one within the Darkish Forest close to Rita.

The Skyride is unquestionably helpful for getting throughout the Gardens when travelling between the Forbidden Valley and the Darkish Forest as in any other case there are various steps up and down should you take essentially the most direct route.

The Skyride is free to all park friends. Nonetheless, in our expertise it tends to be closed for upkeep pretty usually and actually the Skyride is closed for the rest of 2023.

 

Alton Towers Map

It is a picture of the map in Alton Towers in 2023. Nonetheless, we’d suggest utilizing the map within the Alton Towers app.

Confusingly, the map within the app is inverted in comparison with the bodily maps on indicators within the park. On the bodily maps, the doorway is on the backside, within the app it’s on the prime (as it’s geographically).

So simply preserve this in thoughts if cross referencing between the maps within the park and the map within the app, because it’s simple to get confused (as we all know from private expertise)!

 

Alton Towers Ticket Data

We’ll now undergo the primary ticket sorts obtainable for Alton Towers in addition to how a lot they price and the place to purchase them.

Pricing data is appropriate as of August 2023, however costs can range so do verify the newest costs on-line right here.

 

How A lot Are Alton Towers Tickets?

Alton Towers ticket pricing varies relying on whether or not you buy prematurely or on the day.

Pricing additionally varies relying on the date, with peak dates usually costing a bit extra. Peak dates are usually throughout vacation durations in addition to at weekends.

Presently, pricing is as follows:

£34 – £39 for a 1-day move for ages 3 and up (£68 on the day)
£46 – £51 for a 2-day move for ages 3 and up (£80 on the day)
£29 for a guardian and toddler move. Toddlers are outlined as being beneath 5, and an extra beneath 5 will be added for £5. This move is simply obtainable on weekdays outdoors of vacation durations.
Free for these beneath 3 and carers

There are additionally occasional promotional costs and gross sales on the web site, which you’ll see right here.

The pricing for in-person purchases will be twice as costly as shopping for on-line, so we extremely suggest shopping for on-line to save cash!

 

Low cost Alton Towers Tickets

There aren’t that some ways to get discounted tickets for Alton Towers, though some choices do exist.

Should you don’t qualify for a reduction, then the easiest way to save cash on Alton Towers is to purchase tickets prematurely from the official web site as it is a lot cheaper than shopping for tickets on the day.

You can too save by visiting on a weekday outdoors of vacation durations as these have a tendency to supply the bottom costs.

 

The place to Purchase Alton Towers Tickets

The 2 principal choices for buying Alton Towers tickets are both on-line on the official web site right here or in-person on the resort.

We’d extremely suggest shopping for on-line as the costs are considerably decrease and then you definitely additionally don’t want to attend within the ticket traces.

 

Passes Which Embrace Alton Towers

There are two principal passes which embrace entry to Alton Towers. These are greatest should you both plan on visiting Alton Towers a number of instances a 12 months, or should you plan on visiting the opposite included points of interest. The passes are as follows:

Alton Towers Annual Cross. This gives yearlong entry to Alton Towers (with some peak date exclusions) in addition to reductions on food and drinks and different advantages. Accessible from £99 for a 12 months.
Merlin Annual Cross. This move gives entry to all the primary Merlin points of interest within the UK, together with Alton Towers, The London Eye, SEA LIFE centres, Chessington World of Adventures and extra. Begins from £99.

The Alton Towers move can positively be value it should you plan on visiting Alton Towers a number of instances in a 12 months (a minimum of three I’d recommend), though it would be best to verify which dates are excluded earlier than buying.

The Merlin Annual move is sensible should you dwell within the UK and plan on spending your 12 months visiting the Merlin points of interest across the UK. There are a number of these (see full checklist right here), however you’ll positively wish to verify which days you possibly can go to prior to buying.

If you’re solely planning on visiting Alton Towers as soon as or perhaps twice in a 12 months, then a daily ticket will probably supply the very best worth.

 

Alton Towers Fastrack Passes

One strategy to probably improve your Alton Towers expertise is to put money into a Fastrack move.

A Fastrack move offers you entry to a particular Fastrack line for a lot of rides which has precedence boarding, and which might considerably reduce your queuing time.

In our expertise, on a really busy day the place normal experience queue instances will be 1 – 2 hours, the Fastrack line shall be between 3 and half-hour.

This may after all rely upon what number of Fastrack passes have been offered and the way busy the park is, however in our expertise on a busy day a Fastrack move can considerably reduce queue instances and allow you to spend extra time using and fewer time queuing.

 

Fastrack Cross Variations at Alton Towers

There are completely different variations of the Fastrack passes, as follows:

Particular person Fastrack tickets for particular rides. These will be purchased on the day via the Alton Towers app.
Fastrack Bronze Cross – means that you can be part of the Fastrack line as soon as for 4 rides: Congo River Rapids​, The Curse at Alton Manor​, Runaway Mine Prepare, and Spinball Whizzer
Fastrack Silver Cross – means that you can be part of the Fastrack line as soon as for six rides: Wicker Man​, Oblivion, Rita, TH13TEEN​, The Smiler, and Galactica
Fastrack Gold Cross – means that you can be part of the Fastrack line as soon as for fourteen rides: Wicker Man​, Oblivion​, Rita, TH13TEEN​, The Smiler, Galactica, Spinball​ Whizzer, Gangsta Granny,​ The Curse at Alton Manor, Hex,​ Marauders Mayhem​, Battle Galleons​, Rapids​ and Runaway Mine Prepare
Fastrack Platinum Cross – means that you can be part of the Fastrack line as many instances as you want for the next rides: Wicker Man, Oblivion, Rita, TH13TEEN​, The Smiler​, Galactica​, Spinball​ Whizzer, Gangsta Granny​, The Curse at Alton Manor, HEX​, Marauders Mayhem​, Battle Galleons​, Rapids​ and Runaway Mine Prepare

Except the person Fasttrack tickets, all the opposite passes will be purchased prematurely on-line, in individual on the park from the customer support workplace, or via the Alton Towers app.

Word that Fastrack Passes can promote out, so if that is one thing you might be positive you wish to put money into on your go to, we suggest shopping for them on-line prematurely of your go to on the official website right here.

 

Fastrack Cross Pricing at Alton Towers

The pricing for the passes is as follows. Word that this doesn’t embrace park entry, so you’ll nonetheless want a park entry ticket to entry the park.

Fastrack is legitimate for a particular day, so in case you are visiting Alton Towers throughout a number of days and need Fastrack on all of them, you will have to purchase a move for every day you go to.

 

How Fastrack Works at Alton Towers

With all of the Fastrack passes the method is sort of easy. When you could have a Fastrack move, no matter kind it’s, as a substitute of becoming a member of the common line, be part of the Fastrack line. This shall be clearly signposted. Word it’s not the identical because the Journey Entry line (that is for holders of Journey Entry Cross tickets solely).

Relying on the experience, somebody will verify your Fastrack ticket whenever you enter the queue or whenever you get to the experience boarding space, so have it prepared. They may usually scan the barcode on the move to validate it.

Relying on the move you could have, the way it works will range barely.

With the person Fastrack move, purchased on a per-ride foundation, that is solely good for one experience on one attraction.

With the Bronze, Silver and Gold passes these entitle you to 1 Fastrack per attraction. So you possibly can experience all of the rides included on the move utilizing the Fastrack as soon as. If you wish to experience a experience once more, you’ll have to be part of the common queue or purchase a person Fastrack ticket for that experience.

You may share these passes in a gaggle, so if one individual desires to do one experience and one other individual desires to do a unique experience, this is usually a good choice.

For the platinum move, this can be utilized for as many Fastrack rides as you need on the included rides, however it will possibly solely be utilized by one individual.

On a latest go to to Alton Towers on a really busy college journey day in July we invested in 4 Gold Passes. This positively saved us a number of time, and meant that we have been all capable of experience all 13 rides working that day (Hex was closed).

On condition that queue instances for the preferred rides have been over 2 hours at some factors on the day we visited, that might positively not have been attainable with out the Fastrack. For us, queue instances on the day various between 1 minute and half-hour with our Fastrack.

Should you’re questioning if Fastrack passes are value it on your go to, see the continuously requested questions part on the finish of this information the place we go into our ideas on Fastrack in additional element.

 

Rides at Alton Towers

We’ll now undergo all of the rides at Alton Towers and what you possibly can count on from every experience. There are a number of various kinds of experience at Alton Towers.

Everybody likes various kinds of experience. For instance, I favor rides with a drop and am much less eager on being spun round. Jess loves being spun round however doesn’t like being dropped! On our latest go to, one of many children hated scary rides, while the opposite child was usually fantastic with them.

On this part we’ll define the primary options of every experience. I’ll additionally embrace an thought of how scary the experience is and the way thrilling the experience is.

For the scare issue, this refers as to whether the experience has components which may make you bounce or which may be much less appropriate for youthful riders. After all, this can range by particular person.

For the joys issue, this refers to how thrilling the experience is. So if the experience spins you round, drops you, or inverts you, I’m going to present {that a} greater thrill issue than a extra sedate experience expertise. Once more, these scores are very subjective as everybody finds various things thrilling.

This could provide help to determine which rides to move for and which rides you may wish to keep away from, relying on the kind of experience you want. We’ll additionally present our ideas on the experience expertise.

Word that this part could comprise experience spoilers so if you wish to be stunned on the rides you may wish to skip it.

For this part the rides are grouped collectively by which space of the park they’re in. See extra in regards to the areas of the park within the part of this information on park areas, which fits into extra element on theming.

 

Forbidden Valley Rides

A post-apocalyptic themed space with a mixture of household pleasant and high-end thrill rides. Rides are as follows:

 

Galactica

Galactica is a flying rollercoaster which debuted at Alton Towers in 2002, though again then it was known as Air. It was rebranded to Galactica in 2016, though the experience expertise stays the identical.

Galactica is unquestionably a enjoyable thrill curler coaster. After you board, the seats truly rotate 90 levels so you might be basically dangling beneath the coaster rail, wanting down on the ground. This allows you to do your greatest flying impression, therefore the identify flying rollercoaster.

The experience itself is sort of high-octane as you whizz across the monitor, experiencing as much as 3.5G. It additionally inverts you twice, and will be pretty disorienting, though nothing to match to Smiler.

Personally I do get pleasure from Galactica though I’m not an enormous fan of being inverted and spun round so it’s not my favorite experience at Alton Towers. It’s positively thrilling although, and beneficial for these of you who like high-speed coasters.

One tip – in case you are staying within the accommodations on-site, there’s an unique resort visitor entrance which brings you in proper subsequent to Galactica. So if this experience is a precedence, you will get right here earlier than nearly all of different riders arrive and get on shortly, even and not using a Fastrack move.

Included on Fastrack: Sure, Silver, Gold & PlatinumScare issue: 0/5Thrill issue: 5/5Ride kind: Flying RollercoasterRide size: 1 minute 40 secondsRide peak restriction: 1.4m

 

Nemesis Sub-Terra

To not be confused with the at the moment closed Nemesis experience, Nemesis Sub-Terra is a darkish drop experience themed across the mysterious Phalanx and Nemesis Creature. It initially opened in 2012, however closed in 2015, and reopened in 2023.

The experience has you getting into a darkened space with a small group the place you might be given some backstory and directions from a Phalanx operative.

After a brief video, you enter an elevator and are transported all the way down to a room the place everyone seems to be strapped into chairs round a central podium containing a mysterious alien egg.

As soon as everyone seems to be secured, the expertise continues. There’s enjoyable lighting and results, as inevitably the alien breaks free and “assaults” the viewers. There’s an amazing drop (sure, I screamed), and enjoyable results all through together with water, prodding ,and leg tickling.

After the drop, you must “escape” the experience via a scary elevate and a small maze earlier than bursting again out into the actual world.

Total, it’s a enjoyable experience expertise with just a few completely different parts which is a bit completely different to a lot of the different rides. Should you don’t just like the considered a scary experience, being trapped in a elevate, or are claustrophobic, it may be one to skip.

Included on Fastrack: No Fastrack availableScare issue: 5/5Thrill issue: 3/5Ride kind: Darkish experience / walk-through / dropRide size: 8- 10 minutesRide peak restriction: 1.4mOther Notes: Because of the drop chairs, this experience has fairly restrictive dimension necessities.

 

The Blade

Discovered close to Galactica and Nemesis within the Forbidden Valley, The Blade is the oldest experience at Alton Towers, relationship from 1980.

Regardless of its age, that is nonetheless a highly regarded and actually enjoyable experience for these of you who like airtime in a experience. It’s additionally one of many extra thrilling rides for youthful guests as the peak restrict is comparatively low in comparison with different rides.

The Blade is principally a large seated swing that appears like a ship, which is why this type of experience is named a Pirate Ship. Passengers sit in rows of 5 dealing with the centre, and the experience swings backwards and forwards, getting greater and better because it goes.

On the very peak of the experience, should you sit on the very ends of the ship, it virtually feels vertical (okay, it’s truly 75 levels, however whenever you’re on the experience you’re unlikely to be measuring angles).

There’s an amazing sensation of airtime on this experience, and it’s positively not for these of you who don’t like that dropping sensation! Nonetheless, it’s a good experience should you don’t like spinning as there’s no spinning or inversion. Even Jess was capable of get pleasure from this one.

On a latest go to to Alton Towers we rode the Blade 4 instances simply because the park was opening. We had stayed within the resort the night time earlier than and got here right here simply because it opened. Regardless of it being a busy day, the primary half hour or so had only a few riders, and at one level there have been solely 8 individuals on the entire experience.

It was an actual hit with the youthful members of our group and it was one of many extra thrilling rides that we may all do collectively. Together with the Runaway Mine Prepare, this was the favorite household pleasant thrill experience we did in Alton Towers.

Included on Fastrack: NoScare issue: 0/5Thrill issue: 3/5Ride kind: Pirate ShipRide size: 1 minute 30 secondsRide peak restriction:1m (1.3m should experience with an grownup)

 

X-Sector Rides

House to a number of the most excessive rides within the park, all with a 1.4m peak restriction. Themed like a secret authorities check facility.

This accommodates two everlasting rides, Smilar and Oblivion, in addition to two carnival model rides, Spinjam and Twistatron. I’m simply going to cowl the everlasting rides on this part.

 

The Smiler

Opened in 2013, at time of writing The Smiler holds the world report for essentially the most inversions (basicaly what number of instances you might be the other way up) on a curler coaster at fourteen.

The Smiler is unquestionably one of the thrilling rides at Alton Towers, and in addition one of many extra standard rides. Each time we go to, it at all times appears to have a number of the longest queue instances.

The experience itself is sort of a marvel of development. It takes up a comparatively tiny footprint, with each stretch of monitor seemingly involving a twist, a flip, or a drop.

By way of the expertise, this experience positively delivers. It’s quick, thrilling, and it spins you round quite a bit. I’m not an enormous fan of rides that invert me, however I did get a thrill from this experience, even when my head was spinning for some time afterwards!

I additionally appreciated all of the theming all through, with a repetitive sound monitor that will get in your head and many flashing lights and colours. It’s all designed to disorient, and it positively succeeds.

The one draw back of the rollercoaster is that resulting from its severely complicated design, it does appear to close down fairly usually. This may be very irritating, particularly should you’ve spent a number of time queuing just for it to shut with no warning.

Included on Fastrack: Sure, Silver, Gold & PlatinumScare issue: 1/5Thrill issue: 5/5Ride kind: Curler coasterRide size: ~ 3 minutesRide peak restriction: 1.4mOther Notes: Journey early or late within the day to skip the lengthy queues or think about Fastrack. That is additionally one of many solely rides to have a single-rider lane which is usually a lot sooner.

 

Oblivion

Oblivion was the world’s first dive rollercoaster when it opened in 1998. This design of rollercoaster gives principally a 90-degree drop from a major peak, providing a sensation of free fall.

The experience expertise is sort of simple. The automobiles are fairly large however solely two rows deep. You get taken to the highest of the monitor and pause for an exciting second over the drop.

You then freefall down 55 metres (180 ft), with the joys being heightened because the automotive plunges right into a darkish tunnel beneath the bottom. It then swoops round and is over.

Personally, I’m an enormous fan of drops so it shouldn’t come as a shock that that is certainly one of my favorite rides in Alton Towers, regardless of the comparatively brief experience time. Jess, who doesn’t like drops, is unquestionably much less satisfied by Oblivion and skipped it!

It is a nice rollercoaster should you don’t like being inverted or thrown round an excessive amount of. It’s not an amazing choice should you’re notably afraid of heights or hate the feeling of free fall.

Included on Fastrack: Sure, Silver, Gold & PlatinumScare issue: 0/5Thrill issue: 5/5Ride kind: Dive RollercoasterRide size: 1 minute 15 secondsRide peak restriction: 1.4 m

 

Darkish Forest Rides

Themed as a haunted woodland, this space of the park is dwelling to 2 thrill rides that are:

 

Rita

Should you love velocity and g-force, then Rita is probably going the curler coaster for you. Launched in 2005, this curler coaster is the quickest experience within the park, topping out at 61.1 miles per hour.

It’s additionally the one with the very best G-forces, which go as much as 4.7G.

The primary thrill of Rita is the launch. The experience is themed like a drag racer, with barely panicked voice over offering an air of anticipation as you get able to go.

Then, like a drag racer does, you speed up in a short time in a straight line. How shortly? Effectively, you get to the utmost velocity of 61.1 mph in round 2.5 seconds, which actually feels very fast whenever you launch!

After the preliminary thrill of the launch, the experience then banks round some pretty sharp corners and in addition offers you a sense of weightlessness as you crest a few hills.

This experience is unquestionably going to be good for these of you who don’t like being fully inverted as there aren’t any inversions.

Nonetheless the velocity of the experience signifies that the g-forces are fairly excessive at 4.7G, so it would be best to preserve your head firmly braced again towards the headrest as in any other case it will possibly really feel like fairly a tough experience!

The opposite draw back to this experience is that it’s one of many shortest rides within the park, lasting round 25 seconds. So if there’s a very lengthy queue and also you don’t have a Fastrack move then you definitely may wish to return when it isn’t so busy.

Included on Fastrack: Sure, Silver, Gold & PlatinumScare issue: 1/5Thrill issue: 4/5Ride kind: Accelerator RollercoasterRide size: 25 secondsRide peak restriction: 1.4m

 

TH13TEEN

TH13TEEN (or 13, for simpler spelling and studying) was one other world-first rollercoaster when it debuted at Alton Towers in 2010.

Should you’ve not carried out this experience earlier than and don’t know something about it, the twist is sort of attention-grabbing and price preserving as a shock. Nonetheless, should you don’t like surprises and wish to know what lies in retailer, learn on.

13 is discovered within the Darkish Forest space of Alton Towers, and is themed to be a little bit of a spooky experience. The experience itself is what’s referred to as a drop rollercoaster.

The experience begins with you entering into normal curler coaster carts that are just like the Runaway Mine prepare. Passengers sit two by two. 

The prepare units off and drops just a little round a curve earlier than climbing the primary elevate hill. From right here there are fairly just a few enjoyable airtime hills and banked turns, which make for a extremely pleasing experience. It’s notably enjoyable should you don’t like an excessive amount of spinning round like me, however do like the feeling of airtime.

About half means via the experience the prepare abruptly enters a darkish tunnel and the doorways shut behind you. That is the place the shock takes place. Ghosts mild up and air blows at you, and the prepare and monitor actually drop out from beneath you.

Then the prepare takes off backwards and also you full nearly all of the remainder of the monitor in reverse.

That is certainly one of my favorite rides at Alton Towers, particularly the primary time I rode it after I had no thought what was going to occur.

The experience itself just isn’t massively scary by way of darkish components, though when it enters the “crypt” and the drop occurs there are some spooky components to pay attention to. That is over fairly shortly although, so it’s not precisely a full haunted home expertise! But when your children don’t like haunted homes, this half may be scary.

Included on Fastrack: Sure, included on Silver, Gold and PlatinumScare issue: 3/5Thrill issue: 4/5Ride kind: RollercoasterRide size: 1 minute 40 secondsRide peak restriction: 1.2m

 

The Towers Rides

This a part of the park covers all of the rides discovered within the space of the unique home at Alton Towers. It’s a bit unfold out with no actual theme. Rides are as follows:

 

Spinball Whizzer

Spinball Whizzer is a rollercoaster which is designed to provide the expertise of being a pinball inside a pinball machine.

It’s basically a rollercoaster with the twist that the four-person carriage spins freely round because it races across the monitor, so each experience is completely different.

It’s a reasonably thrilling experience with vertical sections of monitor and many dips and dives, however there aren’t any inversions. Regardless of probably not having fun with spinning rides I did truly fairly get pleasure from Spinball Whizzer.

It’s a comparatively easy experience (besides on the finish the place there is usually a little bit of a janky second when the cart is aligned to face ahead once more for loading and unloading).

Spinball Whizzer was an actual hit with the six-year-old we visited Alton Towers with not too long ago, in addition to with the adults within the group. The comparatively low experience peak requirement makes for a pleasant family-friendly rollercoaster for youths trying to department out into the larger thrill rides.

It’s technically a part of “The Towers” space, however is definitely positioned very near CBeebies Land.

Included on Fastrack: Sure, Bronze, Gold and PlatinumScare issue: 0/5Thrill issue: 3/5Ride kind: Spinning RollercoasterRide size: 1 minute 15 secondsRide peak restriction: 1.2 m

 

Hex

Hex is a darkish theme experience primarily based on an precise native legend involving a chained up Oak tree, which is definitely a location not too removed from the park itself.

On condition that it’s primarily based on the proprietor of the unique Alton Towers property, it’s acceptable that the experience is discovered inside the ruins of Alton Towers.

Like the opposite darkish rides, Hex is unquestionably a experience that’s greatest skilled as a shock. So if you wish to expertise it with no spoilers, now could be the time to skip to the subsequent experience.

The primary factor to pay attention to is that the experience will be disorienting, so in case you are liable to movement illness it’s one to watch out of.

Nonetheless there’s no drop, inversions or actual spinning. The primary a part of the experience has you progressing on foot between rooms, watching an immersive story with numerous lighting, sounds and results.

The latter a part of the experience is seated with lapbars. You’ll transfer and tilt, with the impact vastly heightened by the intelligent design of the room and what’s basically a large optical phantasm. So it appears like you might be shifting and tilting much more than you truly are.

Hex is a enjoyable expertise however it’s a bit divisive in that individuals both appear to like it or hate it. We expect it’s completely different sufficient from the opposite rides to make it value visiting, and should you don’t really feel nice you possibly can at all times shut your eyes.

Word that Hex is closed for the remainder of 2023.

Included on Fastrack: Sure, Gold and PlatinumScare issue: 5/5Thrill issue: 2/5Ride kind: Walkthrough darkish rideRide size: 5 minutes 25 secondsRide peak restriction: 0.9m (1.2m should experience with an grownup)

 

Cuckoo Vehicles Driving Faculty

Discovered subsequent to the David Walliams space of the park, Cuckoo Vehicles Driving Faculty offers children the chance to study to drive their very personal Cuckoo Automotive.

A enjoyable monitor is about up with a variety of site visitors options, together with pedestrian crossings, site visitors indicators and even a bubble automotive wash. The automobiles are electrical, and the youngsters can steer them and make them cease or go together with a pedal.

The automobiles aren’t on any type of monitor, so the youngsters can select the place to drive them, identical to in an actual automotive. They’re fairly small and solely go 4km/h, and there are additionally marshals throughout the monitor to maintain everybody secure and get the youngsters again on monitor ought to they veer off beam at any level (there’s no reverse on the automobiles).

Cuckoo Vehicles was an enormous hit with the youngsters we not too long ago visited Alton Towers with. They’d actually end and run again spherical to hitch the experience queue once more! So that is positively a child pleasant experience, so long as they meet the experience necessities.

The experience necessities for Cuckoo Vehicles are pretty particular, the youngsters have to be a minimum of 1 metre tall, 4 years or older, and beneath 1.4 metres.

So adults can’t take part on this one as that is for youthful children solely. However there’s loads of viewing house so you possibly can preserve an in depth eye on your loved ones members as they study to drive.

Included on Fastrack: NoScare issue: 0/5Thrill issue: 1/5Ride kind: Youngsters Driving RideRide size: 4 minutesRide peak restriction: 1m minimal. Moreover, most of 1.4m and minimal of 4 years previous.

 

Mutiny Bay Rides

A pirate themed a part of the park with primarily household pleasant rides, as follows:

 

Wicker Man

Opened in 2018, Wicker Man is likely one of the latest rides at Alton Towers. When it opened it was notable as being the primary new wood rollercoaster to be opened within the UK for 22 years.

Because the identify suggests, the Wicker Man is themed across the Wicker Man film, a horror film which dates from the Nineteen Seventies and which includes a big woven effigy of a person constituted of wooden which is about fireplace to.

The rollercoaster can also be constituted of wooden, and there’s a big effigy of a person that the experience passes via. There are additionally flame lighting and smoke results all through the experience which add to the themed expertise.

Talking of expertise, the experience begins with a preshow that features some video, mild, and smoke results. This does have a little bit of a scare issue so is one thing to remember if using with youthful youngsters. You then board the prepare, and from this level it’s a wood rollercoaster experience.

The experience expertise is sort of just like the Runaway Foremost prepare or 13, with dips, hills, and twists. There aren’t any inversions or loops or something like that, and the experience peak restriction of 1.2m makes it a household choice for a lot of children as nicely.

Wicker Man is discovered proper subsequent to Mutiny Bay, though it doesn’t comply with the pirate theming.

Included on Fastrack: Sure, Silver, Gold and PlatinumScare issue: 2/5Thrill issue: 4/5Ride kind: RollercoasterRide size: 1 minute 50 secondsRide peak restriction: 1.2m

 

Marauders Mayhem

Proper within the coronary heart of Pirate Bay is the Marauders Mayhem experience, which is principally a basic spinning tea cups experience.

This experience initially launched in 1987 as a tea cup experience, and was relaunched in 2008 with a pirate theme. So as a substitute of sitting in teacups you sit in barrels.

Apart from the theme, the experience expertise is identical as a typical teacups experience. As much as 6 individuals can sit in every barrel, with 4 units of three barrels organized across the experience. Every set rotates, the entire experience rotates, and every barrel will also be made to rotate.

I feel it’s honest to say that the Marauders Mayhem experience just isn’t ideally suited should you don’t like spinning rides. However should you do like spinning rides, that is positively one to go for. It’s a enjoyable household experience with a reasonably low peak restriction.

Included on Fastrack: Sure, Gold and PlatinumScare issue: 0/5Thrill issue: 3/5Ride kind: Spinning teacupsRide size: 2 minutesRide peak restriction: 1.1m (1.3 m should experience with an grownup)

 

Battle Galleons

Should you like rides the place there’s a really stable probability of getting soaking moist, you’ll positively wish to head to the Battle Galleons experience at Alton Towers.

This experience has you boarding a pirate ship which “sails” round part of the Alton Towers lake. The enjoyable half is that there are water cannons on board, which you’ll fireplace at different vessels, in addition to at anybody standing on the shore the place your boats move.

These water cannons are hand operated – you spin a wheel to make the water circulate.

You don’t have to really feel too sorry for the oldsters on the shore although, as a result of they’ve entry to their very own watercannons. There are two variations on the shore – free ones the place you possibly can spin a wheel, and paid cannons. The paid cannons are positively extra highly effective, with 10 “photographs” per £1 once we visited.

This experience was standard with each adults and children in our group however most likely not a superb one for anybody not desirous to get moist.

Assuming there are different individuals taking part within the experience, there’s a really excessive probability you’re going to get fairly moist on this experience. There are some drying rooms close by the place you possibly can pay round £5 to have some air blown at you, however this isn’t massively efficient in our expertise so most likely not well worth the cash.

Included on Fastrack: Sure, Gold and PlatinumScare issue: 0/5Thrill issue: 1/5Ride kind: Splash BattleRide size: 3 minutesRide peak restriction: 0.9m (1.1 should experience with an grownup)

 

Heave Ho

Should you or your children like the concept of the Blade however all of the dropping and peak looks as if a bit a lot, then it’s best to positively take a look at Heave Ho.

This pirate ship themed experience is discovered, as you may guess, within the Mutiny Bay a part of Alton Towers.

The experience idea is principally a pirate ship which rocks backwards and forwards on rails, however which additionally spins because it goes. The spinning just isn’t super-fast however it may be a bit disorienting, so should you aren’t a fan of rides which spin you may wish to watch it first earlier than boarding.

This was a extremely standard experience with our household group on a latest go to. The youngsters actually liked it, and it’s additionally a superb experience for viewers to observe from the sidelines and get good photographs.

Included on Fastrack: NoScare issue: o/5Thrill issue: 2/5Ride kind: Rocking TugRide size: 3 minutesRide peak restriction: 0.9m (1.1m should experience with an grownup)

 

Katanga Canyon Rides

Themed as an African village, this space of the park is dwelling to the next two rides:

 

Congo River Rapids

The Alton Towers theme park doesn’t have a number of water rides, however there are a few choices, certainly one of which is Congo River Rapids.

This has been getting park guests moist since 1986, and stays a well-liked and comparatively household pleasant attraction to today.

The experience consists of enormous round rafts which seat round seven individuals. You begin the experience going up a shallow elevate, and then you definitely float across the river rapids, components of which have sections of uneven water.

There’s an inexpensive probability you’ll get moist on this experience, though it’s usually simply splashes of water quite than a full-on dunking. So simply preserve that in thoughts.

One very nice factor about this experience is that it’s comparatively lengthy by theme park requirements, at 6 minutes. With a minimal peak of 1.1m it’s additionally a superb household pleasant choice for a lot of households.

Included on Fastrack: Sure, Bronze, Silver, Gold and PlatinumScare issue: 0/5Thrill issue: 2/5Ride kind: River RapidsRide size: 6 minutesRide peak restriction: 1.1m (1.3 m should experience with an grownup)Different Notes: Simply bear in mind that you simply may get moist

 

Runaway Mine Prepare

Runaway Mine Prepare is certainly one of my favorite family-friendly rollercoasters at Alton Towers. Jess isn’t an enormous fan of huge rollercoasters, however she actually likes Runaway Mine Prepare.

Because the identify suggests, the theme is a mine prepare which has, nicely, runaway. Riders board carriages seated in pairs, and the prepare has some fairly good drops and twists because it goes, even pulling a good bit of g-force. It additionally does the monitor twice, which makes for a pleasant lengthy feeling experience.

There aren’t any inversions or something like that, but it surely’s positively a fairly thrilling experience, and one of the thrilling rides on the park with a low peak requirement.

We went on it with a 3 12 months previous and a six 12 months previous and so they completely liked it. Simply be ready to hitch the queue once more whenever you end if your loved ones likes it as a lot as ours did! We rode this one a number of instances over two days.

Included on Fastrack: Sure, Bronze, Gold and Platinum.Scare issue: 0/5Thrill issue: 3/5Ride kind: RollercoasterRide size: 1 minute 50 secondsRide peak restriction: 0.9m (1.1m should experience with an grownup)

 

Gloomy Wooden Rides

Gloomy Wooden is themed, because the identify suggests, round a darkish, probably haunted, forest. It has one experience:

 

The Curse at Alton Manor

The Curse at Alton Manor opened in 2023, making it one of many latest rides in Alton Towers. Nonetheless, it builds on an extended custom of haunted home rides, with the unique incarnation of this experience opened in the identical location all the way in which again in 1992.

The experience tells the story of the long-deceased Emily Alton, who Alton Towers followers will acknowledge from earlier rides on this location. The story goes that Emily was by no means invited to the events her mother and father held, and this aggravated her a lot that evil possessed her, cursing the home and all its occupants.

I suppose the ethical of the story right here is to ask your children to your events once in a while.

Anyway, the experience itself has just a few parts. The queue is the place the story begins, winding via the woodland, with numerous graves and spooky sculptures.

You then enter the home, and stroll previous numerous set items with lights and sound results. Lastly, there’s a six-minute experience which takes you thru the considerably darkish and twisted world of Emily.

The experience is unquestionably darkish, and should you like darkish rides and haunted home model rides you’ll probably get pleasure from it. Should you favor rollercoaster thrills and spins , this most likely gained’t be the experience for you as there aren’t any drops, inversions, or twists.

By way of being child pleasant, the experience is fairly scary with various darkish themes of loss of life and revenge. So while the experience peak restriction is pretty low, some children may discover the content material quite terrifying. The youngsters we have been with (age 3 and 6) hated this experience and located it too scary. The three-year-old wouldn’t get on the experience in any respect.

Total, one to take a look at should you like darkish, haunted home kind rides. Personally, Jess and I didn’t actually prefer it as we by no means actually bought the complete story for the experience and it isn’t a thrill experience.

Included on Fastrack: Sure, Bronze, Gold and PlatinumScare issue: 4/5Thrill issue: 1/5Ride kind: Darkish experience / haunted houseRide size: 6 minutes 15 secondsRide peak restriction: 0.9m (1.1m should experience with an grownup)

 

The World of David Walliams Rides

This a part of the park focuses on the world created by the writer David Walliams. It’s a really family-friendly a part of the park, and a lot of the rides have low peak necessities. Rides are as follows:

 

Gangsta Granny the Journey

Opened in 2021, Gangsta Ganny the Journey is likely one of the principal rides within the space of the park dedicated to the world created by author David Walliams.

The experience is principally a carriage-based darkish experience with a number of particular results that has you serving to the primary characters try and steal the Crown Jewels from Buckingham Palace.

Everybody in our group on a latest journey to Alton Towers loved this experience. The story is attention-grabbing and fascinating for youths particularly, and the expertise is enjoyable for adults as nicely. There’s additionally fairly a little bit of humour all through the experience which ought to carry a smile to your face.

It’s neither an exciting curler coaster nor a scary experience, however we predict it’s nicely value doing, even should you aren’t in any respect aware of the characters within the books. All of us loved it.

One factor to notice is that the theme of the experience does have characters stealing and committing against the law which could not sit proper with all mother and father with youthful youngsters.

Included on Fastrack: Sure, Gold and PlatinumScare issue: 1/5Thrill issue: 1/5Ride kind: Darkish rideRide size: 4 minutesRide peak restriction: 0.9m (beneath 1.2m should experience with an grownup)Different Notes: This experience has a reasonably low most rider per hour restrict, so queue instances will be longer than you may count on

 

Raj’s Bouncy Backside Burp

Discovered within the David Walliams space of Alton Towers, Raj’s Bouncy Backside Burp is a bouncing drop experience designed for younger children. It’s just like the CBeebies Peter Rabbit Journey however the drops are a bit extra pronounced, making it a bit extra thrilling.

The drops are additionally accompanied by a fart primarily based soundtrack, and actually, what child doesn’t discover bathroom humor hilarious? So this experience is unquestionably standard amongst children visiting the park.

The drop just isn’t so terrifying (it’s extra of a bounce actually), and Jess who doesn’t actually like drop rides didn’t thoughts this. Though accompanying a 3-year-old in hysterics on the sound results most likely helped!

Included on Fastrack: NoScare issue: 0/5Thrill issue: 1/5Ride kind: Bouncy dropRide size: 1 minute 45 secondsRide peak restriction: 0.9m (beneath 1.1m should experience with an grownup)

 

Royal Carousel

Have you ever even been to a theme park should you haven’t ridden the carousel? Jess would definitely argue no. It’s at all times a experience that we like to experience a minimum of as soon as at any theme park, honest, or carnival because it’s such a basic.

The Royal Carousel in Alton Towers is discovered within the David Walliams a part of the park, and options quite a few horses and carriages. Among the horses go up and down (these with poles to the roof) and a few are static.

It has a royal theme, with a crown on prime and a voiceover soundtrack to match. Certain, it’s not essentially the most thrilling experience within the park, but it surely’s enjoyable for youths and adults who love a little bit of theme park nostalgia.

Included on Fastrack: NoScare issue: 0/5Thrill issue: 1/5Ride kind: CarouselRide size: 2 minutesRide peak restriction: no peak restriction however these beneath 1.3m should experience with an grownup

 

Flavio’s Fabulous Fandango

This carnival model tornado experience discovered within the David Walliam’s part of the park is nice for these of you who love being spun round. It’s truly certainly one of Jess’s favorite rides at Alton Towers as a result of she loves being spun round however doesn’t like being dropped.

The experience consists of twelve units of chairs that are in teams of 4. The teams of 4 spin collectively, after which all of the teams additionally spin round a central level. This leads to various spinning, which at factors can appear fairly quick as you whiz previous gondolas coming the wrong way.

It’s positively a number of enjoyable. Simply bear in mind that the minimal experience peak of 1.2m is a bit greater than a lot of the different rides on this space. I’d additionally add that that is technically a brief carnival model experience, however we’re included it because it’s themed and appears more likely to keep.

Included on Fastrack: NoScare issue: 0/5Thrill issue: 2/5Ride kind: TwisterRide size: ~2 minutesRide peak restriction: 1.2m

 

CBeebies Land Rides

CBeebies Land is a extremely household pleasant a part of Alton Towers with rides, reveals and actions designed to entertain youthful guests to the park. It has an enormous quantity of rides and actions. The primary rides are as follows:

 

Peter Rabbit Hippity Hop

Peter Rabbit Hippity Hop is a delicate drop model experience designed for youthful riders. The experience is themed round Beatrix Potter’s Peter Rabbit character, with enjoyable sound results and music.

This experience is unquestionably not a loopy drop experience, it’s extra of a delicate drop and bounce. So even adults who don’t like drop rides will get pleasure from using this one with their children.

It’s most likely not a experience that thrill seekers are going to be heading for, however in case you are in Alton Towers with youthful members of the family you’ll positively wish to verify this one out.

Included on Fastrack: NoScare issue: 0/5Thrill issue: 1/5Ride kind: DropRide size: ~ 90 secondsRide peak restriction: 0.9m (beneath 1.1m should experience with an grownup)

 

Go Jetters Vroomster Zoom Journey

The Go Jetters Vroomster experience is one other enjoyable household experience. This one is themed across the Go Jetters, with experience members boarding their very personal Vroomster.

A Vroomster, for these of you not acquainted, is principally a jet powered flying automotive. And the Alton Tower duplicate is fairly correct!

The experience consists of quite a few Vroomster automobiles, which might seat as much as 4 individuals, which rotate round a central pod. The automobiles are connected to the pod by a yellow arm, and the riders can management the peak of the automotive with a lever contained in the automotive. This provides the riders the impression of controlling their very personal flying automotive, which is fairly cool.

The experience just isn’t notably quick, so while it does go spherical in circles, it’s about the identical velocity as a carousel so it shoudln’t make you dizzy. The up and down movement can also be fairly light, so all in all it’s a fairly relaxed experience.

Included on Fastrack: NoScare issue: 0/5Thrill issue: 1/5Ride kind: Aerial RoundaboutRide size: 2 minutesRide peak restriction: 0.9m (beneath 1.25m should experience with grownup)

 

Octonauts Rollercoaster Journey

Octonauts is a household centered rollercoaster which is more likely to be one of many first rollercoasters youthful guests to Alton Towers are going to expertise.

The rollercoaster, which is themed after The Octonauts present, gives most likely the gentlest rollercoaster expertise at Alton Towers. It’s a good place to begin for youths who meet the peak restrictions and wish to attempt a rollercoaster.

In the event that they like it, the Runaway Mine prepare has related experience necessities and is a little more thrilling, with a sooner experience and far better drops and velocity.

Nonetheless, Octonauts is unquestionably a superb starter coaster, with no inversions or notably steep drops or curves.

Included on Fastrack: NoScare issue: 0/5Thrill issue: 1/5Ride kind: RollercoasterRide size: 2 minutes 30 secondsRide peak restriction: 0.9m (beneath 1.1m should experience with an grownup)

 

Get Set Go Treetop Journey

This experience in CBeebies Land takes you excessive above the timber (okay, 12 ft) in your very personal bug formed automotive. It’s a enjoyable experience for youthful children for positive and provides good views of CBeebies land.

It’s additionally good and stress-free for adults should you’re searching for a soothing experience with no loopy thrills or scares.

One factor to pay attention to is that this experience is sort of standard and because it’s pretty gradual shifting the queue can get fairly lengthy. In reality, of all of the rides on the park, this was the one the place we had the longest wait on a latest go to!

So attempt to time your go to for very first thing within the morning or afterward within the day. There are actions within the queue to maintain children busy, however they’ll solely go thus far.

Included on Fastrack: NoScare issue: o/5Thrill issue: 1/5Ride kind: Flat trackRide size: 4 minutesRide peak restriction: No minimal however beneath 1.1m should experience with an grownup.

 

Within the Night time Backyard Magical Boat Journey

It is a standard water experience in CBeebies Land which has you boarding a ship for a magical tour across the Night time Backyard. The boat floats peacefully round a river, and while it’s a water experience you might be not possible to get moist.

This experience has you passing by most of the characters and scenes from the “Within the Night time Backyard” TV collection, together with the Tombliboos, Upsy Daisy and Iggle Piggle.

It’s a pleasant stress-free experience which ought to amuse youthful guests and be good and stress-free for adults. It’s additionally a comparatively lengthy experience at 6 minutes.

ncluded on Fastrack: NoScare issue: 0/5Thrill issue: 0/5Ride kind: Boat rideRide size: 6 minutesRide peak restriction: No peak restriction however these beneath 1m should experience with an grownup

 

Postman Pat Parcel Submit

Postman Pat has been a stalwart determine on youngsters’s tv for the reason that Nineteen Eighties. I keep in mind watching him delivering mail across the Yorkshire Dales along with his trusty helper Jess the cat as a toddler, and children at the moment nonetheless get to observe Pat on CBeebies.

Now, you can also expertise the lifetime of Pat on the Alton Towers Postman Pat Parcel Submit experience in CBeebies Land. It is a flat experience on rails which has you boarding Pat’s signature crimson submit van and go trundling round a course.

The van has numerous buttons on the dashboard, which you’ll press to make sure you ship the proper parcel to the proper individual, giving it a superb factor of interactivity. There are additionally lights and a horn that you may management.

Total it is a enjoyable household expertise for youthful guests and particularly followers of Postman Pat. It’s in no way a thrill experience, however not every part must be!

Included on Fastrack: NoScare issue: 0/5Thrill issue: 0/5Ride kind: Monitor RideRide size: 2 minutes 45 secondsRide peak restriction: No peak restriction however these beneath 1.1m should experience with an grownup

 

 

Thrill Rides at Alton Towers

Now that we’ve coated all of the rides by space, we’ll checklist the rides divided into numerous classes. Beginning with thrill rides.

Should you’re searching for a listing of the joys rides at Alton Towers, I’d recommend the next all classify:

The Smiler
Oblivion
Galactica
Rita
TH13TEEN
Wicker Man
Spinball Whizzer
Runaway Mine Prepare
Marauders Mayhem
The Blade

After all, how thrilling you discover a experience shall be private choice, however we predict most individuals would discover the above rides pretty thrilling!

 

Rides for Toddlers and Youngsters at Alton Towers

Should you’re visiting Alton Towers with youthful members of the family, you may be questioning what the very best rides for them are going to be.

For the overwhelming majority of rides, the primary factor just isn’t going to be the age of your little one, however quite their peak. That is positively one thing to pay attention to when you have youngsters of differing heights, as a few of them could possibly expertise rides that the others could not. This may result in difficult conditions, as nobody likes to be ignored!

It’s subsequently a good suggestion to have an thought of which rides on the park are going to be appropriate for which members of your group and which aren’t. That means you may make a plan for which rides to take who to. The Alton Towers app and web site has a filter system so you possibly can present solely these rides that are going to be appropriate.

The final time we visited Alton Towers we had 4 adults, a 3-year previous who was 1.1m and a 6-year previous who was 1.25m. So this meant they couldn’t experience each experience collectively.

We dealt with this by sharing duties between the adults, and splitting the rides we rode collectively. This was made quite a bit simpler with the Fastrack passes we had because it meant we weren’t away for very lengthy.

The excellent news is that there are additionally numerous nice rides which are appropriate for all ages and heights. We’d particularly suggest the next:

Gangsta Granny the Journey
Get Set Go Tree Prime Journey
Peter Rabbit Hippity Hop
Octonauts Rollercoaster Journey
Postman Pat Parcel Submit
Battle Galleons
Cuckoo Vehicles Driving Faculty

For barely taller and extra adventurous children, the next are sure to get their pulses going a bit extra:

Blade (1m)
Wicker Man (1.2m)
Spinball Whizzer (1.2m)
TH13TEEN (1.2m)
Marauders Mayhem (1.1m)
Congo River Rapids (1.1m)
Heave Ho  (0.9m)
Runaway Mine Prepare (0.9m)

The 2 extra scary rides (haunted home model) may additionally be appropriate for youths however actually that is going to be a private determination as a guardian relying on the child. These are:

Hex (0.9m)
The Curse at Alton Manor (0.9m)

After we visited with a 3-year previous and a 6-year previous their experience highlights have been Runaway Mine Prepare, Blade, Octonauts, Get Set Go Tree Prime Journey, Cuckoo Vehicles Driving Faculty, and Heave Ho. The 6-year-old additionally actually appreciated Spinball Whizzer, Marauders Mayhem, and Wicker Man.

In addition they actually liked the interactive reveals and experiences in CBeebies Land, in addition to taking part in the video games the place you possibly can win a toy like Hook-a-Duck.

Simply bear in mind that the Hook-a-Duck and related video games aren’t free. The temptation of a large toy is tough to withstand although.

 

Journey Peak Necessities at Alton Towers

Right here’s a fast checklist of all of the rides at Alton Towers with their minimal experience heights, ordered from excessive to low.

Some rides even have a unique minimal peak if using with out an grownup, which is indicated in brackets if relevant.

Nearly all of rides with peak restrictions have a measurement stick subsequent to the experience entrance so you possibly can confirm riders’ heights. If you get to the experience, workers will normally verify heights if they’re uncertain, so that you’ll wish to make certain everyone seems to be the proper peak to keep away from disappointment.

You can too get a bracelet which has the rider’s peak on it at a number of the rides to save lots of having to be measured a number of instances.

Right here’s a listing of all of the rides which have a restriction, ordered from highest to lowest.

Nemesis Sub-Terra – 1.4m
The Smiler – 1.4m
Oblivion – 1.4m
Galactica – 1.4m
Rita – 1.4m
Spinball Whizzer – 1.2m
TH13TEEN – 1.2m (most 1.96m)
Wicker Man – 1.2m
Marauders Mayhem – 1.1m (1.3m should experience with an grownup)
Congo River Rapids – 1.1m (1.3m should experience with an grownup)
The Blade – 1m (1.3m should experience with an grownup)
Hex – 0.9m (1.2m should experience with an grownup)
The Curse at Alton Manor – 0.9m (1.1m should experience with an grownup)
Gangsta Granny The Journey – 0.9m (1.2m should experience with an grownup)
Peter Rabbit Hippity Hop – 0.9m (1.1m should experience with an grownup)
Battle Galleons – 0.9m (1.1m should experience with an grownup)
Go Jetters Vroomster Zoom Journey – 0.9m (1.25m should experience with an grownup)
Octonauts Rollercoaster Journey – 0.9m (1.1m should experience with an grownup)
Heave Ho – 0.9m (1.1m should experience with an grownup)
Runaway Mine Prepare – 0.9m (1.1m should experience with an grownup)
Raj’s Bouncy Backside Burp – 0.9m (1.1m should experience with an grownup)
Royal Carousel – no peak restriction however these beneath 1.3m should experience with an grownup
Postman Pat Parcel Submit – no peak restriction however these beneath 1.1m should experience with an grownup
Within the Night time Backyard Magical Boat Journey – no peak restriction however these beneath 1m should experience with an grownup
Cuckoo Vehicles – 1m. Moreover, most of 1.4m and minimal of 4 years previous.

 

Areas at Alton Towers

Alton Towers is split into 11 areas. Every space is themed in another way, with some areas extra centered on high-octane thrill rides (like X-Sector) while others are extra geared toward youthful households (resembling CBeebies Land).

Right here’s a listing of all of the areas at Alton Towers and the rides they comprise. When planning your day, it’s a good suggestion to attempt to do all of the rides you have an interest in in every space, to keep away from spending a number of time strolling between areas.

 

X-Sector

This part of the park accommodates a number of the extra excessive rides within the park, all of which have a minimal peak restriction of 1.4m. The rides are:

Oblivion
The Smiler
Spinjam (momentary carnival model experience)
Twistatron (momentary carnival model experience)

X-Sector is themed like a secret authorities testing facility, so count on numerous steel fencing and concrete.

 

Darkish Forest

This part of the park is dwelling to 2 rides, each of which supply fast-paced thrills. These are:

The Darkish Forest space is themed as a type of haunted woodland. The thought is you possibly can solely escape by using the deserted drag racer Rita. I’m not fairly positive the way you get out should you’re beneath the 1.4m peak restriction for Rita.

 

Forbidden Valley

This space of the park has quite a few completely different rides which embrace some rides appropriate for smaller friends. That is the world of the park you enter should you come within the resort visitor entrance.

Forbidden valley is the place you’ll discover the Blade, which is the oldest experience in Alton Towers, initially opening in 1980!

The rides in Forbidden Valley are:

The Blade
Galactica
Nemesis Sub-Terra
Funk n’Fly (momentary carnival model experience)

Forbidden Valley has a post-apocalyptic theme, with hints of alien infestation all through linked to the Nemesis creature. Nemesis was a experience at Alton Towers till 2022, when it closed for refurbishment. It’s resulting from relaunch with a major overhaul in 2024.

 

Gloomy Wooden

Discovered between Katanga Canyon and Forbidden Valley, Gloomy Wooden solely accommodates one experience:

Nonetheless it does have a walkthrough themed footpath which is dwelling to numerous statues, gravestones and different installations, titled Haunted Hole. A few of these make noises, together with telling jokes.

As you’ll guess from the identify, the theme of the world is a haunted woodland.

 

Katanga Canyon

Katanga Canyon is the place you’ll discover the park’s oldest rollercoaster in addition to a water experience. Each these rides are a number of enjoyable, with the rollercoaster appropriate for a lot of youthful guests as nicely.

Runaway Mine Prepare
Congo River Rapids

Katanga Canyon is themed as an African village. The Runaway Mine experience has one of many lowest peak necessities of any rollercoaster within the park (the identical as Octonauts), and may be very standard with households.

 

CBeebies Land

CBeebies Land is likely one of the most household pleasant areas in Alton Towers, with rides, reveals and actions centered round entertaining youthful guests.

Actually, in case you are visiting with toddlers and younger guests there’s just about sufficient to do right here to fill a day. It’s a extremely enjoyable space and you may inform a number of thought has gone into creating an immersive world. As you possibly can see there’s quite a bit to do right here:

Within the Night time Backyard Magical Boat Journey
Postman Pat’s Parcel Submit
Get Set Go Treetop Journey
One thing Particular Sensory Backyard
Bugbie Go Spherical
Octonauts Curler Coaster Journey
Justin’s Home: Pie-O-Matic Manufacturing unit
Go Jetters Vroomster Zoom Journey
Massive Enjoyable Showtime
CBeebies Picture Studio
JoJo & Gran Gran at House
Andy’s Adventures Dinosaur Dig
Hey Duggee’s Stay

If we needed to criticize CBeebies Land for something, it’s that queue instances for a number of the rides is usually a bit lengthy on busy days.

In reality, the longest queue we had on a latest go to to Alton Towers was for Get Set Go Tree Prime Journey.

Apart from that although, this park, which is themed round a complete vary of CBeebies applications, is a extremely enjoyable spot for households visiting Alton Towers providing every part from rides to dwell reveals to enjoyable picture alternatives.

 

The Towers

The Towers are literally the ruins of the unique home at Alton Towers, and is the place the park will get its identify from. It’s dwelling to quite a few rides, that are discovered round the primary constructing.

The Towers space is a bit unfold out, with a part of it proper subsequent to CBeebies Land and the remainder near the World of David Walliams. Rides are as follows:

Hex – The Legend of the Towers
Cuckoo Vehicles Driving Faculty
Spinball Whizzer

There’s no explicit theming across the rides to be sincere, they simply occur to be within the space of the unique home.

This space can also be the place you can see the Alton Towers Dungeon. It is a separate attraction which requires its personal ticket, which you should purchase right here. It is a stroll via attraction with costumed actors.

We haven’t visited the Alton Towers Dungeon however now we have visited the dungeon in Edinburgh, London and San Francisco, which supply an identical expertise.

It’s enjoyable, nevertheless there’s already quite a bit to do at Alton Towers so we wouldn’t say it was a must-see attraction. That stated, it’s a good worth particularly should you ebook prematurely and it’s a enjoyable expertise.

 

The World of David Walliams

Discovered simply past The Towers, the World of David Walliams gives a variety of rides that are primarily geared toward main college aged children.

In our expertise although youthful children additionally get pleasure from nearly all of the rides right here as they aren’t notably excessive and the experience heights aren’t overly restrictive. The rides listed below are:

Gangsta Granny: The Journey
Raj’s Bouncy Backside Burp
Royal Carousel
Flavio’s Fabulous Fandango

This space is themed world wide and characters created by David Walliams and is one other great spot for households visiting Alton Towers.

 

Mutiny Bay

Discovered close to the primary park entrance, Mutiny Bay is dwelling to a number of family-friendly rides in addition to quite a few paid fairground model video games like Hook-a-Duck and toss the ball kind of video games. The rides are:

Battle Galleons
Heave-Ho
Marauders Mayhem
Wicker Man

Except Wicker Man, all of the rides right here have a nautical / pirate theme, and that is one other nice location within the park for households as the bulk rides have low peak restrictions and the queues aren’t usually too lengthy (aside from Wicker Man).

That is additionally the place you’ll discover Sharkbait Reef by Sea Life Aquarium, an aquarium you possibly can go to which is included as a part of your ticket. That is a wholly indoor attraction so is an efficient choice whether it is raining.

Lastly, there’s additionally a bar serving drinks in addition to a seating space at Mutiny Bay.

 

Towers Road

If you enter the park via the primary entrance you’ll arrive onto Towers Road. This space is themed like a city excessive avenue and is dwelling to numerous providers and amenities, together with meals and drinks shops and customer support.

There’s a Skyride station right here, however no precise rides. From this space you possibly can see throughout the lake to the Towers. To your left as you face away from the doorway is Mutiny Bay, and in your proper is CBeebies Land.

So in case you are visiting with children you don’t should go far to seek out your first rides.

 

The Gardens

One of many oldest areas at Alton Towers, and one which has been drawing guests for years, are the gardens. These take up a big space of the park between Mutiny Bay and the Darkish Forest.

Many guests solely expertise the gardens from above, because the Skyride passes over them, however it’s value taking a while to discover them as they’re fairly beautiful and make for a pleasant spot for a break.

You’ll discover all types of options, from neatly trimmed topiary hedges, fountains, previous timber, greenhouses, and follies.

Simply bear in mind that the gardens are set throughout a valley, and there will be fairly just a few steps to navigate. So that is value taking into consideration when you have restricted mobility or are navigating a youngsters’s buggy.

 

Accessibility at Alton Towers

Alton Towers gives a number of data and choices for individuals with numerous incapacity and mobility wants, and this data is roofed intimately on the web page devoted to accessibility on the Alton Towers website.

The accessibility strategy at Alton Towers is designed to help anybody with accessibility wants have a secure and pleasing go to to the park, and the location has data that can assist you plan your go to in addition to what to anticipate on website.

Basically, the park and the resort lodging choices cater nicely for accessibility necessities. All of the bathrooms have accessible wheelchair options in addition to accessible altering rooms. Wheelchairs can be found free of charge, and mobility scooters will be employed for the day. The latter will be booked on-line prematurely right here.

Alton Towers additionally gives a Journey Entry Cross, which is designed for guests who discover it tough to face for extended durations of time. This provides entry to a separate line and a digital queuing system.

Journey Entry Cross holders don’t get to skip the road per se, however they don’t have to face in a line for a chronic interval. This course of is defined right here.

For Journey Entry move entry this must be booked prematurely of your go to as functions are accredited by a third-party who assesses guests’ wants on a person foundation.

 

Pictures at Alton Towers

Pictures is usually allowed at Alton Towers, nevertheless for essentially the most half pictures just isn’t allowed on the rides (with some exceptions).

So if you wish to get photographs of your self and your loved ones having fun with the rides, you’ll want to think about investing in a photograph bundle.

On a latest journey to Alton Towers we purchased the digital picture move for each of the times we have been there. This was £20, and we thought it was fairly wonderful.

The best way it really works is as follows. As you end a experience, all of the experience photographs are displayed on a display with a quantity. Utilizing the Alton Towers app, you possibly can kind in that quantity, and the picture will seem within the app in your machine.

You can too choose up a QR code that hyperlinks to your account and have the picture attendant scan it for automated supply to your app.

Should you haven’t purchased the digital picture move, the picture seems within the app with an enormous watermark and you may’t obtain it. Nonetheless, whenever you pay for the picture move (both in app on in individual), the photographs all turn out to be obtainable with out watermark, and you may obtain them to your cellphone for sharing.

The good factor about this method is that even with six of us, we nonetheless solely wanted to purchase one picture move. I simply had all of the photographs delivered to my cellphone after which shared them. Over the 2 days we have been there we had round 80 photographs, lots of which you’ll see on this information.

It’s additionally value noting that there are extra picture alternatives than simply experience photographs. One good instance is the The CBeebies Land picture cease. It is a actually enjoyable expertise, the place a inexperienced display is used so as to add you and your group to many CBeebies Land scenes.

In addition to digital photographs, it’s also possible to pay for printouts of experience photographs, though it is a separate charge.

You should purchase the digital picture move on-line prematurely of your go to right here. You can too purchase it on website in individual, or via the app. The fee is identical.

Actually, whereas it’s handy to purchase it prematurely, you may wish to wait till the top of the day so you possibly can assessment the images within the app after which determine if you wish to purchase them.

I imagine the images can be found for buy for as much as 90 days within the app, and as soon as bought they are often downloaded from the app for as much as a 12 months from after they have been taken.

 

Eating places at Alton Towers

Alton Towers has fairly a large selection of eating choices throughout the park. There are eating places within the theme park space itself, in addition to eating places on the resort resorts which serve breakfast and dinner.

There are additionally picnic areas and quite a few locations promoting snacks which will be discovered throughout the park.

The primary eating choices are as follows.

 

Eating places within the Theme Park

Woodcutter’s Bar and Grill (close to Darkish Forest / Towers)- focuses on grilled meals
Rollercoaster Restaurant (Forbidden Valley) – has quite a lot of choices, with the twist that every one the meals is delivered by way of a mini rollercoaster.
Explorers Pizza Pasta (Katanga Canyon) – buffet restaurant with a variety of pizza, pasta and a salad bar
The Burger Kitchen (close to David Walliams space & Alton Towers Dungeon, additionally Mutiny Bay) – Primarily burgers, as you’ll think about
Simply Hen (X-Sector) – Primarily focuses on fried hen
Nook Espresso (Towers Road) – In addition to espresso it additionally has sandwiches, pastries, and truffles

 

 

 

 

 

Eating places within the Resort Space

Word these usually solely serve breakfast and dinner. It’s additionally good to know that the Rollercoaster Restaurant can also be open after the theme park closes, though reservations are required.

Secret Backyard Restaurant Meals

Secret Backyard Restaurant Meals

 

Lodging at Alton Towers

For an prolonged Alton Towers expertise, you possibly can truly keep on website at one of many resort lodging choices. There are six completely different lodging choices at Alton Towers throughout a variety of various value factors.

We expect staying on website could make sense, particularly in case you are visiting with children because the on-site lodging is basically arrange in direction of enhancing their expertise with extra actions and themed rooms.

Nonetheless if you wish to keep someplace a bit quieter with extra flexibility in selection by way of value, eating choices and so forth, then take a look at the part on close by lodging additional on on this information.

All of the lodging is discovered to the east of the primary park. Relying on which choice you select, the lodging is a couple of 5-10 minute stroll from the monorail, which is able to whisk you to the primary park entrance in a couple of minutes.

You can too stroll to the primary park entrance in 20 – half-hour, or to the unique resort visitor entrance which is about 5 – 10 minutes’ stroll from a lot of the accommodations.

Right here’s a rundown of all of the lodging choices at Alton Towers to present you an thought of what to anticipate.

 

Alton Towers Resort

Alton Towers Resort was the primary resort to be constructed on the park, opening in 1996. It’s a 4* resort with a big restaurant, bar and virtually 200 rooms.

The resort is themed after the fictional character Sir Algenon Alton, a famed explorer and inventor. Totally different areas of the resort are themed to match his completely different exploits, together with a hot-air balloon pirate ship within the bar space which doubles as a stage.

Numerous room sorts can be found. On our latest go to we stayed in an Arctic Explorer room which was very comfy and fairly giant, particularly for 2 of us. It had an en-suite rest room with bathtub, air-conditioning, a small fridge and tea/espresso making amenities.

A lot of the rooms can sleep as much as 4 individuals – two adults and two children. They’re pretty giant rooms and although we visited when it was busy the rooms have been quiet.

We actually appreciated the theming within the rooms, which has a number of considerate particulars all through, from the carpet to the large stuffed polar bear on the mattress. Totally different rooms have completely different themes, in addition to completely different facilities.

Air con for instance just isn’t obtainable in all of the room, so do verify if that’s necessary to you.

You may see all of the room sorts and their facilities right here– there are a number of choices to select from!

 

Splash Landings Resort

Opened in 2003, Splash Landings Resort can also be a 4* resort. It’s the closest resort to the Monorail station and resort visitor theme park entrance. It’s additionally the place you’ll discover the Alton Towers Waterpark.

Splash Landings is themed, as you may think, round water, with a sunny Carribean theme working all through. There are water options and themed installations, and the rooms are additionally themed alongside numerous nautical types.

On website there’s an all you possibly can eat restaurant, Flambo’s Jambo, which has a Carribean theme. There’s additionally a Caribbean themed bar on website, in addition to common leisure.

Splash Landings is unquestionably a superb choice, particularly with children. The one factor to pay attention to is that it will possibly get fairly heat within the resort because the waterpark is on website, and the rooms don’t have air-con. So the rooms will be fairly heat, even within the cooler months of the 12 months.

You may see all of the room sorts and their facilities at Splash Landings Resort right here.

 

CBeebies Land Resort

CBeebies Land Resort is the most recent resort at Alton Towers Resort, opening in 2017. On a latest go to to Alton Towers with buddies they stayed right here with their two children ages 3 and 6 years previous.

CBeebies Land is firmly geared toward youthful guests to the park and is themed across the characters present in CBeebies reveals. This theming extends all through, from the rooms to the restaurant and reception.

There are additionally many CBeebies reveals and leisure experiences which occur right here that are included for friends. There’s additionally a restaurant and bar on website.

There’s a variety of rooms obtainable, our buddies stayed within the Swashbuckle themed pirate room which slept as much as 5 and had two TVs in addition to pirate theming all through.

The outline for CBeebies Land Resort means that it’s best for guests with children aged as much as round three. Nonetheless, we’d say that this very a lot is determined by your children and what they’re into, and children as much as 9 or 10 will most likely like it.

Our buddies’ children actually thought the resort was wonderful. They liked just about every part about it. Their mother and father notably appreciated the room structure which had the youngsters in their very own alcove in bunk beds, that means they felt virtually like they’d their very own room while nonetheless being in the identical room.

In addition they loved the meals, the leisure, and the theming all through.

One necessary factor to pay attention to with this resort and its amenities is that it is just open to friends staying within the resort itself.

So in case you are visiting the park as a gaggle and a few of you might be staying in CBeebies Resort and a few of you might be in different lodging, that is one thing to remember should you plan on eating collectively or watching leisure.

Company of the opposite lodging choices can’t go to CBeebies Land Resort or use its amenities.

We bought round this by having our meals on the Alton Towers Resort on a latest go to, however the children did nonetheless get to have their breakfast in CBeebies and in addition they took half in a number of the actions just like the night Stargazing.

Total, in case you are visiting Alton Towers with a youthful household the CBeebies Land Resort can be my primary choose if it’s obtainable. You may see all of the room sorts right here.

 

Stargazing Pods

The remaining three lodging choices at Alton Towers fall into the Enchanted Village space of the park, which gives a variety of much less conventional lodging choices.

The primary of those we are going to cowl are the Stargazing pods, which opened to the general public in 2019. Should you’ve ever been glamping, then these pods shall be fairly acquainted.

They’re principally small wood buildings that provide an expertise just like tenting however with the advantage of actual beds, lighting and heating. Every pod can sleep as much as 4, with one double mattress and two single beds. Linen is offered.

There aren’t any bathrooms, showers or different washing amenities within the pods themselves, these are all centrally positioned at a separate block which gives bathrooms, showers and child change areas.

There’s additionally no cooking or refrigeration amenities, you will have to dine at one of many eating places (except you carry your personal picnic model meals).

Stargazing pods are positively essentially the most fundamental lodging choice which might make for a extremely finances pleasant camping-like expertise at Alton Towers.

They’re usually the bottom price lodging choice at Alton Towers Resort, and so they additionally are likely to have the very best availability each time we’ve appeared for final minute lodging.

 

Woodland Lodges

The unique lodging choice within the Enchanted Village have been the Woodland Lodges, which opened in 2015.

The Woodland Lodges are styled as log cabins, every of which might sleep as much as 5 individuals. There’s a principal room for adults, and a separate children sleeping space with bunk beds and a truckle mattress.

All of the rooms have en-suite loos, flat display TVs and free WiFi. For eating, breakfast is obtainable on the Crooked Spoon restaurant within the Enchanted Village, and friends also can have their night meal right here or at one of many different eating places.

We haven’t personally stayed on the Woodland Lodges however now we have buddies who stayed right here with their children and so they loved it.

These are usually amongst the extra standard choices for lodging at Alton Towers Resort, and may promote out shortly.

 

Luxurious Treehouses

Probably the most unique lodging choice within the Enchanted Village space are the Luxurious Treehouses, that are present in a secluded a part of the Enchanted Village.

There are 5 luxurious treehouses, and so they can all sleep as much as eight individuals in 4 bedrooms. The luxurious treehouses all include a kitchenette, which features a fridge, kettle, toaster, microwave and dishwasher. So these are at the moment the one lodging choice at Alton Towers the place you can put together your personal meals.

Different luxuries embrace a 50″ TV with video games console, non-public sizzling tub and deck, and using an unique takeaway service for meal supply.

After all, all this luxurious and facilities does imply that the treehouses are the costliest choice at Alton Towers. Nonetheless in case you are visiting the resort with a gaggle or simply need one thing additional particular, then they’re positively value testing.

 

Lodging Close to Alton Towers

While there are many lodging choices at Alton Towers, it’s not the one choice on your go to.

We do just like the on-site lodging however in case you are not visiting with children or would identical to a little bit of selection by way of eating choices, then there are many close by options throughout a variety of budgets.

These could make a superb location for staying the night time earlier than Alton Towers, or for additional exploration within the space as a part of an extended journey.

Listed here are some to think about, ordered by driving distance from Alton Towers.

The White Hart – a well-liked inn within the village of Alton, providing a variety of en-suite rooms. 7 minutes’ drive from Alton Towers
The Laurel’s B&B – It is a well-rated B&B which serves breakfast. Rooms are en-suite with tea/espresso making amenities. 8 minutes’ drive from Alton Towers
The Bay Tree – a really well-reviewed B&B with en-suite lodging and breakfast obtainable. 8 minutes’ drive from Alton Towers
Peakstones Inn – This 3* resort gives a variety of en-suite rooms and there’s an on-site restaurant and bar. Breakfast is obtainable. 10 minutes’ drive from Alton Towers.
Heywood Corridor – This property gives quite a few self-contained flats, every with a small kitchen an en-suite rest room. There’s additionally a sizzling tub and backyard for friends use. 12 minutes’ drive from Alton Towers.
Whiston Corridor – A lovely nineteenth century resort with its personal golf course and landscaped backyard. A spread of en-suite rooms can be found and breakfast is obtainable. 13minutes’ drivee from Alton Towers.
The Duncombe Arms – This pub/resort is present in Ellastone and gives air-conditioned rooms with espresso machines and en-suite amenities. Breakfast is obtainable and there’s a restaurant and bar for different meals. 13 minutes drive from Alton Towers
The Royal Oak – This inn gives a variety of comfy rooms within the city of Ashbourne. There’s a restaurant and bar on website with meals obtainable. 19 minutes’ drive from Alton Towers.
YHA Ilam Corridor – This youth hostel is present in a gothic corridor set in 84 acres of parkland. There’s an on-site breakfast, kitchen for self-catering, and a selection of shared or non-public lodging. 22 minutes’ drive from Alton Towers.

After all, there are heaps extra choices to think about. You may see a full vary of lodging choices close to Alton Towers on Reserving.com right here, which incorporates quite a few vacation leases as nicely.

 

Different Actions at Alton Towers

In addition to the theme park, there are a variety of different actions on the Alton Towers resort that you may get pleasure from. These are as follows.

 

Waterpark

Discovered contained in the Splash Landings Resort, the Alton Towers Waterpark is open nearly all of the 12 months.

There are a selection of swimming pools, each inside and out of doors, in addition to numerous water slides. It’s a number of enjoyable and nicely value together with as a part of your go to. You may ebook tickets on-line right here.

 

Extraordinary Golf

Proper subsequent to the Splash Landings resort is an 18-hole miniature golf course which is themed round the primary rides at Alton Towers.

That is truly a extremely enjoyable mini-golf course which we had a number of enjoyable taking part in. The holes are very distinctive, and it’s a pleasant strategy to spend an hour or two.

A complimentary spherical of 9 holes is often included for resort friends, and we extremely suggest benefiting from this. We did it on the day we left, earlier than visiting the waterpark. It’s additionally open comparatively late, so when you have the stamina you can do it after a day on the theme park!

Discover out extra and ebook tickets on-line right here.

 

Spa

Alton Towers may be very a lot designed to be enjoyable for the entire household, and adults will certainly wish to think about a soothing journey to the Alton Towers Spa as a part of their go to!

The Spa is present in Alton Towers Resort, and is open year-round to everybody, together with non-residents of the resort and people with out theme park tickets.

A spread of remedies can be found and reserving is suggested. Discover out extra on the web site right here.

 

Alton Towers Dungeon

The Alton Towers Dungeon is definitely discovered contained in the Theme Park, so that you do want theme park tickets to go to. Nonetheless, it’s an extra cost to go to, so I believed I also needs to embrace it on this a part of the information.

The Dungeon is a walk-through expertise with costumed actors, and is just like different Dungeon experiences together with the London Dungeon.

We expect it’s pretty priced, nevertheless given how a lot there already is to do at Alton Towers it’s not a must-see attraction.

Discover out extra and ebook tickets right here.

 

Suggestions for Visiting Alton Towers

We’ve visited Alton Towers quite a few instances, and primarily based on our experiences we wished to share some ideas that can assist you get essentially the most out of your day on the theme park.

 

Make a Plan

If you wish to take advantage of out of your day at Alton Towers, we extremely suggest placing a plan collectively. This could a minimum of cowl which rides you and your group are most all for using.

As soon as you recognize which rides you wish to do, you possibly can then plan a route across the park. We’d recommend heading for the rides that are more likely to have the longest queues first (normally the extra excessive thrill rides), and tackling all of the rides in the identical space collectively to minimise strolling instances.

If you’re visiting with children who don’t meet the experience peak necessities for all of the rides, or of us who aren’t all for particular rides, you’ll additionally wish to plan for find out how to deal with splitting your group up if needed so everybody can have the expertise they need. This may require some compromises, so is greatest dealt with prematurely.

You can too keep away from the drama of youngsters discovering they aren’t the proper peak to participate in a experience by measuring them prematurely, and planning your route so that they don’t really feel they’re lacking out on something. For instance, you can take them to CBeebies Land or Mutiny Bay after which members of the group may pop off for different rides.

We’d additionally suggest fascinated about the place you wish to eat and when. You may both carry your personal picnic or eat at one of many on-site eating places. These clearly get very busy round lunch time on busier days, and reservations aren’t attainable, so that you may wish to eat earlier or later within the day.

 

Deliver a Smartphone Charger

The possibilities are that you’re going to be utilizing your cellphone quite a bit at Alton Towers. From taking photographs to speaking with buddies to utilizing the app to vary experience instances and discover your means round, it’s going for use quite a bit.

Having your cellphone go flat partway via the day, particularly should you’re counting on it to seize recollections, discover your means round, or show a Fastrack move, isn’t going to be ideally suited.

Because of this we suggest bringing a USB charger on your cellphone. There are heaps obtainable, we at the moment use one like this which labored nicely to cost our cellphone and our buddies’ telephones on our final go to to Alton Towers.

 

Obtain the Alton Towers App

Within the days of yore, Alton Towers had a paper map that you can use to seek out your means across the park. Should you wished to understand how lengthy a experience queue was, you needed to both bodily go to the experience itself, or attempt to discover one of many elusive boards displaying experience queue instances and statuses throughout the park.

These days, just about every part is dealt with by way of the Alton Towers App, which is definitely surprisingly good. Though it does require you to have a smartphone after all.

The App helps you to do quite a bit, together with:

Navigate across the park, with instructions, estimated strolling instances and routing obtainable. It may possibly additionally recommend routes with fewer steps.
Discover rides primarily based on quite a lot of standards, from experience kind via to experience peak restrictions
Show dwell experience queue instances and open statuses (solely works on website)
Ebook and use Fastrack passes
Save and show your Alton Towers ticket
Discover bathrooms, eating places, present instances, buggy parks, water refill stations and much extra
Get digital previews of your experience photographs which you should purchase in-app
Add any resort bookings
Get details about heritage areas within the gardens
Discover out about parking, attending to the park and accessibility

And much extra! Actually, the app is a must have when visiting Alton Towers, and it’s value downloading prematurely of your go to so you might be totally ready. Yow will discover obtain hyperlinks for it right here on the official website.

 

Ebook Your Meals if Staying In a single day

If you’re staying in a single day at one of many on-site lodging choices, it’s actually necessary that you simply ebook your meals prematurely. It’s essential to ebook a timeslot on your breakfast and night meals.

Usually, your breakfast meal shall be on the resort the place you might be staying. Even when it’s included, it’s worthwhile to make a reservation for a timeslot. These do refill, so the additional prematurely you ebook the higher the possibility of getting a superb time.

In your night meal you possibly can select any of the eating places, together with Rollercoaster Restaurant. Nonetheless, relying on the restaurant you should still have to ebook.

Eating places the place bookings are beneficial for dinner are the Secret Backyard Restaurant, Rollercoaster Restaurant and Windmill Restaurant.

Flambo’s Jambo and the Crooked Spoon solely require reservations for breakfast.

The Rollercoaster Restaurant is normally the preferred and has the least seating, so can ebook out weeks prematurely for dinner.

Word that solely friends staying within the CBeebies Resort are capable of dine on the Windmill Restaurant. Reserving hyperlinks for all of the eating places are as follows:

Reserving a reservation is free and solely takes a few minutes. Word {that a} day or so earlier than your reservation you’ll usually be contacted by e-mail to verify your reservation, which simply requires clicking a hyperlink within the e-mail.

 

Go to Splash Landings if Staying A number of Days

If you’re staying in a single day at Alton Towers, think about using a few of your time while you might be on website to go to Splash Landings, the on-site waterpark.

For instance, we not too long ago spent two nights at Alton Towers. We visited the park on the primary two days, and on the day we departed we spent the morning at Splash Landings. It was a beautiful strategy to finish our journey and meant even on the day we have been leaving we nonetheless had a number of enjoyable.

Splash Landings tickets are greatest bought prematurely, which you are able to do on-line right here. At busier instances of 12 months it’s worthwhile to choose a timeslot on your go to, so it’s positively greatest to do that prematurely to make certain you possibly can go to at a time that fits you.

 

Arrive Early and Depart Late

There’s a big quantity to do at Alton Towers, and your ticket offers you entry for the entire day. So we extremely suggest taking full benefit of that, and attempting to be on the park from opening time to closing.

Usually, the park opens round an hour earlier than the rides begin working. We positively suggest getting right here at opening time so you possibly can head to a well-liked experience you actually wish to do. This fashion you’ll have the ability to get within the queue earlier than they get too lengthy.

It’s additionally value staying as near closing time as attainable. Because the day progresses individuals begin to go away, and when you have the stamina for it, we advise ready proper till closing time to go away so you possibly can maximise your using instances. Queues positively get shorter because the day involves an finish, so that you’ll have the ability to squeeze just a few extra rides in.

 

Alternate options to Alton Towers

You may be questioning if there are any options to Alton Towers within the UK. The reply is sure, there are actually different theme parks within the UK.

Nonetheless, Alton Towers usually has the widest selection of rides unfold out throughout the biggest space. Nonetheless, listed below are some options to think about:

Thorpe Park
Blackpool Pleasure Seashore
Chessington World of Adventures
LEGOLAND Windsor Resort
Drayton Manor Park

 

Alton Towers Steadily Requested Questions

We’re now going to undergo some generally requested questions on Alton Towers.

 

Are Alton Towers Fastrack Passes Price It?

You may be questioning should you ought to put money into an Alton Towers Fastrack Cross. We’ve visited Alton Towers each with and and not using a Fastrack Cross, and had a superb expertise each instances.

The passes can positively be value it, however quite a bit will rely upon how busy the park is in addition to what number of rides (and which rides) you truly plan to experience.

If you’re visiting at a quieter time of 12 months, then you definitely may discover {that a} Fastrack Cross just isn’t needed as queue instances may not be so lengthy.

If you’re visiting at a busy time of 12 months, resembling throughout college holidays, on a weekend, or throughout a time when many college journeys are visiting (typically across the final week of faculty), then a Fastrack move may be a superb funding.

We’ve visited throughout a busy time at Alton Towers, when traces for the preferred rides have been in extra of two hours. With the Fastrack, traces have been between 5 minutes and 25 minutes. The latter was extra uncommon and normally solely occurred if the experience had paused for a technical cause, inflicting the queue to construct up.

With out the Fastrack, we most likely would have struggled to experience greater than 3 or 4 rides within the day, and most of our time would have been spent in queues. As we have been visiting in a gaggle and taking turns to take care of the youthful members of our group, this wouldn’t have labored out so nicely.

Because it was, members of the group may pop off and experience a bigger experience, and be gone and again in round half-hour. We have been additionally capable of experience many rides, I personally did a minimum of 15 rides in sooner or later. So for our go to the Fastrack Cross was completely value it.

Should you do determine to get the Fastrack, you additionally should determine which one to get. This may rely vastly on which rides you wish to experience Personally I’d suggest the Silver or Gold passes, as these embrace the rides which are likely to have the longest traces.

While these two passes are solely legitimate for one experience on every attraction, should you handle your time nicely on the park you possibly can usually slot in a minimum of one non Fastrack experience at first and finish of the day when the park is quieter should you did wish to experience something a number of instances. You can too purchase one-off Fastrack passes on a per attraction foundation.

The platinum Fastrack move is greatest for these of you who actually wish to experience a number of rides a number of instances, by which case it will possibly make sense.

You should purchase Fastrack passes prematurely of your go to right here, on website at buyer providers, or on-site via the app.

The worth is identical, nevertheless Fastrack passes do promote out, particularly at busier instances of 12 months.

If you’re visiting at a busier time of 12 months and wish to purchase a Fastrack, it’s extremely beneficial you achieve this prematurely on the web site right here.

If you’re visiting at a quieter time of 12 months it’s possible you’ll favor to buy in individual whenever you arrive after you could have seen how busy the park is. Simply keep in mind that passes can promote out.

 

How Lengthy Do You Want at Alton Towers?

I’d suggest spending the entire day at Alton Towers, from the time the gates open to the time it closes. It’s a comparatively costly time out, so that you may as nicely get your cash’s value.

For an much more complete expertise, it’s also possible to plan to remain in a single day on the resort or at a close-by resort, after which go to for a second day.

You may typically get a second day entry ticket at a cheaper price when buying your authentic ticket, making this a superb worth choice.

There may be positively greater than sufficient to do at Alton Towers to fill two full days.

 

Are the Alton Towers Accommodations Any Good?

We have been truly very impressed with the Alton Towers accommodations. On our latest go to we stayed on the Alton Towers Resort, while our buddies with their youthful children stayed at CBeebies Land Resort.

We thought every part was nicely carried out, the theme all through, the seamless check-in course of, the attentive workers, the night leisure and the meals have been all glorious.

It actually added to the general expertise and felt like an extension of the theme park. The youngsters particularly liked CBeebies Land, which we will suggest for households with children as much as round 9 or 10.

We additionally appreciated that staying on the resort meant that our parking was included, and that there was a resort friends solely entrance only a few minutes’ stroll from the accommodations. This bought us near Galactica and The Blade at entry time, that means we have been amongst the primary riders on board.

The one draw back for our keep was that we needed to ebook timeslots for all our meals prematurely.

We have been staying for 2 nights so needed to ebook breakfast and dinner slots. As we booked final minute there wasn’t a number of availability, and it additionally meant we couldn’t be versatile with our plans.

All of it labored out ultimately and the meals on the eating places we ate at was truly superb. Simply bear in mind that you simply do have to plan and ebook prematurely.

 

When is Alton Towers Busiest?

Alton Towers is normally busiest on the weekends and through college holidays.

There are additionally typically college journeys to Alton Towers within the final couple of weeks of the college time period in July, though college journeys can go to at any time after all.

We’ve visited Alton Towers at numerous instances of 12 months, together with throughout July college journey time. It would actually be busier, and it’s possible you’ll wish to put money into a Fastrack ticket on busier days.

 

Is Alton Towers Good for Households?

Sure, Alton Towers is a improbable time out for households. There may be such a large selection of rides, points of interest and actions that everybody within the household will have the ability to have an amazing time out.

 

Is Pictures Allowed at Alton Towers?

Sure, pictures is allowed at Alton Towers.

There are some exceptions. You aren’t allowed to take photographs or movies throughout rides resulting from security, and this shall be clearly acknowledged when queuing for and boarding the experience. Utilizing your cellphone or digital camera on rides can get you ejected from the park and will shut down the experience briefly. Preserve your self, your cellphone, and different passengers secure by stowing your cellphone and cameras earlier than every experience.

If you wish to get photographs of you and your family and friends having fun with the rides, then we suggest testing the digital picture move, which covers a lot of the rides. We all liked that and bought numerous photographs that means on the rides of all of us. You should purchase this on-line prematurely right here or in individual on website.

As well as, pictures and videography is closely restricted at Splash Landings, for apparent causes. If you’re inside Splash Landings when it’s open you possibly can usually take restricted photographs of your personal family and friends, however that’s about it. You aren’t allowed to take photographs of different friends. Greatest to go away your cellphone or digital camera within the locker except you actually need it.

When Splash Landings is closed and empty, you possibly can take photographs of the world.

 

Can I Take My Personal Meals and Drink to Alton Towers?

Sure, you possibly can take your personal food and drinks to Alton Towers, and there are picnic benches throughout the park the place you possibly can eat your personal food and drinks.

The one actual restriction to this rule is that you may’t carry alcohol into the park, though it’s served on website.

You can also’t take your personal food and drinks into venues the place they serve food and drinks, because the tables are just for paying clients solely.

There are just a few picnic areas positioned right here and there with picnic benches that you may sit and use, together with on the primary grassy space by the lake in entrance of Towers Road, and subsequent to Hex.

 

Are there Ingesting Fountains at Alton Towers?

There are many water refill stations across the park the place you possibly can refill a water bottle. We’d positively suggest bringing your personal refillable water bottle to Alton Towers so you possibly can keep hydrated as you go.

Water refill stations are marked on the map within the Alton Towers app.

 

How do I Eat on the Rollercoaster Restaurant?

The Rollercoaster restaurant is likely one of the most enjoyable eating experiences at Alton Towers, and children particularly love watching the meals fly across the numerous tracks earlier than arriving at your desk. Actually, adults like it too!

Sadly, this does imply that the restaurant can also be standard and may get booked up.

For resort friends, it’s attainable to dine on the Rollercoaster Restaurant within the evenings. This requires a reservation, and these can promote out months prematurely.

The excellent news is that you may nonetheless get the rollercoaster eating expertise. The key is simply to go throughout park opening hours. Throughout this time reservations aren’t attainable, and eating is first come first serve.

Should you flip up at near opening time (round 11am), and don’t thoughts having an early lunch, then you definitely shouldn’t have any drawback getting a desk.

We did this not too long ago on a really busy day at Alton Towers and had no drawback getting a desk at round 11.20am. Nonetheless we weren’t capable of ebook for dinner because it was totally booked out for the entire month.

 

How Lengthy Are the Queues at Alton Towers?

Queue instances at Alton Towers range massively, from a couple of minutes to over two hours.

There may be big variability in queue time which is determined by how busy the park is, the time of day, the variety of Fastrack Cross holders and so forth.

Usually should you go to in off-peak instances (principally throughout the week outdoors of faculty holidays) the queue instances shall be shorter.

Moreover, usually within the mornings earlier than round 11am and within the afternoons after 3pm most queue instances will begin to scale back.

 

Is There Wi-Fi at Alton Towers?

Sure, there’s free Wi-Fi all through the resort together with on the theme park and in all of the lodging choices.

You simply have to enroll to entry it. We suggest doing so as a result of the Alton Towers app works quite a bit higher when you’re related to the Wi-Fi community, and utilizing Wi-Fi tends to empty your cellphone battery slower than utilizing your cellular knowledge.

 

Does Alton Towers Have Tall Rollercoasters?

One factor you’ll discover whenever you go to Alton Towers is that it doesn’t have very tall rollercoasters resembling you may discover at different theme parks world wide.

The explanation for that is that Alton Towers just isn’t allowed to construct any experience that goes above tree peak. For this reason many rides are cleverly constructed in sunken areas or to even go beneath floor. So there are nonetheless a number of thrilling rollercoasters right here!

 

Does the Climate Have an effect on Rides at Alton Towers?

The UK just isn’t essentially identified for year-round superb climate, so that you may be questioning how rain and wind can have an effect on the rides at Alton Towers.

The excellent news is that the majority rides will usually run within the rain, except it is vitally heavy rain. If there’s thunder or lightning this may additionally influence rides. Excessive wind also can result in experience closures.

In any other case although, visiting on a moist day can truly be helpful in some regards as there’ll typically be fewer guests and shorter queues.

Lastly, Alton Towers gives a rainy-day assure. Because of this if the climate leads to experience closures to the purpose that Alton Towers deems it a “Wet Day”, then it is possible for you to to return on a unique day free of charge.

If this occurs throughout your go to, as a substitute of writing off the day, think about visiting the Waterpark. There’s a charge to take action however as you might be already on website it would flip the day round. You’ll simply want to recollect to carry your swimwear.

You may learn extra in regards to the Wet Day assure and what it covers right here.

 

Additional Studying

That’s it for our information to visiting Alton Towers! We hope you discovered it helpful.

Earlier than you go, we wished to share just a few of our different guides that you simply may discover helpful.

For wider UK journey planning, now we have instructed one week and two week UK itineraries
We’ve guides to many different cities in England. See our information to issues to do in Manchester,  issues to do in Stratford upon Avon,  issues to do in Bristol,  issues to do in Portsmouth, tips about a weekend in York, tips about Visiting Oxford on a Day Journey, and issues to do in Cambridge
Should you’re heading to Scotland, take a look at our 2 day Edinburgh itinerary, our Glasgow and Loch Lomond itinerary, our information to the greatest day journeys from Glasgow, our information to issues to do in Edinburgh, our itinerary for Skye and the Highlands, our information to the greatest day journeys from Aberdeen, and our information to the very best day journeys from Edinburgh to get you began. We even have a information to getting from London to Edinburgh.
We’ve a information to 10 of the very best Stately Properties in England, a few of which aren’t that removed from Alton Towers

And that’s it! Have you ever ever visited Alton Towers? Do you could have something you’d add to the above, or a query about an upcoming go to? Simply tell us within the feedback beneath!