Alton Towers

Alton Towers is a theme park with attractions in Staffordshire, Great Britain. In this article, we will tell you about its history, available entertainment, events, and ticket prices.

What is Alton Towers?

The theme park has everything you need for an exciting leisure experience, with several themed areas connected by a cable car. The park offers entertainment for all ages, as well as hotels and a water park.

The land on which it stands was originally home to the Earls of Shrewsbury and was first opened to the public at the end of the 19th century.

In 1980, the park began to develop as a theme park, with attractions and a single-entry payment system.

In 1990, the park was acquired by the Tussauds Group, which merged with Merlin Entertainments in 2007.

Alton Towers rides

Alton Towers in the UK has many different types of attractions, including family and children's attractions, as well as those designed for thrill seekers. The park consists of several themed areas, each with its own attractions.

The most extreme attractions include:

• The Smiler - a roller coaster with 14 inversions, listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the most extreme of all roller coasters.
• Oblivion is a 50-metre-high roller coaster with a vertical drop, from which visitors fly into a gaping, smoking abyss.
• Rita is the fastest attraction, reaching speeds of 100 km/h in 2.5 seconds.
• Air is a slide where visitors find themselves in a horizontal position in a ‘superhero’ pose and take flight.

Among the park's family attractions, the following are popular:

• Runaway Mine Train is a roller coaster themed around a mining train, suitable for both children and adults.
• Spinball Whizzer is a spinning roller coaster that combines sharp turns with drops and spins, located in the Adventure Land area.
• Battle Galleons - a combat attraction on the water where you can use water cannons.
• CBeebies Land - an area with attractions and interactive shows featuring BBC characters.

Noteworthy children's attractions include:

• Hey Duggee's Big Adventure Badge - an interactive play area with trampolines, slides and other elements suitable for young guests.
• Octonauts Rollercoaster Adventure - an attraction located in the CBeebies Land area, allowing children to join Captain Barnacles and his crew.
• Go Jetters Vroomster Zoom Ride promises a global journey during which children fly around the world in a Vroomster with cartoon characters.

Of the dark rides, Hex - The Legend of the Towers is the most popular with the public.

Water park

Adjacent to the amusement park is Splash Landings water park, which includes slides, pools and water play areas. It was formerly known as Cariba Creek. This water park is located next to the Splash Landings hotel and is a landmark of the Alton Towers resort. It is a partially covered and partially open area, designed in the spirit of a Caribbean lagoon.

The water park opened on 1 June 2003. It was originally called Splash Landings, which was later changed to Cariba Creek.

There are several attractions in this area.

Master Blaster is a steep water slide with sharp turns, elevation changes and dark sections.

Rush & Rampage are two single-rider looping slides where water park guests navigate large turns.

Wacky Waterworks Treehouse is a ‘tree house’ with water cannons and other interactive options.

The Little Leak is a pool for toddlers with two mini slides and interactive play pipes.

The Congo River Rapids and Battle Galleons water attractions are also popular.

The water park has lockers, changing rooms, and showers. Guests can rent towels or bring their own.

There are also restaurants and cafes in this part of the park.

A separate ticket must be purchased to visit the water park, as it is not included in the price of admission to the theme park.

Alton Towers Events

Alton Towers regularly hosts various events designed to entertain the public.

In October, there is Scarefest, a horror festival timed to coincide with Halloween. The attractions are open longer than usual, not only during the day but also after dark, with the maze of fear being a particular highlight.

At the beginning of November, the park hosts the Fireworks Spectacular, which includes visual and musical performances.

From late November to December, visitors can enjoy Christmas at Alton Towers, a real winter wonderland with twinkling lights, Santa Claus' grotto, holiday entertainment, live shows, and attractions.

Many visitors express a desire to participate in the interactive show Amigos in the Afterlife.

Where is Alton Towers located?

Alton Towers is located in Staffordshire, England, a short distance from the village of Alton.

Address: Farley Ln, Alton, Stoke-on-Trent ST10 4DB.

The park is surrounded by picturesque landscapes, and the town of Stoke-on-Trent is just a few minutes away by car.

Alton Towers map

Explore the Alton Towers map, which shows the entrance, public areas, water park area, location of the Toxica (the park's most thrilling attraction) and other locations.

How to get to Alton Towers?

There are various ways to get to Alton Towers, so choose the most convenient transfer option.

By train

There is no direct train service to Alton Towers, but you can get to the park by changing buses or taking a taxi from nearby railway stations.

Here are some possible routes:

From Stoke-on-Trent station. Take the West Coast Main Line train from Manchester or London. Then you will need to change to the X41 or First Potteries bus or order a taxi directly from the station.

From Uttoxeter station. East Midlands trains from Derby or Crewe arrive here. The fastest way to get to the park is to take a local taxi.

From Derby station. Take the East Midlands Railway line from London, Nottingham, and Sheffield. Then change to the bus to Uttoxeter, and then take a taxi directly to the park.

By bus

Some bus companies operate direct services to Alton Towers from nearby towns, including Stoke-on-Trent, Derby and Nottingham.

Tickets for the X52 bus to Alton Towers from Nottingham start at £14, and from Derby at £10.

By car

Alton Towers is located between the M1 and M6 motorways. The nearest exits are:

M1, northbound — exit 23a, southbound — exit 28;

M6, northbound — exit 15, southbound — exit 16.

For a direct route, follow the brown Alton Towers road signs.

Alton Towers car park

Parking for park visitors costs £12 and is about a 15-minute walk from the entrance. Gold, Platinum and Premium Merlin ticket holders are entitled to free parking.

Express parking, located a few minutes' walk from the entrance, costs £20, but you need to book your space in advance online.

Buses park next to the park.

You need a valid ticket to exit the car park.

Visitor information

Before visiting Alton Towers, it is recommended that you read the visitor information, find out how much tickets cost, and decide on accommodation and meals.

Tickets

One-day tickets (Theme Park Day Pass) cost £29–£34 when purchased online. When purchased on site, the price increases to £68.

Admission is free for children under 90 cm tall.

Tickets for disabled visitors cost £18 when purchased online and £25 on site.

In addition to regular tickets, season passes are also available:

3-month Seasonal Pass - £59 per person. Provides access to the park for three months, including the summer school holidays and selected Scarefest dates. Advance booking is required.

Parent & Toddler Pass - £59 per adult + child. Provides full-day access to the park for a parent and a child of primary school age.

Silver Pass (1-year pass with some date exclusions) £99 per person.

The Gold Pass, priced at £139 per person, provides wider access, fewer exclusions and additional benefits.

The Merlin Annual Pass allows you to visit many parks, not just Alton Towers, and comes in different levels: Discovery, Silver, Gold, Platinum. Prices range from £99 to £299 and include discounts at restaurants and sometimes free parking.

Opening hours

The theme park opens at 10:00 a.m. and is usually open until 4:00 p.m.

During special events such as Scarefest, closing time may be 9:00 p.m.

The opening hours of the water park and other parts of the resort area may differ from those of the main park.

Hotels near Alton Towers

Alton Towers Resort is a hotel in Elton, located 1.9 km from Alton Towers amusement park. Its amenities include a restaurant, bar, free private parking, 24-hour reception, ATM, free Wi-Fi, evening entertainment, concierge services, and a children's playground.

Here are a few more hotels in the vicinity of the park that have received good reviews:

1. The Old Barn, 0.62 km away.
2. Ash House, 1.49 km away.
3. The Beehive Guest House, 2.43 km away.
4. Quarry House, 3.49 km away.
5. Orchard Cottage, 3.78 km away.
6. Heywood Hall, 4 km away.

Restaurants near Alton Towers

There are many restaurants worth visiting near Alton Towers:

Rollercoaster Restaurant is a restaurant near the amusement park with an original interior and unusual food presentation.

Secret Garden Restaurant is located in the Alton Towers Hotel and offers British and international cuisine and dining in a pleasant atmosphere.

Woodcutter's Bar & Grill specialises in grilled dishes, with a menu that includes burgers, steaks and side dishes.

The Burger Kitchen, Just Chicken, and Explorers Pizza & Pasta Buffet are fast food establishments, an excellent option for those who spend the whole day in the park.

The Welcom‑Inn (pub/bar) offers drinks and light snacks. It is not a full-fledged restaurant, but it boasts a pleasant atmosphere.

Contact details and postcode

Postal address: Alton Towers, Alton, Staffordshire, ST10 4DB, England.

Email: [email protected]

Information line: 08705 20 40 60, opening hours: 7 days a week, from 10:00 to 16:00.

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Frequently asked questions