Alton
The City of Alton is a terrific destination for anyone who loves entertainment and beautiful scenery. The city is home to Alton Towers Theme Park and Waterpark, and Dimmingsdale park - a lush nature retreat with winding streams and rivers, forming part of the Churnet Valley.
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1Alton Towers
Theme park
Water & Amusement Parks
Located in Staffordshire, England, Alton Towers is a popular theme park with rides and attractions for all ages. It has a bold mission to make Britain happy and remains popular with young and old alike.
Never had a disappointing day over the many years of visiting...
Alton Towers has a variety of rides, set out across various themed 'Sections'. There's a good variety of rides whether you want speed, psycho coaster, a classic loop or something a little more subdued - so no one will be disappointed. Even kids can come and enjoy the smaller children's rides and amusements.
A lesser advertised gem is the grounds - there are some beautiful grounds and scenery to walk around, have a picnic in or just take an adrenaline break around.
Various choices of restaurants and food vendors available - all of course on the higher price range - but that what you would expect.
For less queue times, you can buy various graded fast tracks but the best way is to use your timings wisely. Mid week and during term time are always quieter times.
My Personal favourites:
Nemesis - Everything about this is a feel good classic coaster and could ride it all day.
Thirteen - whilst not particularly long or extremely, the psychocoaster element never ceases to amuse.
Smiler - Ultimate 'what day is it, what just happened' ride, you'll not know your top end from your bottom end but feel greatly refreshed for it.
Adam Jackson — Google review
Shame about the prices. Way too expensive when you actually think about it. Queues are horrendous unless you pay a fortune for fast pass. And if you are only taking your children and not really going on many rides even worst. But there are good things too. The castle is beautiful ( shame it hasn't been restored yet, if they ever will, it would be an amazing achievement) and the gardens are an incredible refuge from all the chaos around you. Fun paths, quiet ones and almost secret ones. Up and down there's paths everywhere. When you reach the Chinese temple in the lower lake the noise is almost gone. I walked around there for hours while my kids were on the rides. It was so peaceful. Beautiful. The only other downside was that even though there were some security guards walking around once in a while there were still people smoking stuff they shouldn't around there. The smell really ruined it.
Brilliant theme park with tonnes of different rides to suit different ages and thrill seekers. This was my first time visiting and will hopefully not be my last. We did the Halloween fright night and it was fabulous. I have been to the Thorpe Park one as well and would definitely say Alton towers was much better and scarier. The rides exceeded expectation, ones I would definitely recommend are Smiler, Oblivion, wicker man and Rita and Thirteen. The Halloween mazes were brilliant if very scary. You have to pay extra and book in advance for the mazes, but they are totally worth the price.
A 2-day pass for fright night starts at £56 pp. There is also lots of themed accommodation near the park. It is fairly pricey but a great little fun getaway. Fast track is good obviously but does come at an extra cost. The ride wait times can vary and during fright night can be fairly long (check the app as you go around to see the times). Also have a look at the offers as you can get some fast-track tickets which allow fast track on specific rides so might be a better option. Overall great theme park with lots of fun to be had!!
Loads to do for the kids waiting time was reasonable for all the rides The prices were what you would expect from a theme park and for us old people the house is well worth a look if you can get in which unfortunately on this visit I couldn't but on my last trip I was able to have a good look around.can also recommend a stay in one of there woodland lodges they are not big but adequate.They are clean and have plenty of towels etc.Also the location is fantastic my only complaint would be the prices in the little shop but with a Tesco only 15 minutes down the road this wasn't a problem. All the staff are extremely polite and helpful which makes for a pleasant change in this day and age.The buffet breakfast in the morning was lovely with plenty of choice and all the food was fresh and there was no wait to be seated.The mini golf that was in with the price was a good laugh and the waiting time was minimal. All in all a fantastic way to spend two days.
Great day, very expensive because you need the fast passes to actually get to go on the good rides without having to queue for an hour and a half for each ride. The fast passes enabled us to go on everything we wanted. Beautiful park though, I enjoyed the flowers and scenery as I don't go on the rides. Would go again.
Alton Towers is definitely best with bigger kids, who can appreciate its thrill rides. But there’s plenty for younger kids too – my youngest loved the Farmyard with its gentle rides and attractions, the Ice Age 4D cinema, and the Charlie and the Chocolate Factory dark ride, culminating in a magical trip in the Great Glass Elevator. For kids still not sure or not yet big enough for the major coasters, there are other rides such as the Runaway Mine Train and the Flume.
Nice park with a lot of really good rides.
I went during a very busy times so 60 min queues were expected.
The rides seem very unreliable tho .
We went to 4 attractions where we had to wait 15 min longer because of malfunctions and the rides were always open from 11.
Food was expensive but I brought my own.
The rides were fantastic as always and worth the wait.
The gardens were also a really nice breather from the busy theme park.
I would go back someday and I hope the rides could be more reliable.
Wasn't too busy as out of season and we got a brilliant deal. Lots of entertainment and staff were great. The gangster granny ride had my kids shocked at the end it was brilliant. Their sea life was brilliant too, kids loved it and was free. Bring masks
First time going here. Will most definitely not be the last time. Thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it. The rides are fantastic and comparing them to universal or Disney, they come out just as exciting! Oblivion was jaw dropping, thirteen was unexpectedly amazing, wicker man being a wooden coaster thrashes you around.
Tickets were £38 for each adult when booking in advance, and so was well worth it. The turnstiles were a bit awkward as if you didn't get through in one rotation or it locks, you can't use your ticket again. A friendly member of staff will sort this out for you though.
All in all, a thrilling and brilliant day, book in advance, don't bring bags with you if you can help it (I brought a coat with plenty of pockets), as they are not allowed on rides. Fast track would have helped as the queues on an off peak weekday were still upwards of 30 minutes, so essential on a holiday or weekend.
Love this place. Come every year. Beautiful grounds, kept clean, plenty of space to wander or sit and have a picnic (unlike Thorpe Park). Wear comfortable shoes and if you're not great with hills use the cable cars to move from sector to sector. Rides are rarely closed (unlike Thorpe Park). You can walk through part of the old Castle, you can walk the gardens and find ponds and lakes and wildlife. Oh and the rides are 👌🏻.
A great couple of days, great rides, great location. Love roller coasters and these are some of the best.
Frustrating how often rides close. We wasted about 3 hours over the 2 days waiting in queues only to be turned away to come back later when they ride closed. I understand safety is paramount and I wouldn't expect anything less, but communication was extremely poor and announcements could not be heard in the queues. Also they need escape routes from queues. Getting to the front to be told to return the way you came through the queuing lanes just added to time wasted in the park.
Leaving the car park was a nightmare. Why not just add £1 per entry ticket instead of charging car parking and scanning tickets at the car park exit - it would reduce queues I'm sure! 🙂
Best theme park in the UK for sure. Brilliant 2 days (I would suggest going for 2 days if you want to do all the main rides, unless it's a particularly quiet day.)
Highlights are Wicker Man and The Smiler, fantastic rides.
Queues can be long, but it's to be expected. The only downsides are the prices for food and drink, but take a packed lunch and you're all good. Plenty of picnic benches etc all over the park.
Alton Towers is a very creative and expansive place to visit, a place which will make your day brighter and bring you to some unseen adventures. The rides are impressive as well as scary, though entertaining for everybody. The only reason I personally rated this place with 4 stars is because the queue times can often be very long at peak hours.
Alton towers is a really nice place for children at the moment. Lots of Christmas trees and rides. And the Shark Bait Reef by Sea Life is great for all the family. How ever I went for the castle and gardens. The castle is closed. And a little of the gardens are open. And most walkways are shut off. So you don't get to see the hole of the park. Pinball Wizard was the only ride available for adults. But the staff were great. Food is expensive there and very limited. I love a full English breakfast but there was none of that.
Great day even though the weather wasn't a blessing hot day. Haven't been here in 10 years so coming back with children and some new rides was a refreshing change. For a weekend it wasn't bad and there was some queuing but again, not too bad. The app being used around the park was good and helpful with all the information available
It's getting there, things are looking up for the resort. It's tidier, cleaner, and more welcoming than it's been in years. Ride wise it has a great mix, Nemesis Reborn and Wickerman are true highlights.
But there is something that really lets the place down - food. It's awful, everywhere. And not normal theme park/cinema/stadium bad, a new type of bad I can't explain. The prices are absurd, fine, it's a captive audience. But at least provide something edible.
It totally brings the entire guest experience down, and is making me think twice about staying over next time. I can't bring my own food for the entire stay, but I can't get figuratively smacked in both the face AND stomach by overpriced, terrible quality meals for two or more days again.
Sort it out, it's your biggest flaw in a park that is on it's way to being the best day out/short break experience in the UK.
Also, the gardens look so unloved it's upsetting. They've been a part of mine and my families visits for over 50 years, but within the last 5 years they've fallen apart. Look after them, they're unique and special and make your park stand out.
Great day out, cheap deal on Merlin pass, otherwise very overpriced. Nice walks and attractions. Pays best off weekdays and out of holidays to avoid big queues. Visit of castle should be a must and lovely walks in gardens. Good food options.
We had a great day here, some great rides, and some of the old rides still delivering great thrills.
However, surprising amount of rides breaking down through the day, food an absolute rip off, some of the rides need some TLC, Nemesis needs a lick of paint and a tidy up in general, some love for an older but still awesome ride!
Finally parking should be included with these ticket prices, and we were nearly blocked in because the car beside us was not in their slot properly, and one at the end of the row for exit completely blocked the row so we had to reverse all the way up the row !!
What an awesome place! First time here and it’s just amazing. One day is just not enough. Definitely get the fast track for the more popular rides and download the app to strategize the day. I liked the rollercoaster restaurant. The food was just ok but I recommend the wraps. Without a doubt a great place to go for some family fun!
We had a great day out yesterday. We bought a silver fast track pass so managed to get on 6 big rides quickly. It was quite expensive to do that but worth it as a one off.
The only thing that let the park down was the lack of signage to direct you to the correct areas for each ride. We actually had to ask a few members of staff where we were going.
Over all a good day had by all and enjoyed lots of rides as well as the stunning gardens.
Great rides, storytelling & friendly staff! Only downside is long queues (ride waiting times up to 90 mins at peak) and this is further impacted by lots of fast trackers (paying queue jumpers). Hotels and Stargazing Pods are comfortable and fun accommodation for families
Our first visit for over 13 years and loved it. We took our 10 year old and his 15 year old cousin. Both thoroughly enjoyed themselves.
If your child is close (just over) to 1.4m it’s worth going to guest services first thing to get them properly measured and get a wrist band so each ride doesn’t have to check them.
Food was ok, and the park was very clean and tidy.
They put a lot of effort into the atmosphere as well as the rides.
We stayed at Alton towers hotel for 2 nights as we couldn't go abroad this year due to recently taking a foster child who didn't have a passport and I'm so glad we did. It was magical, the staff were always lovely, the hotel was the highlight for us and the kids (included breakfast was awesome). The park itself was spectacular, the wait times on some of the rides were kind of crazy but we ended up buying the fast track passes for ones we really wanted to go on. Overall I can't wait to come back
Really enjoyed our time here even with the high volume of guests. Really great roller coasters. Unfortunately I couldn't try them all as the majority of wait times didn't go below 60 minutes. We had lunch at the Rollercoaster Restaurant. We've been to one before at Europa Park. This was a let down. The food took ages (I think this was a fluke for us unfortunately). And the taste didn't justify the water. The gardens are peaceful and a great walk around. Tickets are significantly cheaper online. Highly recommend buying in advance.
Kids had an amazing time there from opening to closing, I never saw them all day. I spent alot of time in the gardens and I enjoyed the piece and quiet away from the main park. I can highly recommend the doughnut from the kiosk by Alton Manor, not cheap, but well worth it.
Wear comfortable shoes as a lot of walking which I was fine with, but some may struggle.
My only grip and it is a small one is the price of parking.
Final comment the toilets were as clean at the end of the day as they were at the start.
I went here in Easter brake and fully prepped for all rides. But I wasn't prepared for the amount of times the rides broke down most of these where the roller coasters. With even the first ride breaking down just as I started to queue. But then the all new Nemesis Reborn had a 80 minute queue and I queued for about 70 minutes to brake down for 2 hours. The queues are long for the coasters so be prepared. But except the breaking down every 5 minutes I would strongly recommend going here it is very well themed, there is a lot of facilities and various different choices of merchandise. And most of all very good rides.
I'm thrilled to hear that you had a fantastic time at Alton Towers Resort with your family! From thrilling rides to captivating attractions, the resort offers something for everyone. The adrenaline-pumping roller coasters, mesmerizing shows, and beautiful surroundings create an unforgettable experience. Whether you're a thrill-seeker or prefer more leisurely activities, Alton Towers has it all. The friendly staff and well-maintained facilities add to the enjoyment, making it a top destination for families seeking adventure and fun, end of the day we all have a lovely day my children went to all rides and after we took a watersplash hotel and 2 day ticket.
We had a great day out. Queues were pretty long even though it was early in the season. Lots of rides only had reduced carriages that didn't help. First time riding wickerman, which was much faster than expected and a great experience in the ride.
Day 2 at the resort for us, and it was full of visitors, being bank holiday weekend was to be expected. Monorail not working on our arrival so walked to the entrance. Got through security swiftly with friendly staff. Ride times were an average of 90 mins but thankfully we had rode alot the day before. An absolutely stunning resort to walk around, so comfy footwear highly recommended. Shops nice and stocked, friendly attentive staff, and being gold merlin passholders got further discounts on merch, food and drinks. Various parts of the resort had actors making the experience even more thrilling! We will be back! The monorail was working thankfully for the end of our day! Oh and I have a fav coaster now, Thirteen 😍!!
I went to Alton Towers on Saturday, it's definitely the busiest day of them all, but other than that I had an amazing day. The thing that ruined it was the queues,I waited 1 hr and 45 mins to get on the ride 'The Smiler' don't recommend to go on the weekends. All the other rides gave me lots of adrenaline, I loved them very much.
It was opening day so it was very busy with Nemesis reopening. They have done such a great job with it, it looks to be a turning point for that park. If they keep this up, Towers will once again become the UK's best place to visit.
Farley Ln, Alton, Stoke-on-Trent ST10 4DB, United Kingdom•
2Runaway Mine Train
Roller coaster
The Runaway Mine Train is a family-friendly roller coaster that travels through the woodland at speeds of up to 22 mph. It has been highly popular with riders over the years, and the ride operators have even developed a choo-choo greeting!
Fantastic ride to enjoy with the family especially children under 1.4m but over 1.2m!
Is the younger sister into wicker Man but definitely worth it!
I would recommend it to all. The Ques can get massive! I would recommend downloading the Alton towers app and keeping an eye on the Ques. This will make your visit far better. Old school rollercoaster!
Amo Singh — Google review
I went on this with my high school. My only problem is if you sit by yourself. You slide side to side unless you grab onto the lap bar. (Which left a lot of room between the bar and my legs so I constantly felt like I was going to fling out.) It was bumpy and quite wild. But I still enjoyed it.
Fantastic powered rollercoaster!
The runaway mine train is easily my second favourite powered rollercoaster in the UK behind Buffalo Stampede at Twin lakes, this ride is dead fast, 3 helixes, airtime and you also go past the Congo river rapids, I went on this when I was nearly 10 years old, great childhood rollercoaster
A great little ride that turns adults into big kids again..
Absolutely loved it..
Not the greatest ride at Alton Towers but if you have a spare few minutes and the queue is short it's worth the giggle or just a nice tame ride if you do happen to have some younger kids with you.
Also the operator is so annoying on this ride 'choo choo' ..yes we all know its a train lol 'choo choo'
The only bonus if you can call it that is that it goes round twice
great ride sometimes the older the better this is the the oldest ride but definetly fun an exiting to go on the staff make it really good really fun
Fun runaway train - suitable for all
My 4yr old loves this ride.
It's a shame you can not ride st the front, seems a bit unfair as these are reserved for those entering through easy access and fast track lines.
I must say Sam the ride operator makes the experience of the ride with his chooo chooo... been several times and not the same with out him...
Not the best ride at Alton towers. But it’s great for families and young children. And we all love the infamous “choo choo!”
5, 7 and 11, 41 and 41 year old all loved this ride, it's a good icebreaker to rollercoasters, not to crazy, but fast enough and bumby enough to give a good intro. Best to test the kids (11 year old) on this one before hitting the Oblivion/Nemesis sub tera lol 🤣
Nice starter roller coaster, not too fast but goes round twice.
Still a great family coaster all these years on! It's great to see people of all ages enjoying a Choo Choo!!!
Love the Runaway Mine Train, it may not be as intense as some of the other coasters but it a good for passing the time
Alton, Stoke-on-Trent, ST10 4DB, United Kingdom•
3Congo River Rapids
Amusement park ride
The Congo River Rapids is an exciting ride that never loses its thrill. It is a whopping six minutes long and queues up well after the first ride on the runaway train.
Still an enjoyable ride with additional safety features now attached. It's a shame the waterfalls not running that was one of the things that do get you little bit wet and especially during a dry summer's day it's enjoyable
Ant Ball — Google review
I'm not the biggest fan of water rides but I do enjoy the Congo river rapids and for some reason really love the moving floor when you get on the craft
Fantastic ride, kids must be 1.1m to ride and our 5 year old loved it.
You can end up with a soggy bum, and there is a chance of getting a bit wet through splashes or the waterfalls 🤩
Definitely a ride worth waiting the 30 minute queue time 🚀🎉
It is running very well today. Quick load on and off, with staff wearing masks and shields.
The ride is much more aggressive today with the water splashing into the boat more often. It was lots of fun and we got very wet.
The queue time is advertised as longer than it is, possibly due to social distancing.
If you visit please remember to stand on the markers and wear your masks on the rides.
It's a very good ride, and it should be on everyone's itinerary for the day. Queues were big but go down quite quickly.
It was a nice leisurely pace with not too much watergoing over us. Maybe we were lucky.
The ride seats up to 7 people, which was great for our family of 6.
Congo River rapids - prepare to get wet! Nice ride 😊 suitable for all. It’s a shame the waterfalls are not working. If everything was working 5 ⭐️
Really enjoyable ride. Good throughout and short waits, even during busy periods.
Great ride a you get to feel the fresh relaxing air as you make your way around the Congo rapids. You'll have enough time to find the camera and get a family photo on you way round.
Thrill Factor: 4/10
Age Suitable Range: 4+ years
Theming: 6/10
Ride length to average queue time ratio: 9/10
Worth fast tracking: Yes
Family friendly and the perfect way to cool down on a hot summers day. Watch out for the water cannons at the sides as other park guests get the opportunity to spray you with even more water! If no one shoots you with water then this ride will keep you relatively dry.
All reviews are given as a personal opinion and do not give as factual representation of ride facts or statistics.
One of the oldest rides at Alton Towers still with us (RIP Cockscrew/Black Hole, Flume and Ripsaw) but.. the River Rapids are great family ride, not always a 'soaking' ride (for that get the Battle Galleons) but that teasing risk of will I or won't I.. Miss the waterfalls and remember when that 4x4 first went in...
Alton, Farley, Stoke-on-Trent, ST10 4DB, United Kingdom•
4Galactica
Roller coaster
Theme park
Galactica is a high-speed roller coaster that gives riders the sensation of flying face down, with 360-degree inversions. The ride is one of the park's iconic experiences and still one of the best rides in the country.
Great ride! My son went of this for the first time yesterday and absolutely loved it. If you are going on it, remove anything that may fall off ie shoes, glasses, hat etc.. as the staff have to close the ride to retrieve the item.
craig riding — Google review
So, so much better since they ditched the VR headsets, which for me took away the fun and left me feeling as though I was just sitting down going nowhere. The flying sensation is so much fun and this was one of my first rollercoasters ever - it’s quite relaxing and not too scary! So much love but I wish they’d rename it back to Air.
Definitely one of my favourite rides at Alton Towers. It feels like you’re flying and that is an amazing feeling. And it’s the only face down coaster I’ve been on
Incredible ride, unlike any other. The feeling of riding on your front is a bit odd at first, and the 3 minutes of waiting after your ride to get out the seat was a bit of a weird experience, but overall super fun. The ride is so smooth, the harness is comfy and actually keeps you in one place and you don't feel like your moving about within it. Just wish that Alton Towers would close off the latter end of the queue paths when it's quiet, like thorpe park does. Had to walk around pretty much the entire queue path for a 0 minute wait
The ride is great for ages 8+.
You can’t feel the drop and it isn’t scary. Well my VR headset fell off on the ride. I didn’t like having the headset and think it ruins the whole experience. I was upside down so I had to hold it and that wrecked it. I was underwhelmed by the drop build up. Amazing graphics thought just wish it had been longer? it ended up being a light, calm and peaceful sightseeing ride. A lot of air time. I didn’t feel much G force and the restraint was very tight.
Really is a nice ride not too intense, always try to have go when I visit...feels like your flying 🚀
Cool ride! Went at end of day and was very quiet. Got front row x2.
I love this ride, it's so relaxing and easy to ride. It's a weird feeling when you sit in the seat and then when the ride starts you get pulled up into a forward facing laying position.
I wouldn't say this ride is scary, it's just fun and makes you feel like you are flying. It does sometimes break down so worth doing early in the day.
Great ride, especially when it's a first time experience for me. Flying sensation was amazing! Not too scary and felt relaxing. I'm sure this ride can build up the confidence to other impressive rides such as the Smiler.
The ride was fantastic!
My party did have to wait a while in the queue but the experience was worth the wait.
Single Fast-Pass tickets were an option and I would personally advise getting them after debating whether the queue time on the Alton Towers App is too long. I purchased them on other rides after my hour long queue on Galactica, and they allowed me to get on more of the rides at the park; I regret not doing the same for this thrilling ride.
Lockers for bags and coats were available and spacious, as well as them being locked during the ride to keep them safe when unattended.
Would definitely ride again (with a fast pass this time)!
Prachtig, jammer dat ik er niet in kom vanwege een technische storing, maar zo mooi om überhaupt al tegenover te staan!
(Translated by Google)
Beautiful, it's a pity that I can't get in due to a technical problem, but it's so nice to be in front of it in the first place!
Amazing ride, completely different from any other ride I’ve ever experienced just a shame that they still haven’t added the whole VR experience again after Covid. Might as well return to its original name (Air) and a shame that they haven’t got the water mist running through the space portal!
People tend to slate this ride but I am a fan of it. I think it is a great starter coaster for those risers who are unsure about them, but it is a very graceful experience as you fly around the Forbidden Valley waving to passers by below, it is brilliant fun🙂
Queue was long but was steady moving. Ride was good except they were unable to get us down for 25mins and was left facing the ground talking to the people queuing. I thought it was hilarious but others not so much
Did this ride once as Air a long time ago and didn't remember anything about it. We got a bit caught out by the advertised queue times mostly because while we were waiting a large number of fast pass ticket holders joined (the ride had been shut a lot during the day) and one of the ride workers was letting a lot more of them in compared to the people in the regular queue, then the car before ours got stuck and the ride needed a reset, which added 20 mins to the wait. But I have to say it was definitely worth it. Love the feeling of being suspended and the loops and twists, and I actually found the ride quite comfortable too! The other adult and two 10 year olds I was with loved it too, and while my fav ride is still oblivion, this was definitely top of their list. I'll definitely be back in the queue next time we visit, I'll just have to keep my fingers crossed it won't be quite such a long wait.
Alton Towers, Alton, Stoke-on-Trent ST10 4DB, United Kingdom•
5The Smiler
Roller coaster
The Smiler is a very popular roller coaster that has 14 loops. It is a fast ride that is non-stop action. Some people may feel sick after riding it, but it is still a thrilling experience. The Smiler is definitely worth visiting if you are in the area.
Incredible ride. Fast, thrilling, non-stop action. I would say it's even better than Nemesis. My only warning is I did feel a bit sick after riding, it didn't bother me but it might bother others. Even so, I HIGHLY recommend this rollercoaster!
Top tip: Use the single rider queue. You may get separated from friends while riding, but it shortened what would've been a 20-30 minute queue to a 2 minute queue for me.
Dimanboi — Google review
Probably the best roller coaster I've even experienced, coming for a roller coaster geek! I loved all 14 inversions, and I didn't get the slightest bit dizzy! I would've gone again if it didn't close for the firework spectacular, but that show was beautiful too so it's fine :) I'll be back in a few years, and I bet it'll still be as amazing!
Just been on the smiler for the first time ! Wow .. what an experience, i felt like i was on another planet for a good hour afterwards! Very well engineered and the theme of it really brings the anticipation. Only gave a 4 star because of the queue time.
The ride is excellent... I absolutely love it! Though, when we were at Alton Towers recently, the queue time on the app and at the entrance said 65 minutes... myself, my partner, and our 4 children felt that was an adequate wait time for a ride we all love! When we were 60 minutes into the queue and realised we were nowhere near the entrance, we knew we'd been sold a lie... we were annoyed because we wouldn't have waited SO long had we known it was going to be 2 hours instead of just 1, we would've opted for another ride... this was made worse by the waiting line, and the incessant annoying music played over and over the cage you're kept in, and the music heightened everybody's anxiety... and I understand this is part of the experience... and for an hour, it would've been manageable, but 2 hours trapped in a cage listening to dramatic non-stop laughing music was like torture! Then the ride itself was amazing again... and we all got off smiling 😃 but we all felt the wait, and more so, the waiting conditions let the ride down quiet a lot, maybe a change of dramatic music and alterations to caging might help?!
Overall a fun ride and the queue was short as I went in the off season. However, if you're a smaller person (I'm 5ft 2 and a size 4) you are thrown about in your seat to the point of bruising and it is painful to ride. The actual ride was rattly and not smooth in the slightest, was overall very uncomfortable. The length of the ride is amazing and it is exciting. Feel like it could do with a harness like Galactica as that one kept me in one one place and felt secure.
Today we went to Alton Towers, and had the privilege to experience The Smiler…
and let’s just say, it lived up to its name!
The people in this photo’s grins says it all (apart from the guy in the middle, he didn’t get the Willy Wonka special).
5 stars, 10/10, perfect ride, whatever way you rate rides. IT IS MAXIMUM AURA.
Wicked! First time riding this but BE PREPARED TO STAY IN THE QUEUE FOR 2 HOURS. I'd recommend queueing for this ride soon as you get in, (even though you may still be waiting over 1 hour) as it's so popular and has 14 hoops in 4 minutes. Such a good ride for the adrenaline junkies. I know the whole purpose is for the buzz feeling but close your eyes if you don't really like heights, it helps lol. Also, I would rather purchase queue jump tickets because by the time you are waiting 2 plus hours for the rides you only ride on max 5 or 6. I missed out on 3 so next time will be purchasing queue jump.
Best value ride in terms of length you’re on it compared to how long you have to wait. We were in line for 90 minutes which is pretty long. The music while waiting drives you nuts too! But a great rollercoaster nevertheless
Loved it! Best ride in the park. Overall, it is smooth and comfortable, given that it turns you upsode down several times. We opted for the single riders queue as the wait was around 75 minutes. We got on in about 25 minutes.
The best steal rollercoasters 🎢 I’ve ever been on all the twists/turns and loop de loops. An absolute pure thrill from start to finish! There’s an option for single rider which is nice compared to other rides if you’re by yourself or not fussed if you sit next to who you’re with. Meaning you might have more of an opportunity to go on the ride more times and shorter wait times than stated in the board or the app.
In terms of the ride itself it's not a fun ride the way it throws you around also the queueing system under it is an accident waiting to happen caged in like an animal. Overall I feel this ride is not safe and another accident will happen the amount of empty tests runs it had whilst queuing did not fill me with confidence. Would not recommend or ride again.
One of the best rides I've ever been on. Going through 14 loop whilst getting getting twisted. Amazing. The only thing I didn't like was that I had to wait 2 hours in queue and the was no place to sit.
Alton Towers, Farley Ln, Alton, Farley, Stoke-on-Trent ST10 4BD, United Kingdom•
Best-of categories in Alton
What's the weather like in Alton?
It depends on when you visit! We've compiled data from NASA on what the weather is like in Alton for each month of the year: see the links below for more information.
- Weather in Alton in January
- Weather in Alton in February
- Weather in Alton in March
- Weather in Alton in April
- Weather in Alton in May
- Weather in Alton in June
- Weather in Alton in July
- Weather in Alton in August
- Weather in Alton in September
- Weather in Alton in October
- Weather in Alton in November
- Weather in Alton in December
All road trips from Alton
- Alton to London drive
- Alton to Paris drive
- Alton to Dublin drive
- Alton to Edinburgh drive
- Alton to Dublin drive
- Alton to York drive
- Alton to Amsterdam drive
- Alton to Barcelona drive
- Alton to Rome drive
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- Alton to Blackpool drive
- Alton to Berlin drive
- Alton to Manchester drive
- Alton to Bath drive
- Alton to Brussels drive
- Alton to Prague drive
- Alton to Madrid drive
- Alton to Glasgow drive
- Alton to Florence drive
- Alton to Cardiff drive
- Alton to Milan drive
- Alton to Oxford drive
- Alton to Vienna drive
- Alton to Bruges drive
- Alton to Stratford-upon-Avon drive
- Alton to Budapest drive
- Alton to Venice drive
- Alton to Lisbon drive
- Alton to Llandudno drive
- Alton to Brighton drive
Explore nearby places
All related maps of Alton
- Map of Alton
- Map of Farley
- Map of Denstone
- Map of Croxden
- Map of Whiston
- Map of Cheadle
- Map of Foxt
- Map of Froghall
- Map of Calton
- Map of Kingsley
- Map of Marston Montgomery
- Map of Ipstones
- Map of Ilam
- Map of Doveridge
- Map of Uttoxeter
- Map of Thorpe
- Map of Ashbourne
- Map of Alkmonton
- Map of Wetton
- Map of Butterton
- Map of Tissington
- Map of Alstonefield
- Map of Cheddleton
- Map of Sudbury
- Map of Meir
- Map of Leek
- Map of Bagnall
- Map of Hulme End
- Map of Amerton
- Map of Hognaston
- Map of Hartington
Alton throughout the year
Looking for day-by-day itineraries in Alton?
Get inspired for your trip to Alton with our curated itineraries that are jam-packed with popular attractions everyday! Check them out here: