Alton Towers
England's biggest theme park
Alton Towers in Staffordshire is the biggest theme park in the United Kingdom. You'll find famous roller coasters such as The Smiler and Nemesis Reborn, but also CBeebies Land for the very youngest. With its own water park and four places to stay, it's a real destination for a few days.
What is Alton Towers?
Alton Towers is in the heart of England, on the former estate of the Earls of Shrewsbury, with the stately home The Towers and large gardens. The estate has been open to the public since 1860; it has been a theme park since 1980, when the Corkscrew roller coaster arrived. According to Alton Towers, the park has more than 40 rides, ten of which are roller coasters. Like Thorpe Park, Chessington and LEGOLAND Windsor, it's owned by Merlin Entertainments.
The park is divided into areas, each with its own atmosphere, such as Forbidden Valley (Nemesis Reborn, Galactica and Toxicator), X-Sector (The Smiler and Oblivion), Dark Forest (Rita and Th13teen), Mutiny Bay and The Towers. For toddlers and pre-schoolers there's CBeebies Land, the only one in the United Kingdom. Alongside the theme park, the resort has an indoor water park and a mini-golf course (Extraordinary Golf).
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The highlights
Alton Towers is best known for its roller coasters. These are the biggest names, with the minimum height the park applies:
- The Smiler (1.40 m): a roller coaster with a record 14 loops.
- Oblivion (1.40 m): the world's first dive coaster, with a vertical drop into a dark hole.
- Nemesis Reborn (1.40 m): since 2024 the successor to the legendary Nemesis, with inversions just above the ground.
- Galactica (1.40 m): a flying coaster in which you take the bends face down.
- Rita (1.40 m): a launch coaster that reaches 100 km/h in 2.5 seconds.
- Toxicator (1.40 m): a spinning thrill ride in Forbidden Valley, open since March 2025.
- Wicker Man (1.20 m): a wooden roller coaster with fire, smoke and a giant wicker man.
- Th13teen (1.20 m): a spooky roller coaster with an unexpected free fall in the dark.
With children
With young children, head to CBeebies Land, with characters from the British children's channel. New in 2026 is Bluey the Ride: Here Come The Grannies!, a small roller coaster in the world of Bluey. Children from 0.90 m can ride Octonauts Rollercoaster Adventure (under 1.10 m with an adult), Peter Rabbit Hippity Hop and Go Jetters Vroomster Zoom Ride, among others. In The Night Garden Magical Boat Ride, Hey Duggee's Big Adventure Badge and JoJo & Gran Gran at Home have no minimum height.
For slightly older children there are family rides such as Runaway Mine Train and Congo River Rapids (from 1.10 m, under 1.30 m with an adult). Children under 90 cm get into the theme park free.
Opening times:
The theme park is open from March to early November, usually from 10 am. Closing time is between 4 pm and 9 pm.
Tickets:
A day ticket costs from £ 34 per person online (as of November 2026). You pay more at the ticket office.
Location:
Alton Towers Resort, Alton, Staffordshire, ST10 4DB. Parking from £ 13 if you book it online in advance.
Food, shops and accommodation
A standout is the Rollercoaster Restaurant, according to the park the first in the United Kingdom: your food arrives at your table along a roller coaster track. Other places to eat include Explorers Pizza Pasta Buffet, The Burger Kitchen, Just Chicken (in Oblivion style) and the Oak In Chains restaurant, where you get table service. You can buy souvenirs at Towers Trading Company and at the shops by the big roller coasters.
If you're staying the night, you can choose from four places to stay at the resort:
- Alton Towers Hotel: the original themed hotel of explorer Sir Algenon, with themed rooms.
- Splash Landings Hotel: a Caribbean hotel next to the indoor Alton Towers Waterpark (separate ticket from £ 23).
- CBeebies Land Hotel: for families with toddlers, with rooms themed around Bluey and (new in 2026) Hey Duggee, among others.
- Woodland Lodges: wooden lodges for up to five people in the Enchanted Village.
A short break costs from £ 77 per person (as of November 2026), with a day at the theme park, breakfast, evening entertainment, a round of Extraordinary Golf and free parking.
Travelling to Alton Towers
Alton Towers is in the middle of England, so expect a long journey. Via Calais and the Eurotunnel it takes about 9 hours from Utrecht and about 7.5 hours from Antwerp, including the crossing. An alternative is the overnight ferry from Rotterdam-Europoort to Hull; from there it's another 2.5 hours or so by car. In England you drive on the left. The park lies between the M1 and M6 motorways. You park in the large car park and take the monorail to the entrance (or walk for 10 to 30 minutes).
Without a car, take the train to Uttoxeter (about 20 minutes by taxi), Stoke-on-Trent or Derby and a taxi for the last stretch. Bus 32X runs from Hanley via Cheadle to the park.
By car you cross by ferry (from Hook of Holland, Rotterdam-Europoort, Dunkirk or Calais) or by Eurotunnel from Calais. By train you travel on the Eurostar from Amsterdam, Rotterdam or Brussels to London St Pancras. For the United Kingdom you need a valid passport and an ETA (Electronic Travel Authorisation). You apply for it online or in the UK ETA app; it costs £ 20 and is valid for two years (as of November 2026). Babies and children need one too.
Be there at half past nine
The monorail and the entrance open at 9.30 am, half an hour before the rides. That way you're first in line at your favourite roller coaster.
Check the height
For the big roller coasters you need to be at least 1.40 m. Measure your children at home so you know in advance what they can ride.
Download the app
The Alton Towers Resort app shows the waiting times, opening times and which rides are open.
Plan your visit
Coming from far away? Plan at least two days: one day is too short for the whole park and the water park. Below you'll find the current waiting times and hotels nearby.