Alton Towers Guide
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Are you looking for a theme park that's suitable for all of the family? Then Alton Towers is a well loved one to visit that's great for all ages with a variety of rides and attractions. So if you are planning a visit, then here is a guide that contains information on Alton Towers opening times, ticket prices, postcode, how to get there, hotels nearby and other things to do around. That's everything you need to plan a visit right here on a single page.
Alton Towers holds fond memories because as teenagers we've screamed on the thrill rides and had a blast. But now as parents, we've taken our toddlers and kids back. Looking at the place through a fresh pair of eyes, we've realised this theme park does a great job for the little ones as well as the tweens and parents too.
It's no wonder it's the second most popular theme park in the UK. It is also one of the long standing theme parks in this country.
One of the reasons why we love the park is that it’s spread out in its setting and is also picturesque. Some other parks can feel like the attractions are quite close together, but here there is a wonderful sense of space.
Did you know that Alton Towers itself (not the theme park) goes back to 700AD or so? Being on the site of such a historic place means that it has something quintessentially British, something that is attractive to its visitors both from within the UK and abroad. For another place that's as historic to go with family, why not visit Oxford?
Alton Towers is based in the village of Alton, Stoke-on-Trent in Staffordshire.
| Essential Information |
Here is all you need to know about Alton Towers.
Alton Towers Tickets
Theme park tickets can be expensive and Alton Towers tickets aren't that different.
Ticket prices for a family of 2 adults, 1 teenager and 1 child (3-11 ) is around £141 if booked in advance. For Fast track, add another £20-100 per person.
Ouch, that does sound really pricey. If you have plenty of patience and kids who won't drive you up the wall while you queue up, then it probably isn't worth it. But if you are going to be going during the Easter or summer holidays when it can get incredibly busy and don't want to get hassled waiting, the Fasttrack passes can be a lifesaver.
Key Rides & Attractions at Alton Towers
Alton Towers has many things to entertain very young children and toddlers; toilets & changing facilities are great. This theme park has thoughtfully organised all the fun for the younger ones within a minute or two of the entrance to the theme park in CBeebies Land. This includes the Postman Pat ride.
For the slightly older kids, family rides that they have include:
- Marauders Mayhem
- Runaway Mine Train
- Cuckoo Cars
- Duel
- Frog Hopper
For the thrill seekers there are many fun rides including
- Galactica – a virtual reality based roller coaster
- Nemesis
- Oblivion
- The Smiler - The ultimate 14 loop rollercoaster
Waterpark
If you're looking to splash around and recover with icecreams, the Waterpark at Alton Towers gives you that kind of fun & frolic. (You need a separate ticket )
Alton Towers Opening Times
If you are making your way from a fair distance away, one of the important bits of information is the Alton Towers open times. The park operates primarily from end March to end October, and the times vary.
The Alton Towers opening times start at around 10am and the closing time varies from 4pm to 6pm. We had a situation where we ended up getting ourselves bright and early to a theme park to realise that we were an hour and half early. This meant that the kids were tiring even before we got started. And we adults were busy sniping at each other about whose fault it was.
So if you want to avoid repeating our mistake, do check the time for your visit here.
| Alton Towers Postcode and getting there |
Alton Towers is located in Staffordshire near Stoke-on-Trent and the postcode is ST10 4DB
By Car
The park is between the M1 and M6
By Bus
There are limited chargeable services a day from Stoke-on-Trent, Derby and Uttoxeter
By Train
The closest train stations are Stoke-on-Trent, Derby and Uttoxeter. The chargeable bus service or taxi service can be used to get to the park.
| Hotels near Alton Towers |
If you are coming from further afield, then you probably also want to know about the hotels near Alton Towers. We've given you a couple of options and a sense of how many hotels there are in the area.
Why is this important? In the holiday season, if there are only a few hotels in a category, you might find that the prices shoot up considerably. Availability can also become an issue. So, we'd suggest checking out your hotel options before you book your tickets.
If you have flexibility on your dates, some dates & days of the week you might get a better price.
Budget | Boutique & Independent Hotels | Hotel Chains | Search Options |
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| Best Western Tillington Hall Hotel 21 miles from park 34 miles from park Price range for 1 night with tickets & breakfast for 2 adults, 2 children is between £180 -£210 for these hotels. | ||
| 7 miles from the park This is an Alton Towers Hotel so it is onsite (certain rooms only are in this price range) Price range for 1 night with tickets & breakfast for 2 adults, 2 children is between £230 -£275. | ||
| Another Alton Towers Hotel, so onsite. One night for a family of 2 adults and 2 children with tickets and breakfast varies between £650-1100 depending on the season. | ||
Few Options
| Plenty of Options
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| Other Things to Do Near Alton Towers |
- Dimmings Dales - After the excitement of a theme park, some peace & tranquility with some nature walks.
- Gladstone Pottery Museum - an entry fee based working museum of pottery
- National Trust Museum of Childhood - why not show the whole family how children lived in history ?
- Sudbury Hall - A beautiful 17th century building with extravagant interiors
- Churnet Valley Railway - If you are a fan of steam engines, this is a must visit
If you are planning to make a holiday of visiting Alton Towers, then if you are like us, you want a couple of non theme park attractions to visit as well. Here is our list of other things to do around Alton Towers
| What Others Say |
A great day out whether you are a thrill seeker or have toddlers.
If you're all set, then you'll probably find these tips on visiting a theme park helpful. This is from our experience and those of other parents we've spoken to. It may save you from tantrums and tears which we went through.
In for the mood to explore other theme parks? Read our article on Legoland windsor. Or another type of family fun?