A great day out for the whole family, from the kids to the Grandparents! (Alton Towers (Staffordshire))

Member Name: topherbenn

Product:	Alton Towers (Staffordshire)
Date:	18/03/09 (72 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Roller coasters, water rides, beautiful gardens and woodland, great food stations!

Disadvantages: It's not open for long enough in the year, just eight months!

Alton Towers is a theme park and resort location within Staffordshire. Opened in 1890, Alton Towers see's millions of visitors flood in each year within the eight month opening period from the end of March to beginning of November.

Alton Towers is most famous for such rides as 'Nemesis', 'Oblivion', 'Air' and more recently 'Rita - Queen of Speed', but it's not only these roller coasters that attract visitors, there's a further three roller coasters, five white water rides all included within the 125 attractions! This park is for all ages, right from the youngest who may enjoy riding on a low key 'Squirrel' ride; travel through the trees, into nut houses and around grazing areas (nearer the entrance of the park) to those thrill seekers that head to the very back for the vertical drop in 'Oblivion'!

Alton Towers strives to build great groundbreaking rides within the theme park, and since it's opening 'Oblivion' was the world's first vertical drop roller coaster and 'Air' was the UK's first lay-down roller coaster, where riders experience flying. In talks for 2010 is a whole new roller coast for the park, a design that has never been seen before in the world! Be prepared for something huge!

However, Alton Towers isn't all about the rides, a great day out for the family may consist of a beautiful stroll through some of the 500 acres of woodland and gardens, with a trip high in the sky in their cable cars. There's also a monorail train for easy access around the park and a chance to see the sites!

I'm yet to stay in the hotel, but opened a few years back is 'Splash Landings' an exclusive resort for families who want to experience the theme park and indoor water park with slides and wave pools.

Alton Towers is one of the best theme parks in the UK, with visitor rates of 3.1 million in 2008, they must be doing something right!

Tickets come in at around £36 for adults, and around £27 for 4 - 11's, be sure to book online to save 20%. Check back at their website for up to date ticket prices: http://www.altontowers.com/pages/prices

I've been to Alton Towers for a number of years, and it never fails to disappoint! I always find myself wishing I could stay longer. The queue's aren't too bad either. Just make sure to get on the rides you most want to go on at the start of the day so you don't have to queue for too long and don't miss them altogether! From experience, 'Nemesis' seems to be the most popular with longest queue's, followed by 'Air' and then 'Oblivion' though this can vary depending on the day.

Summary: I'll continue to go to Alton Towers for years to come, it's my favourite in the country!