Dare you read this review and live? (Alton Towers (Staffordshire))

Member Name: magictom123

Product:	Alton Towers (Staffordshire)
Date:	21/06/09 (45 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Plenty of rides of differing styles

Disadvantages: Long queues with little/no shelter, rip off prices

Alton Towers is the 2nd most visited theme park in the UK and the 11th most visited in Europe. Recently the park has undergone quite a change in renaming many of the 'zones' around the park as well as introducing its latest major ride 'Rita' only a handful of summers ago.

Anyway, the park is split into sections and each incorporates a different style of attraction. There are water rides such as the rapids and (log) Flume as well as traditional rollercoasters such as Nemesis and Air.

The park is well kept and tidy in the majority of places with only the real noticeable expection to me being the area at the bottom of X-sector where the 'Black Hole' renames despite being out of service for a number of years.

Having just been, I can add that even on a cloudy overcast day the queues where quite long, with probably around 50 minutes being the average waiting time for the big rides.

There are many food and drink outlets around the theme park but as you might expect, they are a rip off - I saw one such stand charging £4.25 just for a hotdog - so be prepared and take a pack lunch.

There are currently 2-4-1 offers a plenty for park tickets which reduces the price to £18, but bear in mind that they charge a minimum of £5 to use the car parks these days - scandalous.

All in all, a great day out slightly tarnished by the parks desire to get every last penny out of you.

Summary: Best theme park in Britain? - maybe, just!