Best Day Out In Britain? (Alton Towers (Staffordshire))

Member Name: paul1983

Product:	Alton Towers (Staffordshire)
Date:	14/07/09 (44 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: FUN FUN FUN!

Disadvantages: Hex, queues (on certain rides), food inside

Reading some of the reviews it seems that Alton Towers has got that Marmite factor off to a tee, you either love or hate it!

I don't like Marmite but I do love Alton Towers!

As a kid I never really bothered much with theme parks, a combination of fear and just general apathy I think. As I got older I always wanted to try but always held back, assuming I would hate it. My partner forever 'threatened' to take me and last year she did for my birthday. We stayed in the Alton Towers hotel and I have to say that was excellent, superb rooms and service. Car park close to the theme park, good value buffet style breakfast but no doubt at a hefty price! You do get to go in the park early though although most rides are still not operational in that extra hour, you do get chance to fly across to those rides on the far side of the park to wait if you wish (most of the 'big' rides are on the far side of the park and a good 15 minute walk from the entrance.

The park itself has come in for comments bemoaning the crowds and queues but I can honestly say I didn't suffer that fate. Perhaps getting the benefit of staying in the hotel meant we avoided entry jams but the time we went (september) meant the school kids weren't about in general and it was outside peak months.

Although the queues for Nemesis and Air were considerable, it wasn't unbearable. I think Air was the longest and was 30 minutes. Nemesis was about 20 minutes first time around, 15 at most the second time. As long as you've someone to chat to I really didn't mind the queue that much but I can understand the disappointment of people who wait 2 hours in line, which is essentially a big chunk out of the day.

Plenty of other rides had limited queues. Oblivion, Rita and the rapids are all superb rides with no queues in place. Especially later in the afternoon as people left the park it was a case of coming off Rita, racing round to the start of the ride and going straight back on.

The rides are quality, which at the end of the day is what you go to a theme park for. I do admit that the actual grounds of Alton Towers are a bit shabby and could do with a bit of TLC but if you want pretty surroundings go to a flower show, if you want thrills and screams it's Alton Tower's all the way!

Tips:

Go outside the school holidays. Lets face it, September is generally a better month than June/July/August for weather anyway. Avoid not only the longer queues but also the screaming kids.

On entry to the park you'll be offered a Coca-Cola drinks carrier for £5 ( I think). BUY IT! You get free refills throughout the park with this and ends up saving you a fortune. You'll be doing a lot of screaming throughout the day and your throat will be dry. Within a couple of re-fills you get your moneys worth. It's flimsy and won't last beyond the day but it's a good purchase for the day.

Eating inside the park isn't cheap, or special to be fair. Although there's plenty of themed places to eat the choice is limited and it's all regenerated food. If you can carry a bag around with you all day (You get places to put them on the bigger rides where you can't take them) take pack up.

Don't bother with Hex. It's the worst ride in the park and a waste of time. I was really looking forward to it but left feeling so disappointed.

There's so many places to either collect or download Buy 1 Get 1 Free tickets now so there's not much of an excuse to not take advantage. At full price Alton Tower's isn't cheap but it's worth it. At half the price it's even better!

Summary: Thrills, spills, laughter and smiles