Towers!! (Alton Towers (Staffordshire))

Member Name: Gary_Flower

Product:	Alton Towers (Staffordshire)
Date:	23/10/09 (25 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: This is the best park in the UK

Disadvantages: If you like in the South or north of england it can be a long drive.

Alton Towers is a theme park and resort located in the grounds of a former stately home in Staffordshire, England. The resort is in the village of Alton in the grounds of a semi-ruined gothic revival country house home of the former seat of the Earls of Shrewsbury. Alton Towers was opened as a theme park in 1980 with very few rides. The park was purchased by The Tussauds Group in 1990.

The theme park in my opinion is the best in the UK and follows the styles for the main theme parks around the world with having different lands and has hotels to stay the night. The lands are:

Towers Street
This is the first area that visitors to the park encounter. It is where the monorail drops guest from the car parks and where they choose which way to go. The area has several shops which sells official park merchandise. The first Skyride station is located nearby which is a way to moving through the park quickly.

Mutiny Bay
Mutiny Bay is a pirate-themed land to the left of the entrance. This area is more for the kids than adults and the rides here are: Battle Galleons, Heave Ho, Marauder's Mayhem (Teacups ride) The Pirate of Sharkbait Reef Show, Sharkbait Reef by SEA LIFE.

Katanga Canyon
Katanga Canyon is an African village. This area is again a good area for kids. The Rides include: Congo River Rapids, Runaway Mine Train, The Flume Unplugged.

Gloomy Wood
The Gloomy Wood is a small, ghosts-and-monsters themed area containing the ride Duel: The Haunted House Strikes Back! This is a very boring area which I would skip.

Forbidden Valley
Forbidden Valley is themed around a post-apocalyptic landscape. The area has large rocks, rusty pieces of metal and also waterfalls coloured red to look like blood. This area has more of the thrill rides that would appeal to adults. The attractions are: Air (One of the parks signature rides) The Blade, Nemesis (another of the parks signature rides) Ripsaw.

Ug Land
The area is due to be rethemed for the 2010 season so things are changing now so I cant give an opinion but the rides that will stay here are: Rita - Queen of Speed, Soakasaurus, And a new ride coming in 2010.

Cloud Cuckoo Land
Cloud Cuckoo Land was a new 'land' for 2009 as is another area aimed youngsters. The theme is for a fantasy garden. The rides are: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory: The Ride, Frog Hopper, Galloper's Carousel, Peugeot 207 Driving School, Wobble World indoor-play area, Twirling Toadstool, Cuckoo Theatre: The Wonderful World of Cloud Cuckoo Land

X-Sector
X-Sector is themed as if it were a sinister government facility. This area is the most popular as it has another one of the parks signature rides in Oblivion. The other 2 rides are Enterprise and Submission.

Adventure Land
Adventure Land is aimed at visitors between the ages of 5 and 11, and consists mainly of climbing frames, slides, swings and similar equipment. The rides her are The Beastie, Space Adventures playground, Spinball Whizzer, Storybook Land.

Storybook Land
Storybook Land is the parks smallest area and only contains one attraction 'Squirrel Nutty Ride'. This is for small guests so if you don't have any kids it's not worth it.

The Towers
The Towers are the ruins in the middle of the park and are from what the park derives its name. The building houses Hex - The Legend of the Towers The ruins are open to the public during most of the open season so you can look around the building. There is currently a £1.1 million project in place to restore the oldest parts of the house.

The resort has two hotels, The Splash Landings Hotel and The Alton Towers Hotel. The Splash Landings Hotel is a combination hotel and waterpark.

The resort as I have said before is the pest in the UK and is well worth a visit for £37. You can properly do the park in 1 day of you can spread it out to 2 days and stay at one of the hotels which are very nice.

Summary: A good resort.