Alton Towers - Days out in Staffordshire

Alton Towers is in the middle of Staffordshire and is located between Uttoxeter and Stoke. It is handy for the M6 and the M1. Journey times include: London 3 hours, Manchester 1 1/2 hours, Sheffield 1 1/2 hours.

If you travelled to the attraction by car is adequate parking provided by the attraction?
Lots of parking, plus a mini train to ferry you from the car park to the entrance. You do have to pay extra to park.

If you travelled by public transport, how long did it take to reach the attraction from the bus/train station?
I'm not aware of any local public transport links.

What was the cost for you and your family to enter the attraction?
12 and over £34. Under 12 £24. Family of 4 £95. Discounts are available for online booking.

Please briefly describe the nature of the attraction (zoo, farm etc)
Theme Park

How "buggy friendly" is the attraction?
The park is buggy friendly. It is a very large park though and I would be aware of this if you are thinking of pushing a buggy around all day.

Is the attraction mainly outdoor or indoor? If outdoor, what indoor activities (if any) are available during bad weather?
There are indoor shows, but this is really an outdoor attraction.

Can the attraction be enjoyed by all ages of children? If not, why not and what age is it best suited for?
Personally I wouldn't take children under three or four. This is because it's not cheap to get in and I think there are more enjoyable and better value days out elsewhere for little ones. After that there is something for everyone.

Can food be purchased at this attraction?
Yes. There are plenty of food outlets.

Did the attraction cater for differing tastes i.e. Vegetarian, healthy food option?
Never tried, but they do sell sandwiches and there is probably something there for the more health conscious.

Are there facilities for people wishing to bring a picnic to the attraction?
There is plenty of open spaces you can sit down and eat at.

Did you find the toilet facilities clean?
Yes.

Do you feel it is possible to see the whole attraction in one day?
Yes, but it is the type of attraction that you could spend two or three days at.

Are there other attractions or activities to pay for in addition to the entrance fee (other than food and drinks)?
Yes there are arcades and various games.

What was the highlight of the day?
There are a number of good rides. I enjoyed the ones for older children and adults, especially Air, Oblivion and Nemesis.

From your experience, what advice would you offer to other visitors of the attraction?
Get there early and leave late to make the most of it. Plan the rides you want to visit so that you can use all the rides in one area of the park before moving on to the next. Otherwise you could waste a lot of time going from one side of the park to the other.

What areas would you suggest visitors make sure they experience, and why?
There is something different for everyone. Although I like them more thrilling rides my daughter really enjoyed the shows for younger children.

What improvements could be made to make the attraction better, if any?
I think it is pretty good as it is. Getting away from the park afterwards can take a long time simply because of the weight of traffic. I have never been there on a quiet day!

Overall what are your feelings about the attraction?
Very good family theme park. Plenty of fun and fresh air. You should sleep well after a day there.

Please rate this attraction out of 5 stars. (1 is poor and 5 is excellent). Please consider if you are rating a Zoo/Farm type attraction, take into account the apparent care of the animals as this would and should be a primary concern for the running of the attraction. For example the standard of the facilities for visitors at one of these attractions would probably not be the same as in a theme park.
5 stars

Finally, do you have any other information about the attraction that may be of interest to future visitors?
No.

What do you think?
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