Unofficial Alton Towers Home Page

Alton Towers is easily accessible from both the M1 and M6. Traffic approaching from the north should use M1 junction 28 or M6 junction 16. Traffic approching from the south should use M1 junction 23A or M6 junction 15. Parking facilities are extensive and free, with a free mono-rail service operating between the car parks and admissions areas.

Admission to Alton Towers costs around £19.50 (as of April 1998) and this includes all rides and attractions within the park. Further details are available on 0990 20 40 60.

This page contains information on the following rides:

    Astro Dancer
    Black Hole
    Congo River Rapids
    Corkscrew
    Energizer
    Enterprise
    Log Flume
    Nemesis
    Pirate Ship
    Runaway Train
    Thunder Looper
    Oblivion

Astro Dancer

Not the sort of ride for those with a weak stomach, and definately one to go on before lunch! Reminiscent of the age old Octopus type rides, but this seems generally faster and harder on the stomach. Worth a try, but hardly worth a special visit to the park for!

Black Hole

The UK's first dark roller coaster. Not much as of itself, but the dark experience is definately a strange one. Recently the initial spiral climb has been altered, with lighting effects adding to the atmosphere before the ride proper begins. Other strategically placed lights (strategically placed to shine direct into the eyes of oncoming passengers that is!) also add to the effect

Congo River Rapids

An alternative way to get wet than the standard log flume. Sat inside an oversized tyre, drifting merrily down the 'rapids'. Hardly scary stuff, and nowhere near as good a way to get wet as the log flume.

Corkscrew

Possibly the first 'White Knuckle' ride at Alton Towers, and starting to show its age when compared with the likes of Nemesis. The light drop, before the larger one tends to get the fainter hearted screaming prematurely. The ride proper then starts with a tight right hand bank, into the two corkscrews. After that it's largely all over apart from the screaming. A couple of tight spirals and then a gentle ride home to the finish. Hope the second car is loaded quickly if it's raining or you end up sat out in the middle of nowhere getting wet!

Energizer

Enterprise

Log Flume

Nemesis

Pirate Ship

The age old favourite "Big Swing". Hardly a white knuckle ride in this day and age, but still worth a visit nonetheless. Not one to ride with a dodgy stomach though!

Runaway Train

One of the tamer rides in the park. A continuously driven ride which bumps, bounces and jolts you around. The only real highlight is the dive down into the tunnel, from where you can wave to all the people on the Congo River Rapids!

Thunder Looper

An excellent ride, and one of my favourites. It looks simple, rather like the tracks I used to build as a child to race my Matchbox cars down, complete with the loop! Catapulting along the flat from a standing start to some stupid speed in a rediculously short period of time, the acceleration is breathtaking. Then, the rapid increase in g-force as the bottom of the loops is hit is something which has to be experienced to be believed.

From then on, it's a standard loop then a gentle decelleration up a nice steep hill, before the whole thing repeats backwards. It doesn't look like much, but the Thunder Looper is well worth experiencing.

I'm now reliably informed that the Thunder Looper is no more. This is a great shame, as it was always one of my favourite rides in the park. Although occasionally unreliable, queues for the Thunder Looper were often incredibly short, so numerous consecutive rides could be made in a short period of time. Definately one I'll miss.

Oblivion

Oblivion is the latest ride from Alton Towers. A vertical drop of 200 feet into a cavern! I've now had chance to ride this (three times! <g>) and have to say that it is incredible. I really can't recommend this ride enough. One to be experienced.

Last changed: Tue Apr 14 21:23:15 1998 DST