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Alton Towers is approximately 150 miles from Richmond, Greater London and is easily accessible by car.
Alton Towers is the United Kingdoms number one theme park, with rides and attractions aimed at every member of the family. More than just a theme park, Alton Towers is a British institution and one of the biggest tourist attractions in the country, with three million visitors a year. The park has spawned countless imitators, but remains the daddy of them all. Every couple of years or so a new ride is unveiled, bigger and better than the last, and 2005 is no exception, with the arrival of Rita Queen of Speed. It's a must for any adrenalin junkie - riders accelerate from 0-100kph in just 2.5 seconds! Alton Towers' appeal lies in the number of such multi-million pound, magnificent rollercoaster-style rides, each one uniquely different, but all united in their ability to provide maximum thrills. Rides worth waiting for include Oblivion - a face-first 60-metre vertical drop which subjects "lucky" punters to a force of 4.5G (for the record, astronauts at take-off reportedly experience only 3G). Step off and you'll feel the combination of elation, euphoria and a strange desire to try it again that only a near-death experience can create. Then there's the sheer intensity and speed of Nemesis (including four seconds of zero-gravity), the stomach-churning Ripsaw, the, er, pitch-black Black Hole and the classic Corkscrew. Watch those knuckles whiten. However, such rides are just one aspect of Alton Towers - there's also an amazing number of attractions, rides and shows geared towards younger kids (or anyone too scared or sensible to put themselves through a nightmare like Oblivion). Not least of these is the Tweenies performance with special guests Bella, Fizz, Milo and Jake appearing live on stage in their own all-singing, all-dancing show. The Towers date back to the Victorian period, designed by Augustus Welby Pugin. With the outbreak of war in 1939 the Towers were closed and requisitioned by the army to be used as an Officer Cadet Training Unit. The estate remained under requisition until 1951 when it was finally returned to the company. Alton Towers became a theme park in 1980 with the Corkscrew ride. In 1990 the Park became part of The Tussauds Group which also owns Chessington World of Adventures , Warwick Castle , Thorpe Park, The London Planetarium, Madame Tussaud's London , Amsterdam, Australasia , New York and Las Vegas. Alton Towers offers adventure and fun for the whole family There are rides for all ages. The Nemesis ride and the new Oblivion attraction, a white knuckle ride, and Ug Land a virtual reality cave game. Also the Haunted House and Ripsaw Ride and lots more thrilling attractions and rides. For the young children Toyland Tours, or the Farm, recently redeveloped with rides suitable for younger children. There are also traditional fairground attractions. You can also row on the lake, take the aerial cable car ride, or walk in the gardens. Please be aware that you will need to queue or pre-book to enjoy some of the more popular rides. Hotels near Alton Towers include: The Dog & Partridge Country Inn, Town End Lane, Ashbourne DE6 2HS Peveril Of The Peak, Ashbourne, Thorpe, Ashbourne DE6 2AW Quality Hotel & Leisure Club, Derby Road, Ashbourne DE6 1XH Express by Holiday Inn Stoke on Trent, Stanley Matthews Way, Stoke-on-trent ST4 4EG More hotels near Alton Towers |