Alton Towers is one of the UK's biggest theme parks, but a successful visit requires a game plan. These five tips cover everything from early access to the right footwear.
Make use of the 'golden hour' perk
The park opens at 10am, but guests staying at one of the resort's hotels (Alton Towers Hotel, Splash Landings Hotel or CBeebies Land Hotel) have a big advantage. Staying at the Alton Towers Hotel to celebrate Adam's 11th birthday, the family breakfasted early and were in prime position to benefit from the golden hour, when guests are allowed into the park an hour early to beat the queues.
This allowed them to quickly get onto a couple of key rides. The kids' favourite is Runaway Mine Train, so they were among the first people on it. On a previous visit, Adam and Lauren were quickly onto Nemesis Reborn while the others watched on with trepidation. The golden hour allows you to get two or three big rides done before the queues mount.
Consider Fasttrack
For those who hate queuing, booking a hotel stay or getting a Fasttrack ticket is recommended. Fasttrack tickets cost between £45 and £175 per person, depending on the package and date, but on busy peak days they are a real benefit. Queues for major rides like Smiler or Oblivion can easily stretch to an hour plus, so a Fasttrack pass can allow you to pack a lot more in.
Armed with one, the writer headed to Wicker Man with Lauren for support and found it hugely exhilarating. Now and again though, you do just have to accept you will have to queue, so it is best to be prepared with a bag packed with as much food and drinks as possible. Food in restaurants and kiosks is not cheap, so bringing your own allows you to spend more on Fasttrack passes instead.
There is nothing wrong with heading for the shortest queue time either. The kids are big fans of Mutiny Bay, where queues for rides like Marauder's Mayhem and Heave Ho are relatively easy to get on.
Don't ignore the weather forecast
Don't be caught out by the elements. When the writer was there it rained all weekend, and most of the shops do not sell umbrellas. The only option is a poncho that will set you back another tenner or so each. So pack a coat and umbrellas.
Get your comfiest shoes out
Comfy yet sturdy shoes are the way to go. Alton Towers is not a place to show off your finest footwear. Even if it's not raining your feet are likely to get a drenching on Congo River Rapids or Battle Galleons, a favourite with the kids as they get to drench others by firing water cannons. You will also be doing a LOT of steps. On both days the writer was there, they easily surpassed the 20,000 mark, which is between eight and 10 miles depending on step length.
Download the Alton Towers app
Make sure your phone is powered up and use the Alton Towers app. It gives you live queue times for all the rides and tells you if they are closed, which happens periodically. The app also acts as a map directing you from one ride to another so you can plan your route.
Short breaks at Alton Towers start from £77pp in 2026, bookable online at altontowers.com. Parent and Toddler passes start from £29 for an adult and toddler, saving families over £35. Alton Towers has also revealed the brand-new scare maze Final Exhibit coming to Scarefest 2026, from Saturday 26 September to Sunday 1 November 2026.
