A stay at the Alton Towers Hotel revealed a host of perks and freebies that surprised a self-described theme park superfan, including free breakfast, early access to rides, and free parking. The writer, Narin Flanders, booked the hotel to coincide with a summer park visit and found the benefits made the trip more fun and cut queuing time.
Accommodation and room features
The Alton Towers Resort offers various accommodation options, from glamping Treehouses, Stargazing Pods, and cabin-style Woodland Lodges to full-size hotels, including a CBeebies Land-themed option, Splash Landings with an indoor water park, and the Alton Towers Hotel itself. Flanders chose the Alton Towers Hotel, which has 175 rooms and suites, including steampunk-themed Explorer Rooms decorated in a nod to the fictional explorer Sir Algenon Alton.
The room layout included a separate area for the kids, with its own TV and lighting, allowing grown-ups to watch TV and chat once the children were asleep. The hotel also opened up meal options, including an all-you-can-eat international buffet at Flambo’s Jambo in the Splash Landings Hotel next door, priced at £20 for adults and £10 for kids when booked before 5pm or after 8pm. The buffet included Chinese, Indian, roast dinner, tacos, and Peri-Peri chicken, with a dessert bar, while a burger and chips in the park cost £14 a head.
Park highlights and early access
The writer spent two full days in the park, starting with the Bluey ride, which they rode twice. Despite their ages, the 10- and 12-year-olds loved CBeebies Land. The parent swap system allowed the couple to try iconic coasters without queuing twice, including Thirteen, described as the 'world's first psychological coaster', and old favourites like Oblivion and Galactica. Early access to the park was one of the perks of staying in the hotel, allowing them to do most of CBeebies Land, including the Bluey coaster twice, before the gates officially opened.
Perks included with the stay
Everyone staying at an Alton Towers hotel gets their park ticket included in the price, plus other added extras: free breakfast included with every stay; early access to select rides and areas before the park opens to the public; free car parking, which usually costs £13 in advance or £15 on the day; free hotel entertainment every night, including a family quiz and a live singer; and a free nine-hole ticket for outdoor crazy golf, with obstacles inspired by rides like The Smiler and Wicker Man.
Prices vary across the year, with the lowest price for half-term week currently £310 for Stargazing Pods, up to £530 for CBeebies Land Hotel. These prices include park entry and all the perks mentioned. Off-resort options include Doubletree by Hilton Stoke-on-Trent (from £294) and Holiday Inn Stoke on Trent (from £127), both within 15 minutes’ drive and with pools, though these prices don’t include Alton Towers tickets. Outside half term, special short break deals are available for Halloween-themed Scarefest, Christmassy Santa Sleepover, and early deals for 2027.
