Staffordshire, United Kingdom
Alton Towers is the UK's largest and most popular theme park, offering an incredible mix of thrilling roller coasters and family-friendly attractions spread across 500 acres of beautiful Staffordshire countryside.
Perfect for Families
Alton Towers lists 37 rides and attractions. 12 have no height requirement at all (the youngest ride with a supervising adult), another 11 open up at 90cm, and 24 of the 37 are open to a child under 110cm — so the park works from toddler age upwards, while the headline coasters wait until 140cm.
Height Breakdown
No height requirement
Open at any height, with a supervising adult for the youngest:
- Skyride (the cable car across the park)
- Royal Carousel
- Bugbie-Go-Round
- Get! Set! Go! Tree Top Adventure
- In the Night Garden Magical Boat Ride
From 90cm with an adult
The biggest single jump at Alton Towers - eleven rides unlock here, including most of CBeebies Land:
- Octonauts Rollercoaster Adventure
- Bluey the Ride: Here Come the Grannies!
- Go Jetters Vroomster Zoom Ride
- Justin's House Pie-O-Matic Factory (90cm, no adult required)
- Peter Rabbit Hippity Hop (90cm, no adult required)
- Gangsta Granny: The Ride
- Hex - The Legend of the Towers
- The Curse at Alton Manor
- Battle Galleons
- Heave Ho!
- Raj's Bouncy Bottom Burp
Riding these alone needs 110cm on most, 120cm on Gangsta Granny and Hex, and 125cm on Go Jetters.
From 100cm
- Cuckoo Cars Driving School (100cm, maximum height 140cm)
From 110cm with an adult
- Runaway Mine Train
- Congo River Rapids
- Marauder's Mayhem
All three need 130cm to ride without an adult.
From 120cm
- Wicker Man
- TH13TEEN (maximum height 196cm)
- Spinball Whizzer (maximum height 195cm)
140cm and above
The park's seven biggest thrill rides:
- Nemesis Reborn
- The Smiler
- Oblivion
- Galactica
- Rita (maximum height 195cm)
- Toxicator (maximum height 195cm) - the UK's first suspended Top Spin, opened in 2025
- Nemesis: Sub-Terra
Best Times to Visit
- Quietest
- Weekdays during term time (September-November, January-March)
- Busiest
- School holidays, weekends in summer
- Tip
- Arrive 30 minutes before opening for shortest queues
Top Tips for Families
- Start at CBeebies Land - Quietest first thing in the morning
- Download the app - Check real-time queue times
- Fastrack tickets - Worth it on busy days for popular rides
- Height measurement - Get a wristband at Guest Services to avoid repeated checks
- Lunch strategy - Eat early (11:30am) or late (2pm) to avoid peaks
Facilities
- Baby changing - Multiple locations including CBeebies Land
- Nursing rooms - Private facilities available
- Height check points - At park entrance to get wristbands
- Accessibility - Excellent disabled access throughout
- Food - Multiple restaurants, cafes, and snack bars
Getting There
- By Car
- M1 Junction 28, then follow A38/A52 (1.5 hours from Birmingham, 2.5 from London)
- By Train
- Uttoxeter Station (10 miles), then taxi
- Parking
- £8 per day (book online for discount)
Money-Saving Tips
- Book tickets online at least 7 days ahead for best prices
- Annual passes pay for themselves in 2-3 visits
- Bring packed lunch (free lockers available)
- Check for 2-for-1 deals with Kellogg's/Cadbury vouchers