Alton Towers
Interactive map of Alton Towers Resort | |
| Location | Alton, Staffordshire, England |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 52°59′13″N 1°53′06″W / 52.98694°N 1.88500°W |
| Opened | 4 April 1980 (Theme park) 3 May 1924 (House & Gardens) |
| Owner | LondonMetric Property |
| Operated by | Merlin Entertainments |
| General manager | Howard Ebison |
| Slogan | Feel Free |
| Operating season | Theme Park February – January (Full park offering between March – November) Alton Towers Gardens March – November Alton Towers Hotel Year-round Splash Landings Hotel Year-round Enchanted Village Lodges February - December Alton Towers Treehouses Year-round CBeebies Land Hotel Year-round Stargazing Pods April – November Alton Towers Waterpark Year-round Conference Centre Year-round Extraordinary Golf Year-round |
| Attendance | 2024: 2,500,000 (6.4%) |
| Area | 910 acres (370 ha; 3.7 km2) (total combined resort area) |
| Attractions | |
| Total | 43 (old Thunder Looper) |
| Roller coasters | 11 |
| Water rides | 3 |
| Website | www.AltonTowers.com |
Alton Towers (UK: /ˈɒltən/ ⓘ OL-tən) (also known as Alton Towers Resort) is a historic estate, theme park and resort complex in Staffordshire, England, near the village of Alton. The park is operated by Merlin Entertainments Group and incorporates a theme park, water park, mini golf and hotel complex.
Originally a stately home of the Earls of Shrewsbury, the Alton Towers grounds were first opened to the public in the late 19th Century. In the 1950s-70s, several new attractions were added, such as a scenic railway and cable car. It started to be developed as a theme park from 1980 with the installation of several rides and the adoption of a pay-once ticket structure. In 1990, the park was purchased by The Tussauds Group, which was merged into Merlin Entertainments in 2007. The park now has many attractions such as Congo River Rapids, Nemesis Reborn, The Smiler and Wicker Man.
It offers a range of accommodation and lodging options alongside the theme park. Facilities include Alton Towers Waterpark, Alton Towers Conference Centre and Extraordinary Golf. The theme park is open seasonally from mid-March to early November, whilst many of its hotels and amenities are open year-round. Special events are hosted throughout the year, including Scarefest, Fireworks and Christmas.