Alton Towers Resort Reviews 

Over half day in park and not been able to do a single ride with all big rides closed. Second year in a row it’s happened this way due to their incompetence at running or maintaining theme parks. There is no entertainment at Alton Towers, just misery and suffering. Plus they’ll charge you a fortune to get in, make you pay for parking despite offering no alternative transport options.

Alton Towers and Merlin Entertainment are essentially a scam

The que’s are absolutely horrendous 90+ mins for a 2-3 minute ride (if that)

On a positive I want to thank Lorraine at guest services for helping me and my partner out about access cards during the day, really appreciate it. Any problems go to Lorraine at guest services!!!!!!

We visited on 26/10 for their scarefest event. The last time we visited was 10years again and the two visits were head and shoulders apart. Firstly, the cost was £39 each, so £78 for my son and I, which I felt was reasonable. Then the parking charging...£12, really? There didn't used to be a parking charge! Food and drink is extortionate. £4.50 for a chocolate bar from a vending machine, £7 for a donut, £15 for burger and chips. I don't mind paying, but I do object to being ripped off! Most of the scarefest attractions are an additional charge, want to go on the trick or treat? £10each and you'll come out with a handful of Moam! The prices aside, queue times are the worst I've ever experienced. We arrived at 10.30am and only got on 3 rides, Rita, hex, nemesis reborn. We bought fast track passes for Smiler for £24 but then broke down while we were queuing, which I know can't be helped but it's still super infuriating. Alton Towers did refund FT tickets to be fair to them, but this was our last ride before having to leave. All in all a bit of washout, hugely overpriced and the ride queues are just too long to really enjoy your day. If you do decide to go, invest in the fast passes otherwise you'll leave as disappointed as we did.

Rolled up at 11am on 25/10/2025 with my wide-eyed son, dreaming we'd conquer every gut-wrenching coaster like adrenaline-fueled gladiators but those queues had other ideas—monstrous, soul-crushing lines that turned our epic quest into a patience game which we barely survived.. the boredom apocalypse.

Oh, and Alton Towers, Grow a spine and actually enforce those pathetic "no smoking/vaping in queues" tannoy warnings.Nothing says "family fun" like choking on a fog of cheap strawberry-scented clouds while slowly shuffling in line for 90+ minutes. Fix it.

Instead of profiteering on the ques by way of exorbitantly priced fast track passes, actually come up with some better ideas to manage ques which are ultimately killing the fun.

We did eventually ride Rita, Nemesis and toxicator..the combined queuing time for which, was over 5 hours, including 1 hour waiting in line for Smiler, which unfortunately broke down when we had approximately 30mins left to que.

On a positive note, I've discovered another fabulous side to my son, his ability to endure hours and hours of hardship in his quest for fun."

HORRENDOUS!

*£180 for 2 adults 2 kids
* 2 rides in 6.5hrs!!! QUEUES 1HR PLUS! ALOT 1.5HRS
* £15 for a piddly size kids meal.

They have got way too greedy. Why sell that many tickets knowing wait times are like that.

Never again.

Alton towers discriminated against my daughter's disability and their website goes against the equity act 2010 as a result i lost 100s of pounds i had to leave the park to calm my daughter down and when we returned for scarefest i was then insulted by staff at guest services

We went on Friday 24th October.
Had to park in an overspill car park in a field so we knew it was going to be busy. But as we had gone for Scarefest we werent there for the rides. Just a fun day out doing the Scare Mazes.
That was the first dissapointment. Number of Scare Mazes were down. 3 to pay for at £38 per person. This is not a cheap day out.
The Mazes themselves were good fun but why so expensive. God knows how a family of 4 could afford it.
The park was over busy, general ride times over 90 mins so we didnt bother with them.
We had a pint of lager in the Courtyard. £8 each. This is London Club prices not a Theme Park.
£15.50p for Fish & Chips.
£12.50p for a Veggie Burger and final insult, a cup of Tea £3.80p.
I dont know how you think people on Minimum Wage can afford these prices. Even with the Merlin Pass these prices are just not affordable. They make you stay away and dont visit as often as we used to. Wich then makes you question wether its still worth getting the Merlin Pass. Especially now the Pass is no longer being used in Blackpool.
I know me moaning isnt going to make the slightest difference.
But there are cheaper days out available.
Your overpricing the experience of Alton Towers.

P**s taking bar stewards! Paid £80 each for a gold ticket then they charge another £60 each when you arrive, to get in! Rip off!

Currently sat in Alton towers at 3.45 in the afternoon. My kids have managed 1 ride so far spending 3 hours in a queue for smiler and now no ride is less than 45 minute wait . Total waste of money and not a good value family day out at all .

Went here yesterday as we have done for many many years on this occasion a family of four so you can imagine wasn't a cheap day out. The day was overcast with some light showers at first so we persevered but on getting to the first ride we chose go stand in a queue for well over 2hrs in what then became very heavy rain only to then go to our second ride and have the exact same issue. We are then told by the attendant at second ride the reason for the now very long waits is due to alton towers reducing how many people can ride each time due to weather restrictions. We had no choice but to go to a very small amount of indoor attractions they had which again due to so many others having same issue these were packed and again very long waits. After only around four and half hours we had no choice but to call it a day as we were passed the point of drowned and unable to continue. We even tried to find rain macs but these were few and far between and when finding a place that sild them was told they sold out. On the way out we popped into the office to speak to a kind younge lady who advised if we full in this online form we would have someone send us a email with a resolution when the ride availability had been checked. At which point I did advise her and the form that the availability wasn't the biggest issue it was the reduction in amount of people on each ride at a time causing the huge wait times. So onto today I recieved a email stating there availability was fine and nothing can be done of which I contested the availability yet again wasn't the issue and the way it had been reduced was but again recieved the very same rewritten spill with no regards at all. 1000% this will be the last year we visit here after years of attending every event from Halloween to Christmas etc. Never have I ever had such poor service fron here and feel it has sadly gone down the pan big time over the last couple years.

Anything done or said by another guest has no repercussions, including the use of racial slurs, homophobic comments and bullying. Merlin will state that this behaviour is not tolerated and guests will be removed from the park however this is not true and nothing at all will be done apart from the nice staff may say ‘ oh sorry about that’ these incidents will be brushed off as guest on guest issues therefore nothing can be done. When I reported the incident on four separate occasions including a QR report in the queue then twice to separate staff members and then to get services no reparations were done nobody got kicked out of the park absolutely nothing at all. Also following up on my complaint, absolutely no care from the after-care customer support team and this was after harassment and homophobic comments from a group of seven individuals that we had to stay in a queue for nearly 2 hours for.

I genuinely thought the online ordering process is a little more difficult than expected especially when it comes to using a ride access pass support inside was relatively great.
There was an incident on site a lady dragged me out of the food queue infront of my son. I was grabbed pushed shoved before I got angry I told the first kiosk that wasn't as busy as the rest and they told me where there was radio to contact security I got really upset but im thankful alton towers security and staff helped make a bad day better this was on the 18th of October 2025 the review was originally made at point of tickets purchase.

Alton towers is still a fun day out, but it’s definitely not what it used to be. The ticket prices are really high now, and once you’re in the queue times are horrendous. We spent most of the day standing in line and hardly got to go on anything, which was really disappointing given the cost. The rides themselves are great when you finally get on but overall experience just doesn’t feel worth the money anymore.

We had been looking forward to our visit, but unfortunately it was a very disappointing experience. Several rides broke down while we were waiting in line, and the queue times were extreme! Our elder son only managed to go on two rides the whole day before the park closed, due to the constant waiting and breakdowns

I contacted guest services afterwards and explained the situation. Although the support team was friendly, the response was also very slow! In the end, I only received an offer for discounted return tickets, which felt quite unfair considering the problems we had on the day. Based on this experience, we’ll not be visiting again.

Dilapidated Hotel (Splash Landings), dirty, rundown, tatty, just a skincrawler place to stay. Food is cheap and nasty across all the hotels and park but the prices charged are ridiculous. There are some staff throughout the park who do a good job and are friendly, polite and will help where they can, unfortunately they are few and far between. Majority are rude, uninterested, pushy and show no customer service skills. Speaking of customer service, there is none, and I mean none! If you have a complaint or something isn't right, they just don't care, they have your money and you are getting nothing back from them, basically tough is what I was told. The parks only focus is to rip as much money from people as possible. The last thing on their list of priorities is providing a good quality service. If you are foolish enough to stay in one of the hotels, there is basically nothing to do from 4 pm when the park closes. You would have thought that guests would get some sort of extra time or late use of rides, nope, that would mean someone thinking about good customer service. Then theres the issue with ride availability, on some days there is more not working than working, bit pointless for a theme park, but dont expect any apologies or offer of something to compensate, again, that would be good customer service, not something you'll find here sir! The place is dying a slow, painful death. I note with amusement, Alton Towers "Customer Service" don't seem to reply to any negative reviews...I wonder why? Merlin must know it so are trying to cream as much money out of the mugs (you and I) until Universal open when hopefully, Alton Towers switches off the lights.

🎃 Alton Towers Scarefest 2025 – A Full Day of Frights, Fun & Fantastic Atmosphere!

Visited on Saturday 11th October 2025, and once again Scarefest proved why it’s one of the highlights of the UK theme park calendar. Even with around 20,000 visitors, the park didn’t feel overly crowded — especially compared to the chaos closer to Halloween. The weather was mild, the atmosphere electric, and the park looked incredible with glowing pumpkins, fog effects, and haunting music echoing through the trees.

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🕙 Getting There & Beating the Crowds

Rides open at 10am, but the park opens a little earlier — and it’s absolutely worth being through the gates early. That first hour is the sweet spot before queues explode. We only queued 20 minutes for Wicker Man and 25 for Th13teen, both of which hit over an hour later in the day.

If you want to make the most of your visit, go straight to your top ride. Don’t get distracted by shops or snacks — just go! If you’re young, run; if you’re older, you’ll get pulled and pushed along! The crisp morning ride on Wicker Man was the perfect start to the day.

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👻 Scare Mazes – The Heart of Scarefest

We opted for the Thrills Combi – Early ticket, giving access to all three mazes once. Totally worth it if you want to experience everything without waiting until nightfall when the queues extend.

🌲 Edge of the Forest (NEW for 2025) – Misty, eerie, and beautifully themed. Great for beginners or those easing into the scares. Full of jumps with a few twists along the way. See the photos after to see if people were as brave as they said they were!
⏱ Wait: 10–15 mins | ⭐ 7/10

⛏️ Altonville Mine Tours – A classic that never fails. Tight, dark tunnels, flickering lights, and phenomenal atmosphere. Huge credit to the staff who helped my daughter when she had a panic attack — calm, professional, and kind. They made a frightening moment safe and positive, without disrupting anyone else’s experience.
⏱ Wait: <5 mins | ⭐ 8/10 (maze), 10/10 (staff)

🧪 Compound – Pure chaos and adrenaline. Over 35 routes to the exit, disorienting lights and sirens. No two runs are the same! YOU WILL BE SPLIT UP…. No you really will. No hanging on will save you, it’s part of the scare embrace it! Fasttrack is available but I feel that seeing people exit the maze while queuing in a confused, disorganised and often terrified state adds to the experience. If you have time queue.
⏱ Wait: ~20 mins | ⭐ 8/10

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💀 Scare Zones – Free, Fun, and Atmospheric

Two free zones this year — Dark Hollow and Burial Grounds. Both are included in your park ticket and best experienced after dark when the fog and lighting really kick in. During the day they’re more family-friendly, but by night they’re deliciously creepy. A few more actors would be good and add to experience.
⭐ 7/10 – Great atmosphere, though actor numbers vary.

💡 Suggestion: Alton Towers should add more free scare zones — they make quieter areas of the park come alive.

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🎢 Rides After Dark – A Must-Do

If you’ve never ridden at Alton Towers after dark, you’re missing out. Fog, lights, and music transform the park into a totally different world. Wicker Man, Th13teen, and Nemesis Reborn are especially thrilling at night.

Be prepared for queues (often 80+ minutes), but as long as you’re in line before park close, you’ll get to ride. Fasttrack helps if you can stretch your budget.

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💃 Shows & Entertainment

Performances in Mutiny Bay Courtyard are full of energy and Halloween spirit, but space is tight. A real shame when there are other areas in the park that would be perfect. Arrive early or catch the Ancestors performing on Towers Street or in Dark Forest where there’s more room to watch.
⭐ 4/10 – Fantastic performers, poor viewing area.

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🍔 Food & Drink

Like most theme parks, food is decent but pricey. We spent £51.50 on three hot dogs and drinks, and another £24.75 later on chips and more drinks. For better quality, try the Pizza & Pasta Buffet or Rollercoaster Restaurant — worth the wait.
⭐ 6/10

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💸 The Cost (1 Adult + 2 Teens)
• 3 x Day Tickets – £126.00
• 2 x Thrills Combi – Early – £76.00
• Parking – £12.00
• Food & Drinks – £88.25
• One Shot Compound + Fasttrack – £19.00
• 4 x Energy Drinks – £12.00
Total: £321.25

Bring snacks and drinks to cut the costs!!

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🎭 Final Thoughts

Scarefest 2025 proves again why Alton Towers is the UK’s Halloween capital. Amazing staff, creative mazes, and an unbeatable atmosphere make it a must-visit event. Yes, it’s busy and expensive, but it delivers thrills, scares, and smiles all day (and night) long.

⭐ Overall: 8.5/10 – Pricey, busy, but absolutely worth it.

Special thanks to the Altonville Mine Tours team — your kindness and professionalism were outstanding. You turned a stressful moment into a lasting positive memory.

We’ll definitely be back for Scarefest 2026 — because no Halloween feels complete without it! 🎢👻👏

Criminally over priced at every step. 70 per person to get in. £15 to park. Food and drink prices are borderline a criminal offence.

Over 500 quid for a family of 5 all in. For one day.

Awful experience to try arrange queue jump for my son who is registered disabled, apparently not disabled enough to qualify.

Wouldn't recommend anyone going here until they sort their prices out.

Queued 2.5hrs today for Rita to completely break. Same yesterday queued for it to break. Customer services offered zero resolution, the only ask was 1 fast track for another ride to be told it’s not possible. Absolute joke Alton Towers don’t waste your money on unreliable rides and zero customer support when things go wrong. Spent a lot of money on a short break to enjoy the park been plagued by multiple rides breaking down across the two days. Won’t be returning

Dont waster your time with the SplashLandings water park you only get a 2.5hr Session, The opening hours are a joke. 10-4/5 and outside area is only open for a portion of that time if your lucky as its closed completely during the week! I cant belive there is no evening swim sessions for people staying on the resort. Surley thats the whole point of this hotel, waterpark?!. All the play interactive water features are broken and covered in black tape too.Having been to europa Park this year and visited Rulantica save your money and dont bother they have a long way to go to compete with other parks

I go to Alton towers any chance I get since I have a Merlin pass! I love it.
I honestly don’t get why people bother going to Alton towers if it’s gonna be expensive.
I was reading the reviews and people had put it to 1 star just because food was expensive? It’s a them park what do you expect? Without the money you guys spend there you be no rides probably.
And okay 12 may be expensive for a hot day but I think it’s worth it. They are like a foot long and they are located near the wickerman.
And some people are saying the staff may be rude. In all of my 8 trips to Alton this year so far have I ever seen or heard about a rude worker. Yes okay they might have gone through a lot that day from operating rides, standing up the whole time, checking people’s safety but are you sure YOUR being kind enough? It’s probably tiring for them and they are expected to work. I think some people should be a bit patient.
Queues. If the weathers horrible people may be like “ omg it’s the UK they should work” no. They won’t in the pouring rain. And I’ve been on the smiler and it randomly started heavily raining and it HURT. The raindrops felt like a slap to my face? But Alton towers can’t control the weather. Again going back to the topic of queues, if a queue is long, don’t go on it unless if you’re willing to wait that time. Try socialize with others in the queue because lots of people in the park seem really antisocial. Or maybe download games and bring a portable charger Definately.
I have a top tip on leaving your phone being able to last a whole day.
Try charge it up to 100%,
Put it on low power mode and keep it on that day
And in queues SOCIALISE!!
Anyway sorry you probably have to read all of this but Alton towers feels like my 2nd home at this point. Byeee!