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Checkout 24/05/2012
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Alton Towers

 
Start date
26 March 2012
End date
6 November 2012
Hours
Daily 10am-5pm/6pm, depending on season
Cost
£38; 4-11s £29; family ticket £27pp (discounts available with online bookings)
Address
Alton Towers Alton ST10 4DB
Telephone
+44 (0) 871 222 3330
Directions
By Road: easily accessible from the M1 and M6.
Nemesis, Alton Towers Resort. Courtesy of Alton Towers

Every couple of years or so a new Alton Towers ride is unveiled, bigger and better than the last, and the park's appeal lies in the number of such multi-million-pound, magnificent rollercoaster-style rides, each one uniquely different, but all united in their ability to provide maximum thrills.

Rides worth waiting for include Rita Queen of Speed - a must for any adrenalin junkie, where riders accelerate from 0-100kph in just 2.5 seconds! Oblivion is a face-first 60-metre vertical drop which subjects "lucky" punters to a force of 4.5G (more than astronauts experience at take-off). Then there's the sheer intensity and speed of Alton Towers' Nemesis (including four seconds of zero gravity), and the stomach-churning Ripsaw. Watch those knuckles whiten.

However, such rides are just one aspect of Alton Towers - there are also numerous attractions, rides and shows geared towards younger kids.

 

Other Events

 
  • London Sevens

    19 May

    Rugby fans can enjoy two days of action as the IRB Sevens World Series visits Twickenham. A total of 44 matches over the May Bank Holiday weekend feature teams from all of the world's top rugby-playing nations.
  • Basingstoke Kite Festival

    04 Jun

    Basingstoke goes kite-crazy with its two-day festival dedicated to the hobby. Taking place at the Down Grange Sports Complex, the Basingstoke Kite Festival gives kite-fliers the chance to show off their flying skills or even design a new kite.
  • Twickenham Festival

    10 Jun

    Music lovers, river enthusiasts, culture vultures and party animals will enjoy the ten-day Twickenham Festival. Highlights include Morris dancing, quiz nights and al fresco dining in Church Street, which is closed to cars during weekend evenings.

  • Royal Ascot

    14 Jun

    Royal Ascot is one of the grandest race meetings of the year and also a great social event. As much attention is paid to the fashions being worn as to the horses in the paddock.
  • Henley Royal Regatta

    29 Jun

    The Henley Royal Regatta is both an international rowing event and a must for hat fans. Champagne picnics, elegant women and men in striped blazers fill the Thames banks for five days of revelry, reunions and rowing.
  • Farnborough International Airshow

    19 Jul

    The Farnborough International Airshow is the world's premier international aerospace trade show, first held in 1948. Taking place at Farnborough Airfield, the show features a trade convention during the week and a public extravaganza on Saturday and Sunday.
  • Cartier International

    24 Jul

    The annual Cartier International offers world-class polo in the regal surroundings of the Guards Polo Club in Windsor Great Park. The long-running event attracts attention from media-celeb spotters, and is traditionally attended by the Queen and Prince Philip.
  • PGA Golf Championship

    19 May

    The BMW PGA is one of the European Tour's biggest events, attracting all of Europe's top golfers and many from overseas. Beautiful Wentworth provides the perfect setting and the difficult run of finishing holes ensures there is plenty of drama.
  • Guildford Lido

    19 May

    One of the few remaining 1930s lidos in the country, Guildford Lido in Surrey is a heated Olympic-sized swimming pool that proves popular every time the sun makes an appearance. There is also an onsite gym.
  • Mapledurham House and Watermill

    19 May

    Mapledurham Watermill is the last working mill on the River Thames and, along with the nearby stately home, is a popular tourist attraction. Tours of the property are available throughout the summer months.
  • Greys Court

    19 May

    The National Trust-owned Greys Court in Henley-on-Thames is a mainly Tudor house with a tower dating back to 1347. The grounds contain many interesting buildings, including a Tudor wheelhouse, an ornamental vegetable garden, a maze and an ice house.
  • Stonor Park

    19 May

    One of England's oldest manor houses, Stonor has been home to the same family for an astonishing 850 years. Set in extensive parkland, the house contains many fine artworks, while its sprawling grounds host special events throughout the year.
  • Basildon Park

    19 May

    A honey-coloured Palladian mansion, Basildon Park is a National Trust property, with lovely parkland overlooking the Thames Valley. The 18th-century house has some notable plasterwork and an elegant staircase, as well as the unusual Octagon Room.
  • Newbury Spring Festival

    19 May

    Newbury presents over two weeks of outstanding music each May, at a variety of unusual venues in and around the town. Visitors can enjoy orchestral concerts, recitals, chamber music, jazz, film, children's events, art exhibitions and lectures.
  • Hauteville House

    19 May

    Hauteville House was the home of 19th-century French Romantic writer Victor Hugo during his years in exile in Guernsey from 1856 to 1870. The house remains as the author left it, and the interior mixes classical style with idiosyncratic touches.
  • Maidenhead Farmers' Market

    19 May

    Those of you who are yet to be convinced about the merits of farmers' markets should visit Maidenhead Farmers' Market, held on Groves Road. It's one of the town's most reliable addresses for fresh, locally produced treats and savoury delicacies. 

  • Beale Park

    19 May

    From small beginnings, the 350 acres of Beale Park have been transformed into a garden with nature trails, summer river cruises and a deer park. Most impressive is the aviary walkway where you can see a number of rare birds.