Rita opened as Rita - Queen of Speed in 2005 as the first Hydraulic Launch roller coaster of its kind in Europe. The ride lost its royal title when Ug Land, its home since being built, was rethemed to match the much darker concept of Thirteen. Located in Dark Forest at Alton Towers, Rita launches... Continue Reading →
After the success of 1994’s Nemesis, the next Secret Weapon ride at Alton Towers Resort would have a tough act to follow. It was Oblivion, a B&M Dive Coaster, that would be their next offering, opening 4 years later in 1998. A particularly risky move for the park in true world's first fashion, Oblivion is... Continue Reading →
Spinball Whizzer has been at Alton Towers Resort since 2004, reaching its 15th birthday this season. An offering that has operated under two names, the ride is a nicely themed and fun coaster for the whole family. The ride is a classic Maurer Sohne Spinning Coaster and a great attraction for those who are not... Continue Reading →
Opening in May 2013, the highly anticipated Gerstlauer Infinity Coaster, The Smiler at Alton Towers Resort, gained the park another world’s first as the roller coaster with the highest number of inversions. Originally held by Colossus at Thorpe Park, The Smiler went above and beyond to get the world title with 14 inversions throughout the... Continue Reading →
After much speculation throughout the last year, the Alton Towers Dungeons opened with the 2019 season after only 6 months, a third of the time it usually takes to complete a Dungeons attraction. The decision to open a Dungeons within Alton Towers was a hugely divisive one but the overall reaction to the Dungeons since... Continue Reading →
In 2016, Alton Towers Resort relaunched its B&M Flying coaster as the world’s first fully VR dedicated roller coaster – Galactica. Formerly known as Air, the ride hardware stayed the same with the addition of VR headsets for each of the seats and a reimagining of the ride’s theme. Galactica was given a space-age feel,... Continue Reading →
Nemesis at Alton Towers Resort was only the second inverted roller coaster to be built worldwide and a first for European theme parks. Opening in 1994 alongside Blackpool Pleasure Beach’s the Big One and Drayton Manor Park’s Shockwave, Nemesis turned 25 this season and is still considered one of the best roller coasters worldwide. Marketed... Continue Reading →
Blackpool Pleasure Beach’s first original ride since the Big One opened in 1994 and the latest roller coaster addition since 2007’s Infusion, Icon opened in May 2018. Manufactured by German roller coaster giants Mack Rides, Icon is the first multi-launch roller coaster in the UK with a height restriction of 1.3m like most coasters in... Continue Reading →
To wear or not to wear, that is the question. If you’re someone like me who needs to wear glasses 24/7, it can be confusing to know what to do when you visit a theme park, especially when it comes to roller coasters. Do you keep them on? Do you take them off and be... Continue Reading →
The 2018 season saw the introduction of the UK’s first wooden roller coaster in more than two decades - Wicker Man at Alton Towers Resort. On the former site of The Flume, retired from operation after over 30 years, the much anticipated coaster is another world’s first for the park, being the only roller coaster... Continue Reading →
Mission Theme Park 