Alton Towers is one of the UK’s most popular theme parks and is located a short distance from Sandon Hall in Staffordshire making it the perfect day trip destination for thrill seekers. The Alton Towers Resort has activities for all ages, including: a theme park, a water park, CBeebies Land, spa and mini golf.
About Alton Towers
Alton Towers has over 40 rides and attractions, from the white knuckle, world-class rollercoaster Wicker Man to the thrilling and terrifying journey deep into the Alton Towers Dungeon and the wacky Gangsta Granny jewel heist ride. Be aware a lot of rides have height restrictions.
Alton Towers Waterpark is located adjacent to the theme park and you need to purchase a separate ticket. There are both indoor and outdoor attractions so the park is not affected by the weather and is open most of the year. Highlights include Master Blaster water coaster, Rush ‘N’ Rampage high-speed water slides and the water cannons and flume rides. Suitable for all ages.
Alton Towers Opening Dates
Not all of the Alton Towers experiences are available all year round.
Alton Towers Theme Park – Open from March to November each year, some select dates around Christmas.
Alton Towers Water Park – Open all year round.
Extraordinary Golf – Open all year round, but opening times vary over the year.
Alton Towers Spa – Open all year. Some seasonal treatments.
CBeebies Land – Like the Theme Park, this is open from March to November each year.
Plan Your Trip To Alton Towers
If you are visiting or staying in Staffordshire, planning a trip to Alton Towers is highly recommended. There are a host of activities for adults and children, with options for the adventurous and the more laid-back.
Restrictions At Alton Towers
Alton Towers Resort is open to all, however, not all of Alton Towers is available to everyone. When planning your trip it is worth being aware that:
Children under 12 must be accompanied, at all times, on attractions by an adult (age 18 years or older).
Some of the rides in Alton Towers Theme Park have height restrictions, starting at 0.9m minimum height and going up to 1.4m minimum height. There are also some height restrictions in the Alton Towers Water Park and in CBeebies Land.
CBeebies Land is aimed at children from 1-6 years of age.
Most treatments at the Alton Towers Spa and Aqua Relaxation Rooms are 16+. There are Bonding Time Treatments for an adult and child aged 8-16.
Visiting Alton Towers From The Sandon Hall Estate
Guests can visit Alton Towers in just 40 minutes, from either of our luxury stays.
Parking At Alton Towers
There is a fixed day rate for parking, currently £6 for standard parking (15-20 min walk to entrance) or £18 for express parking (1-3 min walk to entrance).
Public Transport Access To Alton Towers
If you don’t want to drive to Alton Towers, you can access the park via train and bus.
From outside the Staffordshire area, you will need to get a train to one of the nearby stations:
Once you are in the area, you can get a bus from the train station to the park. The following buses stop at Alton Towers:
X41 – Route: Stafford to Uttoxeter to Alton Towers Resort
32X – Route: Hanley to Cheadle to Alton Towers Resort
X52 – Route: Nottingham to Derby to Alton Towers Resort
You can also get a local taxi from any of the train stations near Alton Towers.
Things To Do Near Alton Towers
For those who don’t fancy a day at the funfair, or when you’ve had your fill of the thrills and spills of the adventure park, there are plenty of alternative attractions nearby, including wildlife parks, country towns, museums and more.
Local Towns & Culture
There are a number of country towns and villages on the way to/from Alton Towers and Sandon Hall. A few highly recommended market towns to visit include Stone, Stafford and Uttoxeter.
If you are keen to take in some cultural spots, there are a few interesting places of interest. Longton, on the way to Stoke-on-Trent, has the Gladstone Pottery Museum. This unique museum showcases the history of Staffordshire’s pottery industry via thoughtful displays and workshops. A little south of Longton is Barlaston, the home of World of Wedgwood. This ‘heritage showcase’ offers hands-on pottery demonstrations, factory tours and shopping, and has a fabulous tea room making it a great spot for a respite.
Activities For Kids
Children still abundant with energy? There are some great activities for kids between Alton Towers and Sandon Hall. The rope courses and zip lines at BeWILDerwood make for an excellent day out or afternoon activity. It has activities for children from 2 to 12 years old.
There are also great places for families to see some wildlife. The Peak Wildlife Park is a family zoo with small mammals and birdlife, located near the town of Leek. Alternatively Tattenhill has the National Forest Adventure Farm, which has farm animals, a maze and a play area. If your little ones like a bit of monkey-business, try Trentham Monkey Forest, home to 140 free-roaming monkeys.
History & Nature
For a change of pace, visit the National Memorial Arboretum at Alrewas, a large and impressive woodland area with memorials dedicated to those lost in service. This peaceful and contemplative place may be more suitable for older family members and those looking for a less rollercoaster activity while others are at Alton Towers.
Keen history buffs will also enjoy the mediaeval fortress ruins of Ashby de la Zouch Castle. This English Heritage site is for the whole family and features ruined towers and underground walkways to explore.
Naturally, if you are in the area, one of the best places to visit is the Peak District National Park [Link to Peak District].
Where To Eat Near Alton Towers
There are plenty of eating options on site at Alton Towers Resort, but if you fancy getting away from the crowds and sampling some of the local Staffordhire cuisine, Sandon Hall recommends the following establishments.
Very close, within striking distance of Alton Towers: The Talbot, idyllic setting by the river with outdoor seating and great views of the castle, river and forest. The Bulls Head Alton is another great option next door to the theme park, a cosy family-run gastro pub and B&B that does high-quality, reasonably priced pub grub.
A bit further afield, The Grosvenor Restaurant at Hales Hall is a local favourite and still only a few miles from the theme park. There are plenty of other great gastro pubs nearby too, including The Duncombe Arms in Ellastone, The Tavern in Denstone and The Star at Cotton in Oakamoor.
Explore more Things To Do in Staffordshire
There are plenty of activities, events and places to visit around Sandon Hall and across Staffordshire.
