Alton Towers by Rebecca Woolley

Make a wish! Brand new ground that’s begging to be explored. The shrieks and screams that bubble with enthusiasm ring through my ears, alerting my reflexes of possible adventure approaching.

Stomachs growling, pleading for something after the long, tedious journey, encouraging our first stop to be the ‘Rollercoaster Restaurant’. An experience like never before. After a short five minute wait, we are shown to our seats, senses eager to explore the atmosphere surrounding us. Taste buds watering at the aroma, hands itching to examine the unusual lay out of condiments. Greeted by the bewildered faces of the other customers seated on our table, we explore the turntable next to us. Plates, glasses, cutlery and sauces placed underneath where our food would arrive.

An iPad placed in front of our eyes as the future seemingly emerged. We quickly grasp the prospect. Placing our order, the waiting begins as we eagerly peer around watching other orders race along the track, some even concurring a loop to loop process. How the food remained somewhat organised, I have not yet worked out. A few minutes of admiring the new type of dining, our drinks arrive on the tracks, amazing us with a new sense of belief. A truly incredible experience.

“The chains rattle as another branch threatens to fall!”

Our bones shake as we listen, engrossed in the eerie tale. The musky, damp scent engulfing the senses making the building a little spookier. The true fable making my weak gut utterly spooked. Hoping for this ‘ride’ to be over soon, I sit cautiously with the rest of the group on what seemed to be church isle seats. Boy, were we wrong. The room spins, creating an illusion we are upside down, our stomachs flinch as we grasp onto whatever we could so that we wouldn’t fall.

Hours of queueing for the unmissable new ride is completely worth it when we step into the building where we would board. 90 minutes of queuing would be made justifiable within the five minutes of the experience. Handing over our bags to the Kiosk in the entrance of the building we, along with about 30 other eager riders, are gathered in a dark, musky room, waiting for the doors to open.  After a minute of two of anxious waiting and we are assembled into another room decorated with, what I hope was fake, sheep, cow and pig skin. In the corner, near another door, a giant screen is placed. As we are told to gather around the screen, I dodge through the crowd, managing to get to the front. The story begins and the room goes black. The sheet drops and in its place, a giant wooden figure head emerges. We are the sacrifices.

Boarding the ride allowed our bubbling enthusiasm to turn into slight nervousness. The safety checks complete and we are off. The wind and little bit of rain hits our faces as we emerge from the cabin and onto the track. As we ascend the slope, I glance down towards the growing line, which is now around three hours and smirk, knowing that our wait was finally over. As we arrived towards the top, we speed off into a wooden building, twisting and turning, bodies being thrown about, screams of elation and some fear leaving our mouths involuntarily. Fire roared as we fly round the corner, making us jump as our minds boggle at how fire and wood is a safe mix, adding to the thrill.

If you love rides, Alton Towers is the place for you, with the unusual restaurants, themed kid’s parks and the thrilling rides, there’s something for everyone in the family. A good deal can be found on a Merlin website or cereal boxes for a truly unforgettable day.