Alton Towers occupies a huge site, originally the estate of the Earls of Shrewsbury. You can still see the ruins of the old mansion. Once very grand with many towers, battlements and turrets, now only the shell remains, of which a small part is used for the gift shop and cafeteria.
Everyone who comes to Alton Towers is in pursuit of adventure and fun and they certainly will not be disappointed. There are rides suited to all ages. For maximum thrills try Nemisis, Air, the Blade, or Enterprise. Lots of family fun can be enjoyed at attractions like Duel, Ug Land, and Merrie England. For the younger members of the family, there is Cred Street with the tweenies show, Ribena Berry Bish Bash, or they may enjoy Old McDonald's Farmyard. There are also more traditional fairground attractions for all to enjoy.
If you feel in need of something soothing after so much excitement you can row on the lake, take an aerial cable car ride, or simply enjoy walking in the gardens, which still have many of the plants, ornamental features and fountains from the original design.
Having enjoyed your day, no doubt you will want to come to Alton Towers again, there is always something new for you to enjoy as new and more exciting rides are introduced each year.
Every time I go I can’t wait for the next visit. The best times to visit if you want it quiet are weekdays; avoid bank holidays or half terms as queues will reach 2 hours+. If you can’t avoid a busy day, spend a little extra on virtual queuing, which will allow you to go straight to the front of the queue; each person gets on the virtual queue for free. If you want the most atmosphere, visit on one of the theme nights. Halloween is out of this world; the setting of the old castle provides a spooky backdrop and so much effort is put into displays and themes -- it really is superb.