Alton Towers’ new Bluey ride fills a gap for families, in my opinion

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My verdict

Alton Towers has always been one of our favourite UK days out but as always, visiting as parents is a completely different experience. 

Before kids, it was all about speed. My husband and I would visit with friends, racing between rides, queueing for Nemesis, Oblivion, Air and Rita without a second thought. We didn’t need snacks every hour, toilet stops weren’t a strategic operation and no one was negotiating which ride looked “too scary”. 

Part of the park’s original Corkscrew is displayed at the entrance (good memories!) 

These days? We’re firmly in our CBeebies Land era. And it turns out, we’re not alone. At the launch event of the new Bluey ride, familiar faces like Katherine Ryan, Catherine Tyldsley and Lydia Bright were all there with their children - clearly also navigating that same shift from thrill-seekers to snack carriers. 

We had the chance to meet Bluey and Bingo the night before the ride opened

What I hadn’t quite appreciated before returning as a parent is just how much Alton Towers has changed compared to when I first visited as a teenager after a sponsored walk - and how much it needed to. 

How we’ve tested

Mumsnet were invited to the launch of the new Bluey ride at Alton Towers. As part of our stay, we spent a night at the resort’s CBeebies Land Hotel - me, my husband and our two young children. Treated to a UK-first Bluey drone show the night before, we awoke on 28th March 2026 raring to go. 

Image: Alton Towers | The drone show was the largest UK show in front of a live audience

Once the official opening ceremony of the ride had commenced, we spent the first two hours of our day exploring CBeebies land itself. We then ventured elsewhere into the park, before finding a lunch spot, followed by more rides in the afternoon before departing for home. 

Thanks to our gifted fast passes, we were able to try out rides suitable for the boys several times in the day to help us suss out which rides are worth it. 

A park that’s evolved for families

CBeebies Land only opened in 2014, replacing what used to be Storybook Land and Old MacDonald’s Farmyard - areas we would have completely bypassed as teenagers. 

Patiently waiting for CBeebies Land to open at Alton Towers

Back then, Alton Towers didn’t really cater for younger children in the same way it does now. It was a park built around big rides and adrenaline. Now, it’s trying to balance both. And for the most part, it does work. 

CBeebies Land is a genuinely well-thought-out space for younger children, with rides and attractions themed around shows they actually know and love - In the Night Garden, Octonauts, Go Jetters, Peter Rabbit and more. 

The opening ceremony was well organised and our boys were happy to see familiar faces

The area is colourful, interactive and importantly, manageable for families. You’re not trekking miles between rides and everything feels contained and accessible. There’s even signs for families in queues that say if you have a child who needs a toilet break while waiting, to speak to a member of staff and they’ll get you back into the right point in the line.

The arrival of Bluey: Here Come the Grannies is a smart move by Alton Towers - and not because it’s the biggest ride in CBeebies Land, but because of where it sits. 

Theming is consistent throughout the Bluey ride - spy the washing line!

For years, there’s been a noticeable gap at the theme park when visiting with children. There were gentle toddler and preschooler rides, and then a big leap to rollercoasters for riders 1.4m and above. There wasn’t ever really anything in between. But Bluey changes that. 

With a minimum height requirement of just 0.9m, a 210-metre track and trains carrying up to 28 riders at a time, it’s been carefully designed to feel like a real rollercoaster while still being accessible for younger children. For our two boys (aged five and four), they loved it. 

Our day at Alton Towers with kids

We had early access to CBeebies Land before the park opened, which - if you can get it - is absolutely worth it. In that hour alone, we managed to go enjoy: 

• Bluey: Here Come the Grannies

• In the Night Garden Magical Boat Ride

• Octonauts Rollercoaster Adventure

• Go Jetters Vroomster Zoom Ride

• Peter Rabbit Hippity Hop

• Justin’s Pie-O-Matic Factory

• Jojo and Gran Gran At Home

• Get Set Go Tree Top Adventure

• Hey Duggee Big Adventure Badge

All without queues, no rushing and no overstimulation for the kids. We did, regrettably, miss Andy’s Adventures Dinosaur Digs - but largely because we ran past it without realising it was there. We managed to catch Bluey during Big Fun Show Time, too. 

Once the park fully opened, things naturally got busier. We managed to get all that done before lunch, timing it well with the boys’ usual routine. Once they’d refuelled over lunch, we explored the rest of the park. 

Other hits were seeing Iggle Piggle and riding a Go Jetter rocket

Speaking of lunch - we dined in The Oak in Chains by Hex and spent just over £60 for lunch for four of us, which was a bit of a shock. Prices felt in line with most UK theme parks, but still worth factoring into your budget ahead of time. We weren’t surprised to see families unpacking their own picnics and lunchboxes throughout the park at lunchtime. 

A closer look at Bluey: Here Come the Grannies

We were lucky enough to be among the very first families to ride Bluey: Here Come the Grannies - in fact, somehow we ended up on the very first public ride alongside the CBeebies presenters. A fun little claim to fame, even if our children remain entirely unimpressed that they were riding with CBeebies royalty George, Evie, Ben and Joanna. 

The ride itself is based on one of Bluey’s most-loved episodes, where Bluey and Bingo transform into their mischievous alter-egos, Janet and Rita. Before you even board, the energy is clear and there’s plenty to keep kids entertained. Unlike other rides in CBeebies Land, the queue area is designed like Bluey’s world brought to life, with interactive play zones, games and little details that fans of the show will instantly recognise. 

Can you spot Chattermax?

Once on the ride, it’s best described as a ‘first rollercoaster’ experience. It’s not fast in the way Alton Towers is traditionally known for - topping out around 24mph - but for younger children, it’s certainly exciting enough to get a rollercoaster buzz without tipping into Rita territory. 

The track itself winds through Bluey’s back garden, passing familiar scenes and set pieces, including the Heeler family home, the garden tree and gnomes. The house doubles as a great photo opportunity before or after your ride, too. 

Unsurprisingly, there was plenty of Bluey merch in the CBeebies Land shop

For our four-year old, it was the highlight of the day. The kind of ride that immediately prompted “can we go again?” It was a balance of being thrilling enough without feeling overwhelming. Though be warned, you will have the Bluey theme song in your head for the rest of the day and several days after your visit. 

What’s clever about the ride is that it doesn’t just cater for very young children. There’s enough movement and pace to make it enjoyable for older siblings and even adults. Especially if you’re already a Bluey fan, and let’s be honest, plenty of us are. 

Watch the opening of Bluey: Here Come the Grannies

The reality of visiting Alton Towers with kids

A day at Alton Towers with kids is not the same as a day at Alton Towers without them. You move slower, you stop more, you plan around snacks, toilets and “I’m tired” moments. And walking. There’s a lot of it. So, if your LO tires easily - it’s worth bringing the pram. Especially as there’s pram parking throughout CBeebies Land. 

Even sticking mostly to CBeebies Land, you’ll clock up a fair number of steps and if you venture further into the park, the distances between areas can feel quite significant with younger children. 

We enjoyed the morning in CBeebies Land 

We spent much of our day rotating between CBeebies Land, the gardens, the shops and the sneaky hidden area inside the tower itself where you’ll find more child friendly rides, like Gangsta Granny: The Ride. 

Parts of the park were closed due to high winds on our visit, and our children were too small for many of the bigger rides anyway, which naturally limited where we could go. But honestly? We didn’t feel like we were missing out. 

After lunch, we ventured elsewhere in the park for other child-friendly rides

In a moment of optimism - or very poor judgement - we decided to try Hex after leaving CBeebies Land. Technically, our four-year-old was tall enough but in reality, it was far too much. Let's just say I don’t remember it being as scary as it was. Cue two shaken children and a complete loss of trust in our ride recommendations. 

We recovered (eventually) with a return to safer rides - Gangsta Granny doing some heavy lifting - but it was a good reminder that height restrictions don’t always tell the full story. Yes, I know I’m a bad parent.

What works well for families at Alton Towers

What Alton Towers does well these days is give families options. You can spend a full day in CBeebies Land, or mix in some of the gentler rides elsewhere in the park. For your tweens and teens who are tall enough, they can enjoy some of the bigger thrills while you and your smallest family members take breaks in the gardens. 

Of course, there’s not just the park these days… You can extend your stay with the hotels and the Alton Towers Waterpark, too. Ultimately, it’s clear that a trip to Alton Towers isn’t just about rides anymore - it’s about the full experience. 

How much does it cost to visit Alton Towers with kids? 

A day at Alton Towers with kids can be as affordable or as expensive as you make it.

Tickets start from around £32 to £35 per person when booked in advance, but can rise to as much as £68 each if you pay on the day, meaning a family of four could spend anywhere from £130 to £270 just to get through the gates. 

Parents of younger children can save with the Parent & Toddler pass, which gives one adult and a child aged five and under entry for £29 - a solid option if you’re firmly in the preschool phase. 

Image: Alton Towers | Sadly, our kids weren’t tall enough to go on my favourite ride, Th13teen 

Add in parking (around £13 to £15), food and snacks throughout the day (realistically £40 to £80 for a family) and the inevitable souvenirs, and you’re looking at a total spend of roughly £200 on a budget day, climbing to £300+ for a more typical visit. 

It’s not a cheap day out, but with a bit of planning - and perhaps a packed lunch - it can feel like good value for the amount of time, entertainment and memories packed into a single day.

Top tips for visiting Alton Towers with kids

• Book tickets in advance to get the best price (and on parking)

• Arrive early or use early access if you’re staying on-site

• Bring snacks or a packed lunch to keep costs down

• Don’t rely on height restrictions alone - some rides can still feel intense for younger children

• Stick mainly to CBeebies Land if visiting with preschoolers

Image: Alton Towers | Our youngest was happy to see Bandit and Chilli, too! 

Final verdict: visiting Alton Towers with children

Visiting Alton Towers with younger family members is a completely different experience, but not a lesser one. It’s slower, yes. More chaotic, definitely. But also more joyful and I dare say, easier. 

And with the continued expansion of CBeebies Land - and additions like the Bluey ride - it feels like a park that is finally catching up with what families actually need. So, if you too are in your “CBeebies era” of parenting, this is a brilliant day out. Just adjust your expectations, pack more snacks than you think you need… and maybe avoid Hex. 

About the author 

Rebecca Roberts is a Leeds-based writer and editor at Mumsnet. She commissions, writes and edits the sort of no-nonsense content parents actually need. While typically focused on lifestyle and home, she’s a mum of two young children - making her well equipped to try out trips on behalf of Mumsnet. 

Plus, as a mum herself, she’s very familiar with the reality of travelling with small kids - including the logistics, the snacks, the “where’s the nearest loo?” and the question of whether something is genuinely worth the money. She looks at places through a practical parent lens: what makes the stay easier, what’s good for kids, what’s bearable for adults, and what you’ll wish you’d known before you booked.

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