Woodland Lodges at Alton Towers review: “cosy, practical and made for families”

My verdict

Alton Towers’ Woodland Lodges sit somewhere between a themed hotel room and a very compact cabin in the woods. They’re warm, cosy and slightly Hobbit-like, with crooked little details, fairy lights and enough woodland whimsy to win children over before you’ve even found somewhere to put your bags.

We stayed for one night during the opening weekend of Scarefest 2026 with our five- and six-year-old boys. Having already stayed at CBeebies Land Hotel and the main Alton Towers Hotel, I wanted to see how different the lodges felt and, importantly, how far away they really were from everything.

The answer depends rather heavily on which lodge you’re given. We were in one of the first clusters, closest to the main hotel and the route towards the park, so the walk was manageable. Families placed at the far end will have further to go, which is worth bearing in mind with younger children, a buggy or anyone whose legs have already done a full day of Alton Towers.

Our boys loved the fact we had our own little “house”

Inside, it’s rustic rather than luxurious. There were exposed pipes and a water-pressure gauge on show, the open wardrobe had no door or curtain and the mini fridge took up a sizeable chunk of it. There wasn’t much surface space either. None of that ruined the stay, but I can’t pretend that this is five-star accommodation.

What it does very well, though, is family life. Our boys had a curtained sleeping nook with bunk beds and a pull-out trundle bed. They marched in, shut us out and began playing in “their room”, presumably because being five and six now makes them practically teenagers. The wide front door opened onto a shared grass and play area, so they could potter outside while we watched from the decking.

That outdoor space was a big win for us. After a long first day (and night) at Scarefest, we sat outside with a drink while the boys slept inside. Plus, earlier in our day, the lodge gave us somewhere to stop, have a coffee and rest our feet before going back into the park after checking in (at 3pm), then somewhere calmer to land at the end of the night.

The view from the terrace - the kids weren’t too far away at any point

There are compromises. The layout offers almost no privacy between the main sleeping area and the bathroom. In fact, if you leave the main door open and your bathroom door open, your neighbour could potentially see you on the toilet!

It didn’t bother me, but it was a bugbear for my husband, who prefers not to feel that everyone knows precisely when he’s on the loo. There’s also no air conditioning, only a fan, so I can imagine the lodges becoming hot in summer.

Even so, I’d choose the Woodland Lodges again for a short family stay - and I would definitely arrange to stay with friends and family here, too. They’re not polished and they don’t pretend to be. You’re paying for the setting, the theming and the convenience of staying on resort, plus the small but valuable luxury of sitting outside with a drink while your children play safely within sight, or snooze comfortably inside at night. 

How we tested

Mumsnet was invited to Alton Towers Resort for the opening weekend of Scarefest 2026. My husband and I stayed for one night in a Woodland Lodge with our two boys, aged five and six. Although the stay was complimentary, our verdict is independent and based on what we experienced as a family.

We used the lodge as a base during a long day and evening in the theme park. That gave us time to assess the sleeping arrangements, bathroom, storage, temperature and noise, as well as the walk between the accommodation and the rest of the resort.

Getting around was easy enough thanks to the signs, albeit a bit of a walk at times

We also compared the experience with our previous family stays at CBeebies Land Hotel and Alton Towers Hotel. Our youngest’s birthday fell during the trip, and we arrived to find a cake and balloon waiting for him in the lodge. Unsurprisingly, this went down rather well.

What are the Woodland Lodges at Alton Towers like?

The Woodland Lodges are part of Alton Towers’ Enchanted Village, a pedestrianised area of the resort built around small clusters of fairytale-style cabins. There are 120 lodges in total, with shared lawns and play areas between them.

The design is very Hobbit-like. Think curved roofs, crooked chimneys, natural colours and little glowing details rather than shiny hotel corridors. It feels calmer and more down to earth than the two main hotels, particularly once the park has closed and the day visitors have gone home.

We caught a day with plenty of sunshine during our stay

Because the lodges open onto shared outdoor areas, children can make friends and play close by while adults sit on their own decking. Ours were always within sight. It gave them a bit of freedom without requiring us to trail behind them, which is a rare and lovely thing on a family break.

The trade-off is that it isn’t private in the secluded-cabin sense. Other families walk past and children play outside neighbouring lodges. We liked that sociable set-up, but anyone picturing an isolated woodland retreat should adjust their expectations.

What are the rooms like in the Woodland Lodges?

Each standard Woodland Lodge sleeps up to five people. There’s a double bed in the main area, while the children’s section has bunk beds and a pull-out trundle bed behind a curtain.

The curtain doesn’t provide soundproofing, obviously, but it gives children the feeling of having their own bedroom. Our boys loved the fairy lights and tree detailing, then promptly pulled the curtain shut so they could play without us. We could still hear them easily, which suited us rather well.

The bed was comfy, even if it was only a double

The lodge was the right size for a short family stay, but you do need to be reasonably tidy. There’s no table in the children’s area and not much space for spreading out toys, snacks and the usual family clutter. A small table beneath the mirror doubles as both a dressing table and the tea-and-coffee station.

The open wardrobe offers hanging space, although the mini fridge occupies a large section and remains visible from the room. I woke up facing it. Not the woodland view I’d imagined, but useful for cold drinks, birthday cake and anything else you don’t fancy leaving in a warm room.

There’s no air conditioning. Our lodge had a fan and the temperature was comfortable during our autumn stay, but summer is another matter. With five people sleeping in a compact wooden lodge, I’d pack light nightwear and check the forecast.

The children’s room is big enough to fit three children

Some of the finishing touches are basic. Pipes and a pressure gauge were visible, which chips away at the fairytale illusion somewhat. The themed details do a lot of heavy lifting, though, and the boys noticed the lights and woodland features rather than the plumbing.

The bathroom had everything we needed, including a bath with a shower over it. A bath is useful after a long park day, especially with younger children who don’t want to negotiate an unfamiliar shower when they’re exhausted. Water pressure was a little low, but with so many lodges using the resort supply at once, we could forgive it.

The bathroom, while not huge, had everything we needed 

Just make sure you close your curtains at night - those walking past can see straight in when the lights are on and if you happen to go to the loo and leave the door open, they’ll be able to see.

What activities are on offer at the Woodland Lodges?

The lodges don’t have the non-stop programme you’ll find at CBeebies Land Hotel. Their main attraction is the outdoor space. Each cluster has a shared play area where children can climb, run around and burn off whatever energy survived a day in the theme park.

There is, however, a woodland hunt where kids can pick up a nature trail map and pencil at reception when checking in. They’ll be able to tick items off their list as they spot them around the resort. 

Pick up a trail map and list from reception to complete with your kids during your stay

Our boys could step outside and play while we sat on the decking with a coffee or a drink. The area is pedestrianised, although adults still need to supervise, and being able to see them from our lodge made the whole stay feel easier.

For evening entertainment, shops and busier communal spaces, guests can walk to the nearby resort hotels. The Woodland Lodges work best for families who want somewhere calmer to return to rather than entertainment on their doorstep, IMO. 

Different clusters of rooms have different playground equipment to enjoy

During Scarefest, the lodge was useful as a halfway point. We could leave the park, rest for an hour, warm up and head back out for the evening without driving away from the resort. That break made a long day far more manageable with two young children.

What amenities are available for children?

The children’s sleeping nook is the main family feature. Bunk beds tend to do most of the work here, but the curtain, fairy lights and tree-like detailing make it feel like a small den rather than an extra bed squeezed into an adult room.

Outside, the shared play areas mean children can play close to their lodge rather than having to trek across the resort in search of somewhere to let off steam. The wide door opens straight onto the outdoor space, which worked brilliantly for us.

Families travelling with a fifth guest can use the pull-out trundle bed. There’s also a television, free WiFi and a mini fridge. Eight adapted Woodland Lodges are available with step-free access, wider doors and wet-room facilities, although these need to be booked specifically.

There is a store, though it was closed when we came across it

One thing to remember is that the lodges are spread over a sizeable area. If you’re travelling with very young children or anyone with limited mobility, it’s worth contacting the resort before your stay to ask about location requirements. Requests aren’t always guaranteed, but a closer lodge can make a noticeable difference.

What’s the food and drink like at the Woodland Lodges?

Breakfast is included with a Woodland Lodge stay. We ate at the Crooked Spoon, the Enchanted Village restaurant closest to the lodges, and booked our slot in advance. Alton Towers recommends reserving both breakfast and dinner because the popular times fill up.

The Crooked Spoon is a great place to dine during your stay

The breakfast buffet covered the basics you’d expect. My eldest and husband were happy with their cooked breakfasts, while my youngest and I, the sweet-toothed members of the family, went for pancakes and pains au chocolat. Four empty plates at the end said everything it needed to.

Inside the restaurant there’s plenty of space (and a bar!)

We didn’t get the chance to try the Crooked Spoon’s evening menu. From what we saw, it looked family-friendly rather than ambitious, with the likes of Woodland nachos, pizza and crispy chicken strips. We’d have happily eaten all three. Menus change, so check the current dinner menu before mentally ordering.

Instead, during our stay this time we returned to the Rollercoaster Restaurant, which our boys love and had already been lobbying for. 

A closer look at breakfast items available at The Crooked Spoon

The lodge itself has tea- and coffee-making facilities and a mini fridge, but it isn’t self-catering accommodation. There’s no kitchen or dining table, so it works for drinks, snacks and keeping a birthday cake cold, but not for knocking together dinner.

How far are the Woodland Lodges from Alton Towers theme park?

The Woodland Lodges are at the accommodation end of the resort, near Alton Towers Hotel and Splash Landings Hotel. Alton Towers says the village is around a 15-minute walk from the monorail, with Splash Landings roughly 10 minutes away - I’d largely agree.

But honestly, that doesn’t tell the whole story because the position of your individual lodge matters. We were in one of the closest clusters and didn’t find the walk unreasonable. Families staying at the far side will cover more ground before they’ve even started walking around the theme park.

Keep in mind how far there is to walk if you have younger guests visiting with you

You can use the resort transport where available, but it’s sensible to factor in queues and operating times. A buggy can still earn its keep here, even with children who don’t usually use one, because an Alton Towers day involves a frankly unreasonable amount of walking for small legs.

Accommodation parking is included, but again, a short walk from the lodges. There is a pick-up and drop-off point outside the main check-in and restaurant but you only have 15 minutes or so to use it. That said, it’s handy if you want to drop children or elderly relatives off closer to the lodge, then have another family member park the car. 

What are the staff and service like?

We had no problems checking in or finding our lodge. We checked in easily with a member of staff at the resort’s reception, with the boys picking up their trail maps. 

The birthday surprise was the standout service moment for us this time. A cake and balloon had been left for our youngest, and after a long journey and an excitable arrival at Scarefest, it made him feel rather special. 

Reception is easy to find, with pick-up and drop-off parking spaces right outside

We didn’t need to contact staff about the room during our one-night stay. Everything we expected was there, the lodge was ready for us and the area felt well looked after.

How do the Woodland Lodges compare with the other Alton Towers hotels?

CBeebies Land Hotel is the obvious choice for younger children who want characters, shows and entertainment from morning until bedtime. It’s bright, busy and designed around children who are still fully in their CBeebies era.

Alton Towers Hotel has more indoor communal space, live evening entertainment and a broader theme that works for older children and adults. It also feels more like a conventional hotel, albeit one with a large hot-air balloon hanging in the middle.

The Woodland Lodges are calmer and more independent. You lose the convenience of hotel corridors, lifts and entertainment downstairs, but gain outdoor space, a small terrace and somewhere children can play within view. For our family, that felt less polished but more relaxed - and I dare say, a bit more holiday-like! 

Final verdict of the Woodland Lodges at Alton Towers

The Woodland Lodges aren’t luxury accommodation. Space is limited, the finishes are rustic and the lack of air conditioning could potentially be (very) uncomfortable in hot weather. The large windows won’t suit anyone who values complete privacy, including, as it turns out, my husband.

But the lodges understand what families need after a day at Alton Towers. The boys had a sleeping area they considered their own, we had a bath for bedtime and the decking gave us somewhere to sit with a drink while they played outside or slept inside.

If you love nature, you’ll absolutely love a stay at the Enchanted Village 

Our location close to the main hotel made the stay easier, and I’d ask for a nearby lodge again if travelling with young children. Those at the far end face a longer walk, so location is one of the few practical details worth raising before arrival.

The fairytale design carries the experience. The boys loved the fairy lights, woodland features and the feeling of sleeping in a little cabin. I noticed the exposed pipes and the fridge staring at me from the open wardrobe, but I also noticed that all four of us could stop, recharge and head back into Scarefest without anyone unravelling.

That’s the appeal. It isn’t a grand hotel stay. It’s a cosy, family-sized base that makes a demanding theme-park break feel more manageable. 

For one or two nights, particularly outside the hottest part of summer, I think it certainly earns its place among Alton Towers’ family accommodation. 

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 family trips on behalf of Mumsnet.

She’s familiar with the reality of travelling with small kids: the logistics, the snacks, the nearest loo and the question of whether something is worth the money. She looks at places through a practical parent lens: what makes the stay easier, what’s good for children, what’s bearable for adults and what you’ll wish you’d known before you booked.

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