Alton Towers/other theme park & hotel - advice please

[TapirTastic]

I’ve been v slow off the mark planning a holiday this year as I was holding out for maybe being able to go abroad. That looks like it’s def not going to happen so I’m trying to book some short breaks in the uk.

I have a 15 yo and a 9 yo and the only thing they are both really into for a day out is theme parks so I’m looking at booking accommodation at or close to Alton Towers/Thorpe Park/Chessington. Could anyone tell me their experiences of this? I’ve read that it’s cheaper to book an independent hotel rather than the on-site accommodation but we don’t drive so will be reliant on public transport - in those circumstances would it be better to stay on-site? We’d probably stay two nights to make the most of it.

Thanks!

Alton Towers is in the middle of nowehere so if you don't drive, staying onsite will definitely be necessary.

I do drive but I did Alton Towers on public transport. If I had my time again I would stay in Uttoxeter and just get a taxi to the park and back. If I remember correctly it cost between 15 and 20 quid one way. Accommodation in Uttoxeter is cheaper than Alton Towers and the food choices in the town are better than in AT.

It's well worth staying on site for the early access to park - they usually have 2 - 3 of the big rides open and you can often just walk on.

Splash landings tends to be the cheapest and is a bit like a themed travel lodge. I've stayed in both hotels and in different types of rooms and never had a problem with any of them.

Only downside is the food choices are a bit poor and expensive in hotels. The roller coaster restaurant in the park is great but again expensive.

I'd always stay on site - far easier!

We stayed at the Enchanted Lodges at AT. Was more expense than off site but so handy.
Tired to back to lodge.
Wet go back to lodge.
Just hope on mono rail and ur back at the lodge

Sorry I didn't explain myself very well. We stayed one night in Uttoxeter and took the taxi to the park the next day where we stayed for 2 nights. The food in AT wasn't great and it was very expensive. We would have been better off financially staying in Uttoxeter getting a cab both days there and back and eating in the town.

Thorpe park and Chessington aren't that far apart. You could stay in the middle - maybe Walton on Thames and get an uber each way - probably about £15/each way.
There is also the Mercedes experience nearby as well and you can get to central London fairly easily too.