What age for Alton Towers?

[BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz]

Dc are 7 and 10 and whilst we are very far from AT, we will be near to it in the school holidays for a couple of days and wondered if it was worth going?

The 10yo would be tall enough for all the rides but I'm not sure about the 7yo (age for rollercoasters as well as height). It's been about 10 years since I've been.

Is it worth attempting a trip while nearby or wait a couple more years and plan a proper trip down that way?

If you look on the website it tells you the height restrictions for each ride, so maybe measure him and see what he could go on?

There’s plenty for all ages but the queues for the “bigger” rides (and some of the fairground type ones) are insane during the school holidays - we went last year out of “normal” hols but after yr 11s broke up for exams and most of the major rides had queues of 90+ minutes. You can buy fast passes, but that adds ££££s.

Ours DDs were 9&11 and although they were both tall enough to go on any ride, they didn’t fancy some big ones. Once we coaxed them on they loved what used to be called “air” but has changed name. Rita Queen of Speed would have suited them but they didn’t want to queue. Oblivion was an instant “no”. I think a 7 year old might enjoy them, but it really depends on the child.

Will you be close to Drayton Manor at all? It’s a bit further south but a lot more suited to that age

I would wait until they're both tall enough to go on all the rides. Your 7YO would miss out on all the best rides, and that wouldn't be fair (or worth the money/time tbh).

Maybe the Alton Towers water park instead? (There's also a good water park in Stoke on Trent - probably better in fact, but you do have to go into SoT, instead of the rather more picturesquely situated Alton Towers).

Happy to just hang on and go in a few years when they can both make the most if it. It's not somewhere we could go for a day out, would need to be part of longer holiday to that part of the country.

I've done the water park myself when it first opened and whilst it's good, I wouldn't go just for that - happy to add it on whenever we do go though

@Fivemoreminutes1

Will you be close to Drayton Manor at all? It’s a bit further south but a lot more suited to that age

Drayton Manor could work yes! I'll have a look at that.