Alton Towers or Warwick Castle overnight better?

[MB83]

We're doing abit of a trip around the UK and the kids are very keen on both Alton Towers (specifically for the Octonauts room) and Warwick Castle. We'll do both over 3 days but how would you split it? (ie which to stay 2 nights in and the other 1)
Appreciate any advice :)

We've done both within the last eighteen months. We loved Warwick Castle for a night in the summer. We stayed in one of the glamping pods. It was expensive and the toilet facilities were incredibly basic for the price but the kids loved it. There was entertainment on at night (knight school) after dinner and we explored Warwick Castle in a day. I would personally do two days Alton towers as the queues are long if you want to do the thrill rides. We did a day at Alton towers and a day at splash landings and the kids loved it. We stayed off-site as the hotel was incredibly expensive in term time.
Any questions I'm happy to help.

How long did Warwick Castle take to 'do'?
We're definitely staying 1 night at each, I'm just working out the 2nd night (so either like arrive/do Alton - sleep - do alton - sleep, shift to Warwick - do Warwick - sleep... OR Alton - sleep - Alton - shift to Warwick - sleep - Do Warwick - Sleep... (if that makes sense?)
The knights lodges at Warwick look more peaceful than Alton Towers...?

We did the glamping at Warwick Castle and just arrived in the late afternoon and did the meal and early evening activities by the tents but didn’t actually go into the Castle until the next day. We saw everything we wanted to in the Castle in a day. The kids really enjoyed the whole experience . I think I’d do the two nights near Alton Towers.

Definitely the two days at Alton towers. You can do Warwick in a day. We arrived around ten and did the zog trail, playground, watched the knight show and the zog show. We also did the maze, had a general wander and had some lunch. Then stayed overnight at Warwick before moving on to another place the next day. When we did Alton we did two days at the resort (one day water Park, one day theme park)

2 days at Alton, one day at Warwick.

Definitely seems to be the consensus! :)

How old are your kids?

Sounds like the kids are young, only based on them being keen on octonauts rooms. If they are too small for the thrill rides you may find one day is long enough at Alton Towers. A lot of the rides are geared to thrill seekers although not been in quite a few years.

Alton Towers has a water park called splash landings which is also very good. Agree that if your kids are quite young (or under 1.2m) you won't have access to that many rides but definitely still worth doing longer there than at warwick castle. The woodland glamping lodges are Alton Towers are really fun (I'd stay there rather than the other onsite hotels).

The glamping tents at Warwick are also fab. My daughter needed the toilet in the middle of the night and I was so unimpressed at having to get up but seeing all the tents lit up and no one else around was worth the effort! Both are magical trips - good choices!

As others have said Alton Towers for two days and Warwick Castle for one. We've had Merlin passes for about a decade and have done them both numerous times.

If you stay in cbeebies hotel (where the octonsughts room is) there is more entertainment aimed at younger children (more photo ops and meet n greets). You cannot access the cbeebies Hotel and ent if you aren't staying there but can access the other two hotels and their entertainment if you're staying at cbeebies.

If anyone traveling has any disabilities look into getting a carer pass for free entry for another adult. Merlin passes can work out good value too especially as you're doing three days at their attractions. You'd get access to all the other Merlin places too for a year (sealife, madame tussauds, shreks adventure, london eye, chessington, legoland, cadbury world) and a discount on accommodation and food.

The water park at AT is lots of fun and you get their golf included in your stay if you book directly.

Lol, the kids are big - for the trip they'll be 14 & 11 and they're both already over 1.6m but the 11 year old is has some special needs and OBSESSED with the Octonauts.. It would be his BEST DAY EVER if he could do a meet and greet with any of the Octonauts lol.
Is the water park year round? We'll be there likely September time? How long would you suggest for Splash Landings?

Honestly have a look at free carers entry requirements and ride access pass for the queues for your child with sn (if they struggle for whatever reason with queues). The ride access pass has to be applied for before you go.

Water Park is all year round and is an additional cost if not booked as a splash n stay package. In Summer it opens quite late some times depending on weather etc. If it's busy they give you a slot of a 2/3 hours, sometimes we've had morning/ afternoon tickets and other times we've had all day access. I think it depends on how you book and how busy it is. It's a nice water park, you can easily spend a good few hours there or longer if the kids like it.

We have met the Octonauts when there (ds has various needs) but I couldn't say what the ent will be when you go. They have an octonauts ride at the back of cbeebies land which is a small rollercoaster.

Rollercoaster restaurant is fun too. Food isn't amazing (or anywhere near; burgers) but it's different and lots of fun.

https://support.altontowers.com/hc/en-us/articles/115003484572-What-documentation-do-you-require-for-a-carer-ticket-

https://www.altontowers.com/plan-your-visit/before-you-visit/accessibility/accessibility-theme-park/ride-access-pass/#what-documentation-do-access-card-ask-for

Depending on when you're planning to go, two days at Warwick is good. We went in early June during the Midsummer Festival where there were lots of additional activities put on - various extra displays & weapons training for kids.
We stayed one night in a glamping tent - if we go again we'd got for a lodge - partly for the private toilets & partly so you have separate rooms & can watch tv etc later at night.
But the tent was surprisingly comfortable & warm but was noisy in the evening when everyone is walking past.
Knight School was awesome, loved the jousting & falconry display. Didn't do the dungeon (DC too young). DS spoke to the knights doing the weapons training & after everyone had gone they showed him various weapons, let him hold them etc. From that point on they knew his name & whenever he saw them they'd say hello - was a really nice thing (he's 5).
Word of warning food in the castle was very poor - very little choice, sold out quick, stupidly expensive. The feast in the Knights village we enjoyed & breakfast was good too.

Brilliant thank you!

Sorry should have said, the carers ticket requirements are the same at Warwick Castle, the other Merlin places snd with Merlin passes. We have the gold passes atm but have had platinum/ premium in the past. They have a few dates when you can't go/ are restricted but if you are paying for three days entry the price difference won't be that much and you could add cadbury world or Bitmingham sealife/ legoland discovery too and then you'll have the full year if you want to go again or visit any of the parks (the ride access pass covers them all once you're signed up but the system works differently at the different parks).

Also don't worry about staying in cbeebies hotel with older children we've taken my son with needs and he's 13 and the youngest of our family. They are very used to it.

Just to give you an idea of savings on accommodation if you go through merlin annual pass. I've just screen shot 2 quotes for 7th Sep for Octonauts room. The £251 is with pass discount for 2adults 2children. I promise I'm not on any commission but if you're paying a1 or 2 days in Warwick and 1 or 2 days in Alton Towers with hotel stay. It may work out cheaper to get passes and have the discount on accommodation.

Will definitely look at this! :)

I would do 2 nights at alton towers. On arrival day go to the waterpark, you'll spend around half a day there. Waterpark is open all year. Then you'll be back at the hotel early enough to enjoy the entertainment. Book restaurants for the evening when you book hotel, and breakfast restaurants too if that's still a thing. I know you said your youngest will love the hotel room, but just to note it's veey much aimed at toddlers so entertainment is very young. If in this hotel though, you can go to the others for entertainment/eating if you prefer of an evening, it doesn't work the other way around though as CBeebies hotel only for guests. Also, it's the furthest hotel from the park which isn't ideal if you want to pop back mid-day!