Alton Towers Resort (often referred to as Alton Towers) is a theme park and resort complex in Staffordshire, England, near the village of Alton. The park is operated by Merlin Entertainments Group and incorporates a theme park, water park, spa, mini golf and hotel complex. In 2021, it ranked first for attendance among amusement parks in the UK, with an estimated 1.8 million visitors.
Originally a private estate of the Earls of Shrewsbury, Alton Towers’ grounds were opened to the public in 1860 to raise funds. In the late 20th century, it was transformed into a theme park and opened a number of new rides from 1980 onwards. The park has many attractions such as Congo River Rapids, Runaway Mine Train, Nemesis, Oblivion, Galactica, The Smiler, Wicker Man, Rita and TH13TEEN. It operates a total of ten roller coasters and offers a range of accommodation and lodging options alongside the theme park. Facilities include Alton Towers Waterpark, Alton Towers Conference Centre and Extraordinary Golf.
The theme park is open seasonally from mid-March to early November, whilst many of its hotels and amenities are open year-round. Special events are hosted throughout the year, including Alton Towers Scarefest (the park’s Halloween event), Oktoberfest, Festival of Thrills, and Mardi Gras.
Alton Towers est un parc à thèmes situé dans la commune d’Alton dans le Staffordshire (Angleterre, Royaume-Uni). Il est construit sur le site d’une ancienne maison fortifiée. Alton Towers est une propriété de Tussauds Group, filiale de Merlin Entertainments.
En 2005, le célèbre magazine économique Forbes a élu le parc « Meilleur parc d’attractions au monde2 ». Il est l’un des parcs à thème d’Europe à avoir été distingué par un Thea Award, décerné par la Themed Entertainment Association.
C’est le plus grand parc à thèmes d’Europe pour ce qui est de la superficie avec 202 hectares, loin devant d’autres très grands parcs comme Busch Gardens Tampa.
Alton Towers ist einer der bekanntesten Freizeitparks in England, Großbritannien. Er liegt nördlich des Dorfes Alton in Staffordshire direkt neben einem alten Anwesen, welches denselben Namen trägt. Betrieben wird der Park von Merlin Entertainments Group, die auch andere Parks wie Legoland und das Heide Park Resort betreiben.