Make sure you make the most of your visit to Alton Towers and make it a day to remember. Your enjoyment will inevitably be determined by how many rides you manage to get on, so make sure to read the tips and hints to the right to what areas are quietest when and where to eat etc.

The turnstiles to buy tickets open at 9am, but often there will be queues before this time, so either pre-order tickets or aim to arrive at around 8.40am. Give yourself time to park and either use the monorail to get to the park entrance from the car park or walk (about 10 mins).

The park gates will open at 9.30am and the main rides will open at 10am. Nemesis and AIR (in forbidden valley) often open at 9am, but check on the info boards outside to find out which rides are open early from 9am and head their first.

What to ride and when? (typical day guide)

Assuming AIR and Nemesis are open for Extra Ride Time (from 9am) head to Forbidden Valley as soon as you enter the park. Try and get a few rides on both Nemesis and AIR before 10am, at which time you should head to UG Land, using the skyride or walk via the cross valley path.

RITA, in UG Land opens at 10am, but a queue will have already built up, so dont join the main queue, instead make use of the single ride queue which will be empty as its quite hidden. Dependant upon the amount of people who work out the single rider exists, make use of this and ride RITA a few times.

Next, seeing as you are in UG Land ride Corkscrew and UG Swinger and then make your way over to X Sector to ride Oblivion first and then Enterprise and Submission. At this time I suggest it will be late morning, so head over to Cred Street for Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Hex. You will be back near UG Land so enjoy lunch and a beer at 'Ritas Chicken & Ribs' which is some of the nicest theme park food ever!

After lunch head towards the lake and to Adventure land for Spinball Whizzer. Then navigate clockwise around the park - firstly to Merrie England for The Flume and Tea Cups, then Katanga Canyon for the Rapids and Runaway Mine Train. Continue towards back of the park, enjoying Duel in Gloomy Wood.

You will end up back in Forbidden Valley where you can ride Ripsaw and Blade and then you are free to ride whatever you wish as you've done everything!

Hints & Tips

- Search around for discount vouchers before you buy your ticket.
- Buy drinks and ice-creams from McDonalds, ask for no ice (you get more drink) they are much cheaper than vending machines or stalls.
- If you buy any merchandise or teddies, t-shirts etc get them sent to Towers Trading Co for free so you can pick them up at the end of the day when you leave the park instead of carrying them around all day.
- Plan to eat lunch either before 12 or after 2 as it is best to avoid the busiest eating times.
- If there is a really long queue for the cable cars (skyride), walk, it's quicker!
- Weekdays in October except for school half term is very quiet and the biggest queue will be 45 minutes at the most.