Alton Towers Gardens Review

As part of Alton Towers phased reopening plans amidst the coronavirus pandemic, they have decided to open their historic gardens to the public from 6th June 2020 until the 28th June 2020. Tickets are £12 or £1 if you have an Alton Towers or Merlin Season Pass and include parking. Capacity is limited, therefore you must pre-book if you plan on visiting the gardens.

Upon arrival, signs directed us to park in what is usually the Express Parking car park. Once we got out of our car, we proceeded to the main entrance. Social distancing markers, signifying the required two metres distance, were on the floor. We took our place in line behind another family as we waited for our temperature check. Once it was our turn, we walked into the marquee where the team member stood with a temperature gun. In a matter of seconds if was complete and we continued forward, tickets in hand.

For those with tickets on their phone, a team member will scan them with a portable scanner. For others with printed tickets, you can scan them at the turnstiles and walk through. Immediately we were greeted with a hand sanitiser dispenser, a sight which became familiar as our day went on. Alton Towers have done a brilliant job adapting their park to keep guests optimally safe. We have no fear that when the park properly opens all guidance will be met.

Now, this is where the fun begins. The shops and food services on Tower Street are closed. But this doesn’t make walking past the bright buildings any less exciting. The frogs are still there, sitting on their giant lily pads, eagerly awaiting guests who have been absent for too long. The towers stood tall, truly a sight to behold after all these months of closure. We took a left turn at the bottom, towards Mutiny Bay, the only section of the park with anything open. I doubt anyone has ever been as excited to see Battle Galleons, far from Alton Towers best, as we were. The boats were all still and even the shark had stopped swimming, but gosh it was a sight to behold. A real theme park attraction! Wow, it was good to be back.

A small food stall was open which offered hot drinks, bottled drinks, slushies and a selection of sweets. Picnic benches had been left out, many which were undercover in the Welcom-Inn courtyard. This was saviour for us when the torrential downpour hit. The toilets here were also open, as were the ones by the park’s entrance, however the rest remained closed (not that this was a problem). 

Once we’d stopped undercover for a nice picnic, we strolled through Mutiny Bay up to Katanga Canyon. Once you reach the sign, this is barricaded off. We continued forward then, back round to the inn, this time passing Wicker Man. There he stood, waiting for sacrifices, the stunning Wicker Man effigy. A somewhat painful sight without carriages going round, but nevertheless a reminder to hold us through to (hopefully) July 4th. Honestly, it was just good to see the coaster, even if we couldn’t ride it. 

Back to where we had our picnic, we wondered up past the food stall and into the Haunted Hollow. Although not advertised on the website, we can’t help but consider this spooky shortcut an attraction, as it was advertised upon opening in 2007. The music was off, no jokes were being told by Bernard Grumblebum and Edwin Mutterson, but this didn’t matter. Without such lighthearted entertainment, paired with the fact we were the only ones there, Haunted Hollow was somehow far more creepy than I’d ever experienced it before. The Hollow was barricaded off at the end, so we couldn’t visit Gloomy Woods or battle at Duel.

After completing the walk through the Haunted Hollow, we decided it was finally time to stop peering at closed coasters and do what we had paid for. The gardens. Not something we ever think to do on a normal, thrill packed Alton Towers day. Located at the centre of the parks, the gardens span down a large hill (or at least it felt that way once we had walked back up it a couple of times). The gardens are so packed full of history, we definitely recommend downloading the Alton Towers app as your guide. We began our walk past the Choragic Monument, a monument of the Earl of Shrewsbury’s uncle who transformed the gardens into what we enjoy today.

Then, past the greenhouse and to the Conservatories. Completed in 1824, their glass domes are a sight to behold. In 1834, these conservatories grew some of the first bananas in England, a fruit so exotic that when the Earl gifted one to the Duke of Devonshire he had to send it with instructions on how to eat it. Imagine!

We continued forward, past the bandstand and through the Colonnade, up to the Screw fountain. Shaped, you guessed it, like a screw, the steps up to this fountain offer some of the best views of both the towers and the gardens.

Next, we headed up more stairs to the prospect tower, another beautiful point for views, but we were more interested in something else. The skyride station and as we all know, behind it the Forbidden Valley. Unfortunately, no views of Nemesis could be had, but that didn’t dampen our joy knowing we were so close.

Once we’d looked at the beautiful water, the same that sits behind Haunted Hollow, we carried on down. At the bottom stood one of the gardens main attractions, the Pagoda fountain. This fountain was constructed in 1832 and has recently been restored. It is inspired by the To-ho pagoda in Canton, Southern China.

Finally, we headed back up to the top. The last feature we visited was the Swiss Cottage, built for the Earl’s blind harpist in 1835. The harpist once entertained guests visiting the gardens. The building also used to house a restaurant for theme park visitors, although this has been closed for many years now. 

After completing our tour of the gardens, we visited a far more familiar attraction, something any guest can never miss. The Towers themselves. As beautiful as ever, the park’s icon, home once to the Talbot family (the Earl of Shrewsbury and his family) is by far one of the best and most interesting features in any theme park. The way modern thrills and real history intersect is so unique to the park, there really is something for everyone.

Our last section of the park to explore took us to the entrance of X-Sector. Cordoned off of course, we could only catch a glimpse of The Smiler and its many inversions. Oblivion however, was not quite in sight.

Lastly, we headed up past Spinball Whizzer and Cbeebies Land, back to Tower Street where our day was complete.

If you’re still not sure whether a visit is for you, take our word for it. Alton Towers fans who can’t wait until July to have their thirst for thrills quenched, we suggest you go. We promise, even if you’re like us and never make time for the gardens, you’ll be surprised by how much fun you have. If you don’t have a chance to visit before June 28th, or you’re an international guest who’s curious about this weird park and its historical offerings, we definitely recommend that if you ever find yourselves at Alton Towers, make time to take in the gardens as they are really something special.

Do you plan on visiting Alton Towers Gardens or will you wait until the park is fully open?

Also please click on the link to check out our review of Wicker Man, Alton Towers newest coaster.