Every Alton Towers Ride Ranked, Worst to Best (2026)

Last updated: August 2026

Alton Towers Resort is often hailed as the UK’s ultimate theme park, and it’s easy to see why. From the family-friendly CBeebies Land to record-breaking and world-first roller coasters, the park is packed with experiences that keep visitors returning year after year. But with so many rides to choose from, it got me thinking: which ones really stand out?

So, I’ve put together this ranking of what I consider to be the 17 major rides at Alton Towers. I’ll work through them from worst to best, focusing only on the big hitters rather than smaller flat rides.

17. Gangsta Granny: The Ride

In last place, the only ride I’d like to have left off this list if I could have, is Gangsta Granny. I am a huge dark ride fan. If, god forbid, I had to choose to only ride coasters or dark rides for the rest of my life, let’s just say my coaster count would be staying right where it is right now.

So, imagine my disappointment when Gangsta Granny opened up at Alton Towers. I, like so many others, stood in line on opening day, eager to see what the park had cooked up. Sure, I wasn’t the target audience for this IP, and sure, I knew and still know very little about it, but none of this mattered: a brand new dark ride was opening at my home park!

Little did I know that it would be one of the poorest dark rides I’ve ever been on. Ok, sure, it’s better than a lot of other janky, carnival-esque dark rides. But for a dark ride opening in 2021, I really just wish Alton Towers had saved their money for something, anything else. I don’t like the story, the ride looks pretty poor, and therefore it takes the place as my least favourite major ride at Alton Towers.

16. Congo River Rapids

A standard rapids ride with minimal effects and excitement. It still earns some points for being the park’s only major water ride after The Flume closed. If they fixed the waterfall effect it would rank higher.

15. Battle Galleons

I can probably count on my hands how many times I’ve been on this Mack Splash Battle, but that’s arguably more down to the UK’s cold weather than the attraction itself. There’s something undeniably fun about soaking other guests with water guns. Sure, you yourself have to be on the receiving end too, but when the weather’s nice, who cares.

Plus, I really like the way this attraction looks. It adds a lot of theming and kinetic energy to the park, something very important in making Alton Towers feel like a truly cohesive and well themed park, of which I think it is the UK’s best.

14. Bluey The Ride: Here Come the Grannies!

A charming kiddie coaster with cute theming, but with Bluey being so popular I just wish the park had gone bigger. A Bluey dark ride could be truly amazing!

13. Nemesis Sub-Terra

I am so happy that this ride is back open regularly, and as a huge haunted house fan, I love that this gives a similar vibe. But ultimately, the drop tower element is nothing majorly exhilarating and the theming, while good, is over pretty quickly. Maybe if there was another hallway with some more haunted house type elements this attraction would shoot up in my rankings, but as it is, 13 seems to be a good spot.

12. Spinball Whizzer

A love-hate relationship. Spinning coasters aren’t my favourite, but this one can sometimes be fun. Other times, stomach-churning.

11. Runaway Mine Train

A true Alton Towers classic. From its choo choo to its multiple laps around the track, there is no denying that this coaster is a classic. Pretty much every Alton Towers fan has fond memories of this coaster.

For some it was a stepping stone to the true major coasters at the park; for others it might only be ridden when lines for everything else are too long. Sure, the coaster’s nothing super special, but I truly couldn’t imagine the park without it!

10. Hex: The Legend of the Towers

Now for storyline alone, this would be my number one! I love the fact that this attraction is housed within the historic Towers and that the storyline ties to the local chained oak tree, a must-do pilgrimage for any Alton Towers fan. The atmosphere within this attraction is truly unmatched, but unfortunately the quality of the ride itself very much is matched.

Behind all the brilliant theming and lore, Hex is simply a Vekoma madhouse. Now, I am not one to hate on a madhouse. In fact, I really like how effective these simple rides are. But they are just that, simple, and the ride is over pretty quick.

9. Toxicator

This Huss Top Spin is picking up the legacy left behind by Ripsaw, but with more theming, intense spins and a storyline that ties directly into Nemesis Reborn. It’s great to see Alton Towers opening up a new flat ride after taking so many away over the last few years. Toxicator was certainly much needed, and I’m pleased to say it has exceeded my expectations.

8. Rita

Rita launches riders from 0 to 60 mph in just over two seconds, which creates a sudden burst of adrenaline right from the start. That raw acceleration is what makes Rita stand out, but beyond that I find there’s little else that truly stands out about this short coaster.

Sure, there are some fun twists and turns and some nice airtime, but when placed up against the park’s other coasters, Rita just can’t rank any higher for me. Sadly, the coaster also gets rougher and rougher as every season passes.

7. Galactica

Iconic for being the world’s first B&M flying coaster, a style of coaster which is unfortunately one of my least favourites. Obviously this list is completely subjective, and personally I really don’t enjoy the flying coaster sensation.

But I do find Galactica to be one of the better ones. It’s not too intense, so doesn’t make me feel as queasy as others, but it’s also lacking in the exhilarating height, my favourite aspect of many other flying coasters around the world such as Manta at SeaWorld Orlando and Tatsu at Six Flags Magic Mountain.

6. Th13teen

I can still remember the marketing campaign for this ride like it was yesterday: all the mystery and the promise that it would be “the world’s first psychological thrill ride.” This has stuck with me, and even today it’s the woodland horror theme that earns this coaster most of its points in my eyes.

From the moment you step into the queue, you’re immersed in a dark, foreboding atmosphere, with twisted trees and eerie sounds building a sense of unease before you even board. While the coaster itself starts off fairly tame, with winding tracks through the forest, it’s the narrative and surprise elements that elevate it beyond a standard family thrill ride.

The sudden drop in the crypt, a first of its kind at the time, perfectly ties into the haunting theme and leaves a lasting impression, especially on first-time riders who don’t see it coming. Th13teen may not have the raw speed or height of the park’s bigger coasters, but its immersive storytelling and clever design make it a unique and memorable experience that deserves its spot on the list.

5. The Curse at Alton Manor

As I’ve already mentioned, I’m very much a dark ride person. Even more so, I’m a huge fan of horror, haunted houses and ghost trains, so this attraction feels tailor-made for my tastes. Now, while I don’t love it quite as much as other people seem to, I still think it deserves a high spot because of the way it blends atmosphere, storytelling and history.

What I really appreciate is how The Curse manages to keep the legacy of Duel and Alton Towers’ haunted house alive. It doesn’t simply erase what came before, but instead reimagines the concept with modern effects and a darker, more sinister tone. The theming is incredibly detailed, at least for a UK dark ride, from the crumbling facade of the manor itself to the unsettling hallways and clever illusions inside.

Even if I don’t personally rank it as highly as others do in the grand scheme of dark rides, I do think it’s a great attempt to create a truly detailed dark ride here in the UK.

4. Oblivion

Far from being the tallest dive coaster in the world, I’d still say Oblivion has one of the best drops in the world, thanks to the fact you are dropping into a dark misty hole. No matter how many times you ride it, that pause at the top never loses its edge. It’s a masterclass in building tension.

Sure, I’d love for the coaster to do something more once this drop is over, but I can’t deny that everything, from the queue line video to the orange and black colour scheme, creates the perfect package for the punch this coaster packs. Despite the rise of bigger and more complex dive coasters, Oblivion has held onto its status as an icon in my eyes.

3. Wicker Man

I’m a huge fan of GCI’s modern wooden coasters, and while there are some I’d consider better than Wicker Man, I’m still very happy to have this one so close to home! I adore the theming. The huge Wicker Man with fire effects is easily some of the best theming on any coaster in the world. I also really like the little pre-show and how it perfectly builds up the storyline and atmosphere.

Wicker Man earns its place in the top three because it’s more than just another coaster. It’s an experience, one that balances storytelling and thrills in a way few roller coasters manage to.

2. The Smiler

A fair first choice on many people’s lists, I’m sure, but for me The Smiler just misses out on my top spot. Don’t get me wrong, it’s an absolute beast. With its 14 inversions, a world record, and relentless pacing, it’s a ride that overwhelms your senses from start to finish.

The duelling trains, when they do duel, and the Marmaliser centrepiece are undeniably iconic. Then there’s that yellow and black colour scheme and the soundtrack that gets stuck in my head more than any other coaster soundtrack in the world. It’s easy to see how this coaster has become an icon for the park; people all around the world are familiar with the theme of this record-breaking coaster. It truly is one of the most iconic coasters in the UK. But still, not quite my personal number one.

1. Nemesis Reborn

This re-tracked version of Europe’s first B&M inverted coaster is an absolute beast! The re-track’s effect on the coaster may be a hotly debated subject, and sure, I would personally say that it’s a little less intense than it was before. But as a way to extend the coaster’s life span, I’ll happily accept this compromise.

The coaster is still intense, smoother than ever before, and now comes with an expanded back story that ties into other attractions. For me, that alone is a dream come true. Add to that the fresh new theming on the coaster, most of all the gorgeous moving eye, and I think it’s easy to see how you’ve got the best roller coaster at Alton Towers.

Nemesis Reborn is the perfect blueprint for how to reimagine a classic without losing its soul. In fact, it gives it even more soul.

So, that’s my ranking

There’s my ranking of the major rides at Alton Towers. I’m sure everyone has their own list, so feel free to share yours in the comments, as rankings can always change over time.

All Alton Towers Rides Ranked!