Visiting Alton Towers during Scarefest has become one of our favourite October activities. The atmosphere completely changes after dark, the lights glow across the park and everything feels just a little more dramatic. This year we set ourselves a challenge: could we do the biggest rides in one day and make the most of the Scarefest experience? We mapped out a route, got there early and made a proper adventure of it.
Below is the exact route we took, along with with our ride reviews, descriptions and a score for each ride:
Smiler
Score: 9/10
We headed straight to Smiler as soon as the park opened. It is fast, chaotic and as disorientating as everyone warns you it will be. The mix of inversions, sudden drops and the visual effects around the track make it feel unlike any other ride in the park. It set the bar high for the day and definitely woke us up. If you want adrenaline immediately, this is the place to start. I loved the slightly different aspect of this ride that you have a vertical climb half way through, it certainly gave us something to be smiling about!
Rita
Score: 7/10
Rita is all about the launch. The sudden acceleration still sits with me, it was the first time we had been on it. It feels short compared to some of the others we did, but the intensity makes up for the length. It kind of reminded me of a horizontal Oblivion! A great follow-on ride after Smiler to keep the adrenaline going.
Nemesis Sub-Terra
Score: 2/10
This one feels more like an experience than a coaster, with themed sections, darkened areas and a few surprises along the way. It is atmospheric and a bit unnerving, especially during Scarefest when the tension is already high in the park. The build up to the ride was brilliant. However, we didn’t feel the queue time was worth it. It might be because we have been on Tower of Terror in the past, this dropped you about 2 metres and that was it. It worked well as a breather between the bigger coasters, and the theming was clever, but it is definitely one for the immersion rather than the thrill factor.
Nemesis Reborn
Score: 10/10
Nemesis has always been a favourite of ours, and Nemesis Reborn absolutely lived up to the hype. I have loved this ride since I first went to Alton Towers over 20 years ago! Smooth, fast and brilliantly intense, the new version feels fresher and more powerful than the original ever did. Maybe that’s because I am older now, but it was so much fun to go on it with the kids too. The theming in the area adds so much to the experience, and the pacing of the ride is perfect. Easily the standout ride of the day and the one we talked about repeatedly afterwards.
Galactica
Score: 6/10
There is something so unique about being in the flying position on Galactica. It instantly changes the feel of the coaster and gives you a completely different perspective of the track. We hated the queue as the way the fast pass users are let on means you queue for an hour longer than needed. Very frustrating. The ride was fun but we wouldn’t want to go on it again! It is smoother than you expect and surprisingly relaxing compared to some of the other rides. During Scarefest, with the cooler air and darker skies settling in, it definitely felt more atmospheric.
The Curse at Alton Manor
Score: 8/10
Oh I love this ride so much. It brought me back to when I was a child. I loved this ride so much. This is a fun ghost-train-style ride that is perfect for Scarefest. The storytelling and effects make it feel modern and moody, with just the right amount of tension for families. It is not scary in a traditional sense, but it is incredibly well themed and offers a welcome break from the coasters while still keeping you in the Halloween spirit. The kids did enjoy it too, and I love that the staff get into character too. Let’s just say I ran out of there!
Oblivion
Score: 8/10
Oblivion never loses its impact. Standing at the edge of the drop looking into the darkness below still makes my stomach tighten, even after all these years. The drop is so fast that the whole experience is over quickly, but it is unforgettable every single time. A brilliant addition to the late-afternoon part of our route. I think it was better in the dark, the kids loved it and would do it again and again. It’s a shame it is such a short coaster!
Wicker Man
Score: 10/10
We ended our day on Wicker Man and it was the perfect finale. Wooden coasters have a completely different feel and Wicker Man combines that classic rattle with amazing theming and fire effects. As darkness settled across the park, it felt even more dramatic. The queue line alone is an experience, and the ride is fast, loud and full of energy. I have never laughed so much in my life, if I could spend the day queuing for this ride over and over, I would! I absolutely loved it.
Where we had dinner
We had dinner at the Pizza Pasta restaurant, which is always a good choice as it is a buffet. There was plenty of food and as it’s a buffet it was quick, easy and exactly what we needed to refuel after a full day of walking and coasters. We had a choice of pizzas, pasta and salad. There are refillable drinks too, it had low sugar fizz and there was a choice of dessert pizzas as well. It cost us around £70 for a family of 4.
Visiting Alton Towers during Scarefest really does feel like a different kind of day out. You get that change in atmosphere and the whole experience and doing all of these rides in one day was a brilliant challenge. If you enjoy family adventures like this, you might also like reading about our Disneyland Paris in one day. Let me know in the comments if you’ve done Scarefest before and which ride topped your list.
