The Thrills!!

I've only been to Alton Towers twice and both times I went with the school I attended. I left in 2010 but that hasn't stopped me asking if they would let me go back with them. They won't. Anyway I've decided to show you why I love the rides at this place so much, and why I would give my right arm to go back there.

First of all the rides. Well that is the reason people go to this place afterall. So the top rides you should not miss are:

Nemesis!!

Nemesis is located in the Forbidden Valley. I took a ride on it the second time I went to Alton Towers. It happened to be a sweltering hot day and being Scottish means I'm not exactly used to the glorious sunshine. The queue for that ride also happened to be a 2 and a half hour wait. Trust me on a hot day like then, standing at the loop (pictured above) is the best place to be for when the ride passes you, the backdraft is just bliss. Anyway Nemesis is an inverted roller coaster and it opened in 1994. It is one of the parks most popular rides and has claimed worldwide fame. Nemesis tells the story of a 2 million year old creature and the roller coaster itself is the actual creature, complete with rivers of blood red water which you sail over. As you enter the roller coaster you are greeted by the monster. Sometimes it speaks to you and sinister music plays as you take your seat. The harnesses come down and you take off. The ride pulls a max G-Force of 4.0, with speeds reaching 40 MPH. For me I only remember seeing the ground (and sky when we went around the loop) as my head was thrust downwards the entire time; no matter what I did I couldn't lift it. Either way, a 2 and a half hour queue was worth the quick thrill.

Air!!

Air is one of my favourite rides. It opened in 2002 in the Forbidden Valley. It's a fun, thrilling ride and it makes you feel like your flying. The entrance to the ride is based around an airport, where you can leave whatever bag you are carrying and there are terminals. But that's not the interesting part of the ride. Oh no. As soon as those harnesses clamp you in, the ride tips and your staring at the concrete ground. And off it goes. It creaks slowly upwards and your lying their (holding tightly)  watching concrete, grass and rocks pass below you. All your thinking is that you hope nothing goes wrong, or your going down for a fatal faceplant. But once that fear vanishes you fly along the rollercoaster, reaching speeds of 46MPH and a G-Force of 3.5.

Submission!!

Submission is in the X-Sector at Alton Towers. I've only been on this ride once. It's fun but the name really says it all. It throws you upside down and instantly you can feel the blood drain from your feet and race to your head. It's painful. When you get off your dizzy. And your head throbs. Your feet also feel empty.

Th13teen!!

This quickly became another of my favourites. I knew to expect the drop in compete darkness and that is what I was excited for. This ride is in the Dark Forest and it's a lengthy walk to its entrance. But that's okay the spooky decorations that litter the forest will keep you occupied while you wait. Once inside you have to walk up and down stairs (sometimes in the dark so you have to be careful not to fall into the person in front of you). The walls are covered with writing and a fence surrounds you. Once on the ride you take off and head towards the first drop, which is a 60 foot drop. You reach speeds of 41MPH. That's not the exciting part. At the end the ride stops in a dark room. There's a flash, you drop 2 feet. There's a pause. Another flash. The track then freefalls 5 meters and throws you backwards up the track where you come to rest in front of 2 statues. That drop leaves you will such an adrenline rush, it's like being high.

Oblivion!! 

The daddy of all rides. The best ride at Alton Towers. No matter how scared you might be, Oblivion is worth the ride. Located in the X-Sector, it opened in 1998. The ride has maximum speeds of 68MPH and is the third fastest ride in the UK. As you enter the ride you are greeted by television screens where "The Lord Of Darkness" is seen telling you the ride is safe and there's nothing to fear. Does this relax you? Well, he then turns into his alter-ego "The Lord Of Light" who warns you of your death if you choose to ride. At the top of the ride, you board. Your harnessed in (and this is something your glad for). If you're like me then you hold on tight as soon as you can. By this point (my third time riding it) I had butterflies in my stomach. The first time I rode it I was visibly shaking. Anyway, this ride is cruel torture as it very slowly takes you up to the top and slightly over the edge. The it stops. Your hanging at the edge of Oblivion's 150 foot drop. Below you is a black hole. It feels like your suspended there for hours. Then suddenly it jerks and you plummate downwards. The feeling of weightlessness is just amazing, I get a kick out of this ride! When you get off you'll be shaking. Adrenline will be pumping through your veins. And I gaurantee you'll go back for more.

Rita!!

The speed queen. Located in the Dark Forest and reaches speeds of over 62MPH. I've never ridden in and I really want to. The only doubt I have is that each time I've been to Alton Towers Rita has broken down. Is that a sign? I'm not superstitious, so one day I'll ride it.
Enterprise!!

This is one ride I don't want to go on. I've learnt my lesson from rides like Waltzers. Anything that spins will make me vomit. And not just a little. I will vomit a hell of a lot. Never again. Enterprise is also located in the X-Sector alongside Oblivion and Submission.

Ripsaw!!

Again another ride I really wanted to go on. Gotta be quick though because the queues for this ride soon become the length of 10 single decker buses. Ripsaw opened in 1997 and is located in the Forbidden Valley. This ride tests your luck as it squirts jets of water randomly while your being tossed around in the air. It looks fun and would look even more fun if the queues weren't so long!

The Runaway Mine Train!!

This ride is fun. I went on it twice. It makes you giggle and yelp with laughter. You don't get much of a thrill from it, but if your a kid (or an excitable teen) you'll love it. This ride is located in Katanga Canyon.

Of course Alton Towers has many, many more rides and attractions such as Hex, Dual, Sonic Spinball and more. But for those who aren't so keen on thrills, it is a beautiful park with open grassy areas and walks through forests.

And these things are scary! If you get too close they talk to you and if you're me, you scream and run leaving anyone who was there at the time in laughing fits.

These are at the entrance/exit of the park which looks like a street as it is full of stalls, shops and restaurants. There's a lot more features like this placed throughout the park.

Of course Alton Towers is not just for thrill seekers, as I've already mentioned. Take your kids along to Mutiny Bay which is based around a pirate them. The rides and attractions are aimed at children.

But really, Alton Towers will fuel your need for an adrenline rush. Especially if you ride Oblivion.