subculturehero Posted March 28, 2009 Report Share Posted March 28, 2009 Some friends and I are planning on travelling from London to Alton Towers in June, and I was wondering whether there were any tips anyone could give in terms of the cheapest way of getting there. So far the cheapest travel plan we've been able to come up with amounted to around £30, so if anyone could top that I'd be grateful.Cheers in advance! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James Posted March 28, 2009 Report Share Posted March 28, 2009 Travelling on public transport to Alton Towers really is a bum. What I usually do is get a Virgin Train from London Euston to Stoke-on-Trent, its an hourly service and takes about 1hr 45. From Stoke-on-Trent there is a shuttle bus provided by Alton Towers (the X65), which is £6 return however it only runs once in each direction per day. If you miss it there are local buses which can also get you to the park. I have the timetable on my other PC and I will upload it for you if you'd like it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TPAddict Posted April 6, 2009 Report Share Posted April 6, 2009 OK - so I'm going to The Towers for my birthday and I was just wondering which day in Easter is best to go and what food places do they have in the park? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TimR Posted April 6, 2009 Report Share Posted April 6, 2009 OK - so I'm going to The Towers for my birthday and I was just wondering which day in Easter is best to go and what food places do they have in the park?Unpredictable and look it up on the website but when I last went there was definatly a Pizza Hut amd I think there is a BK. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Posted April 6, 2009 Report Share Posted April 6, 2009 Unpredictable and look it up on the website but when I last went there was definatly a Pizza Hut amd I think there is a BK.I don't know if it is still there, because I havn't been in ages, but there used to be a KFC near Congo River Rapids. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TPAddict Posted April 6, 2009 Report Share Posted April 6, 2009 Ok, cheers guys. Now I just need to know which would be the best day to go...? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Posted April 6, 2009 Report Share Posted April 6, 2009 Ok, cheers guys. Now I just need to know which would be the best day to go...?To be honest, every day is going to be pretty similar, but if I were you, I would go on a tuesday, wednesday or thursday. Even though it is easter, days during the week seem to be slightly less busy. Also, if you book online before you go, you can become eligible for Early Ride on selected rides. This would be a great way to get on as many rides as possible before the gates open for the "on-the-gate" ticket purchasers. This offer can apply to Rita, Oblivion and Duel to name a few. Check out the website for more details. But yes, I would strongly recommend a Wednesday if possible. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TimR Posted April 6, 2009 Report Share Posted April 6, 2009 Sorry this is a bit off topic but I wonder if Thorpe will ever introduce early ride time, to pre-bookers and AP holders? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James Posted April 6, 2009 Report Share Posted April 6, 2009 They trialled it once and it didn't work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Posted April 6, 2009 Report Share Posted April 6, 2009 They trialled it once and it didn't work. Fair enough. I suppose because AT is so much bigger, it might have worked for Pre-bookers and Hotel residents. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark9 Posted April 7, 2009 Report Share Posted April 7, 2009 Sorry this is a bit off topic but I wonder if Thorpe will ever introduce early ride time, to pre-bookers and AP holders?In 2003 it used to be on Inferno and ColossusIn 2004 it was moved into Lost City so depending on what rides were ready you could get on Vortex, Quantum, Zodiac and Depth Charge before the park opened.It hasn't been seen at Thorpe since. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stokesyboy Posted May 13, 2009 Report Share Posted May 13, 2009 We always come the back way to get to alton, we pop out by the traffic lights with smiley faces on and genrally dont have to queue through slow moving traffic in alton The road we take is all covered by forest and is a single road anyone else know of this route?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
subculturehero Posted May 15, 2009 Author Report Share Posted May 15, 2009 I've read that there used to be a train/ticket package for Alton that seems pretty good value, but from what I've seen that was in the days of Tussauds. Does anyone know if Merlin offer something similar? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phyciodes Posted May 15, 2009 Report Share Posted May 15, 2009 Theres one for Thorpe Park so I wouldn't be suprised if theres 1 for Alton too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James Posted May 16, 2009 Report Share Posted May 16, 2009 I know from work that London Midland do not offer any combined train / entrance tickets for Alton, and neither do Virgin. I would however recommend travelling with London Midland though because the fare is half the price of a Virgin ticket, but it does take a little bit longer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
subculturehero Posted May 16, 2009 Author Report Share Posted May 16, 2009 I've read that the bus from AT to Stoke-On-Trent station can take up to an hour - does anyone know how much a taxi would cost from the park to the station? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James Posted May 16, 2009 Report Share Posted May 16, 2009 A taxi is £24 so if theres 4 of you it will be £6 each (which is actually the same price as the bus).The X65 bus takes about 35 minutes and the 14 (I think) takes 70 minutes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phyciodes Posted May 16, 2009 Report Share Posted May 16, 2009 35 minutes isn't too bad. Well nothing seems bad after it took 30 mins to get from Thorpe to Staines station in the bus yesterday!!! Due to very bad traffic along staines road. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
subculturehero Posted May 17, 2009 Author Report Share Posted May 17, 2009 Cool, thanks for the help. Are taxis from the park to the station readily available (I know I've definitely seen taxis waiting at Staines station to go to Thorpe Park, but not sure if I've ever seen taxis waiting at TP to go back to the station - is it a similar situation for Alton)? The reason I ask about taxis is that our coach back to London leaves Stoke on Trent at 6.35 - AT closes at 5.30, so getting the bus from the park to the station, I assume, would be cutting it fine a bit? Also, do coaches from Stoke on Trent go to the same (or near to) station/stop as the buses to Alton leave from?Cheers (: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James Posted May 17, 2009 Report Share Posted May 17, 2009 There is a taxi rank outside Stoke-on-Trent station, don't worry about not finding it, its not a very built up area - its right in front of you.The taxi driver will usually give you his card and you can give them a ring if you want a lift back in the evening. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
123Reuben Posted May 31, 2009 Report Share Posted May 31, 2009 Hi my family is going to Alton Towers next week on friday, I was just wondering whats the best way and quickest way to get there from Ealing London and roughly how long should it take?Also I know it's always hard to tell but isit busy around that time? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Posted May 31, 2009 Report Share Posted May 31, 2009 Hi my family is going to Alton Towers next week on friday, I was just wondering whats the best way and quickest way to get there from Ealing London and roughly how long should it take?Also I know it's always hard to tell but isit busy around that time?Well, I have no idea how to get there, but I know that from Kent it takes 4 1/2 hours on a good day (which is about 1 hour from London). So you will probably be looking around 3 - 4 hours travel time (if the traffic is light). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phyciodes Posted May 31, 2009 Report Share Posted May 31, 2009 Hi my family is going to Alton Towers next week on friday, I was just wondering whats the best way and quickest way to get there from Ealing London and roughly how long should it take?Also I know it's always hard to tell but isit busy around that time?If your planning on going by train then you can get a direct train to Stoke on Trent from London Euston which varies in time, quicker trains can take only 1:30 hours! Then theres a bus from there to the park which I believe takes about 30 mins or so. So very quick journey by train! Car will most probs take longer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rossafc Posted May 31, 2009 Report Share Posted May 31, 2009 train from brighton took me about 4-5hours..changing twice I think Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
123Reuben Posted May 31, 2009 Report Share Posted May 31, 2009 We were going to go by car and didn't really know the best way Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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