Visiting CBeebies Land at Alton Towers

It has been over a decade since I last ventured to Alton Towers. No particular reason why, as every visit I have made, I have loved. Alton Towers, located near the pretty villages of Alton and Tean in Staffordshire, is now much more than just the theme park that appeared in the 1980s, following the success of the few fair rides set in the grounds back in the 1970s. It has grown steadily since then and now includes the main theme park, a variety of hotels, Splash Landings water park, and a golf park. And within the walls of the main theme park, there is, of course, CBeebies Land, which has grown and diversified over the last decade to reach the celebrated position it finds itself in as it marks its tenth birthday. 

It is the latter that holds the biggest appeal to my three-year-old as we land at Alton Towers. Her older brother has his sights set on the World of David Walliams and Mutiny Bay, as well as the array of fairground-style amusements scattered around the park that his friends have been telling him about, particularly given that there is one that has humongous Pokemon teddies to win as prizes!

As we make our way down Towers Street, the allure of CBeebies Land is overwhelming. Colourful birthday celebrations flood Towers Street and the central greenspace, leaving even my seven-year-old excited about what CBeebies Land has to offer. That huge pull makes for an easy initial decision; our first destination becomes clear!

To say the welcome to CBeebies Land is warm would be an understatement. Playful Cbeebies Land assistants greet us at the entrance, igniting my children's excitement by inquiring about their favourites and offering high fives from a Bluey teddy. As we enter, Peter Rabbit is ready and waiting for photos, which they once again jump at. We are less than ten minutes into our Alton Towers adventure, and it is clear we are on to a winner. 

While we start on Postman Pat Parcel Post, our journey as a full family is short lived. With everyone having particularly enjoyed Andy's Adventure Dinosaur Dig, Justin's House Pie-o-Matic Factory, and the In the Night Garden Magical Boat Ride, I am thankful that my parents are in tow as we reach a crossroads in activities. While my three-year-old wants to see the Teletubbies LIVE, my seven-year-old is craving a little speed and wants to experience a rollercoaster. With my parents taking Skye to the show, Calum and I head off to what proves to be his favourite CBeebies Land ride—Otonauts Rollercoaster Adventure.

After meeting up in the picnic and play space, it is clear that my parents have made the most of the time, with Skye having not only seen the show but also enjoyed the Hey Duggee Big Adventure Badge. Following a brief lunch, the children, eager to continue, make a challenging (for Skye, at least) choice to proceed. We chose Mutiny Bay as our next destination, with Battle Galleons catching our eye on our walk towards Sharkbait Reef by Sea Life. The side step proves fateful for the day, with Calum particularly loving the chance to water fight with strangers and relishing the opportunity to get properly wet!

While neither Skye nor my mom enjoy the wetness level of the ride, Alton Towers' approach to accessibility continues to impress us all, as my mom has yet to miss out on a ride opportunity. From Battle Galleons via the dangerous food and amusement terrain to Sharkbait Reef by Sea Life, which boasts a tremendous walk-through tunnel to allow really clear visibility of the wide array of sea creatures Alton Towers now hosts. While my son found the stingrays and sharks to be particularly fascinating, my daughter found the sharks' proximity to be a little scary, likely due to my son's tendency to frighten her.

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Sea Life's Sharkbait Reef drama prompted another family separation. With my daughter craving the colourful calm of CBeebies Land and my son wanting speed and adventure, I am selected for the former while my parents take my son further into Mutiny Bay. The return to CBeebies Land reveals Skye's favourite of the day—Go Jetters Vroomster Ride—while when we meet again in The World of David Walliams, it becomes clear that although they have taken in other rides, there have been numerous rides of Battle Galleons undertaken!

The World of David Walliams is impressively crafted. Although Skye is slightly too short for Cuckoo Cars Driving School, it is very clear that Calum simply is not a natural-born driver! With Gangsta Granny: The Ride and the Royal Carousel both proving hits with the whole family, it is a rather predictable return to Battle Galleons and a calm ride on the Get Set Go Treetop Adventure that closes our day.

As the ride home is filled with the children saying it was the best day ever, it is clear that the mixture of live shows and rides in a stunning setting had more than captured their imagination.

If you, like me, are a single parent with multiple children, I recommend bringing another adult along. Without my parents' presence, I would have found myself in a challenging situation.

Tickets for the theme park start at £37pp*** with CBeebies Land included in the price of general admission.

To book your visit to Britain’s Greatest Escape this summer, visit: https://www.altontowers.com/short-breaks/offers-packages/summer-holiday-short-breaks/