Getting there
Alton Towers is located in the middle of the UK between Derby and Stoke-on-Trent. If driving, the park is well signposted from the M6. The cheapest public transport option is a National Express coach to Stoke-on-Trent. Alternatively, Virgin trains offer an all-inclusive ticket to the theme park. For more information, go to www.virgin.com, or call: 08457 222 333.

Soak up the atmosphere
With ten differently themed areas, Alton Towers caters for all tastes. Daredevils will be enticed by big rides like Air, Oblivion and Rita - Queen of Speed; families can enjoy the Congo River Rapids and the Runaway Mine Train, while for the littlies, there's the new Charlie and the Chocolate Factory: The Ride! and the Squirrel Nutty Ride.

The different areas are imaginatively themed, from the prehistoric Ug Land, through medieval Merrie England to the futuristic X-Sector. Each area comes complete with sideshows so you're never far from a chance to win an oversized, garish teddy bear.

The Towers ruins (which date back to the 8th Century) lie in the middle of the park and are surrounded by beautiful landscaped gardens - a nice contrast to the funfair atmosphere and a good place for a picnic lunch.

Rides
New for 2006 is Charlie and the Chocolate Factory: The Ride! - great fun for both kids and adults who still have fond nostalgic memories for this classic Roald Dahl story. The ride - which cost a cool £8 million and replaces Toyland Toys this year - begins with a meandering boat ride on the chocolate river through Willy Wonka's famous factory. Look out for the likes of Augustus Gloop stuck up a chocolate chute and the oversized blueberry, Violet Beuragarde. After the boat ride, visitors are escorted inside the glass elevator whose floor tilts and shakes, taking you on an exciting high energy tour through the factory before 'bursting' through the glass ceiling and finishing with a sweeping panoramic flight through the clouds high above the factory.

The Corkscrew was a real nostalgia trip of how roller coasters used to be, clunky and jerky and if you're not careful you can end up with a very sore neck. Oblivion is a vertical-drop roller coaster only for the very brave; when you find yourself suspended over the drop, listen out for the 'click' that signals the brake release, then hold on to your hat, and your stomach! Rita - Queen of Speed is without a doubt the fastest roller coaster, going from 0 to 100kph in 2.5 seconds. Beware if you have neck ache or back problems, this speed-demon of a ride will make your eyes stream! The Congo River Rapids ride is good for a giggle although you do get a bit wet and the Runaway Mine Train is a fun roller coaster, which would be a good introduction for younger children.

The rides are a lot of fun but it can be frustrating if you have to queue for a long time. Younger kids could be disappointed by the height restrictions and be prepared to do a lot of walking as the theme park covers a huge area. My advice is to use the website to plan your day before arriving and take advantage of any fast track queuing systems or try to visit during the off-peak times.

What to eat
Choices for healthy food are few and far between but all the fast food basics are covered courtesy of McDonalds, Costa Coffee, KFC and Pizza Hut. There is also an Alton Towers Family restaurant and a pub in the medieval-themed section but if you want cheap and healthy food, I'd just take a packed lunch and leave it in one of the lockers available at the park entrance.

Opening hours
The park opens at 9.30am each morning and the rides start at 10.00. The park closes at 7.00pm, about one hour after the last ride.

Prices
Entry prices vary at different times of the year; you can view the Off Peak, Standard and Peak calendar at www.altontowers.com

Contact information and bookings
Address: Alton, Staffordshire, ST10 4DB
General enquires: 08705 20 40 60
Advance booking line: 0870 444 4455
Website: www.altontowers.com