I tried some of Europe's scariest rollercoasters at Alton Towers - here's what I thought

So we walked into Alton Towers with minimal expectations. Daughter No. 2, the daredevil, would do the big rides with Mum. Daughters three and four would take on the rest.

We made our way to Galactica, a rollercoaster that sees you lie face down on a carriage that twists and turns your body so your horizontal torso faces the sky one second, and the ground the next. It’s a thriller.

We found ourselves standing in the queue. Catching a glimpse of her furrowed little brow, I readied myself to turn around and backtrack through the weaving lines.

And then, from nowhere, an Alton Towers member of staff appeared. She swept my daughter up and gave my little worrier the encouragement she needed. 

She made firm eye contact as she secured her into her seat and clicked her harness into place.

“You’ll be fine, you’ll love it,” she said, smiling, “and I’ll find you straight after.”

True to her word, she sought out my daughter as we emerged from the ride for a high five and a hug.

And just like that, my daughter cast away that family label. She was a worrier no more.

More than that, she was now a rollercoaster addict.

She ran on to Wicker Man — a ride that would give Emerald Park’s Cú Chulainn a run for its money.

Then, in a moment I’m still reliving in awe, she stepped onto the Smiler, one of the most terrifying coasters of them all.

With 14 inversions and speeds of 85kph, it’s renowned as one of the most intense rides on the continent. My daughter beamed as we made every climb, turn, and loop.

She strode away from Alton Towers that day with a proud spring in her step — and it’s not just rollercoasters.

Now she has overcome that fear, she knows she can take on anything. It was a life-changing moment for her, all thanks to that one Alton Towers’ staff member.

That employee captures the incredible service at the theme park. You’d make the journey for the customer care alone. In all my years of visiting theme parks, I’ve never experienced a human touch like it.

In every way, Alton Towers truly feels like a hidden secret. Accessible and straightforward to reach — with regular flights to Manchester — it’s a destination Irish families are about to discover, thanks to tour operator John Barrett and his Kinsale-based team at Magic Vacations.

He’s built a national reputation as the ultimate travel agent for families, with theme parks across the world his speciality.

The only travel operator in Ireland with an exclusive contract for a number of hotels on Merlin Entertainment resorts, like Legoland and Chessington World of Adventures, he now adds Alton Towers to the list.

Travel agents are enjoying a resurgence in popularity after the travel obstacles that covid threw our way. And the Magic Vacations team really do go that step further.

John Barrett calls it “the red phone” service. They are there every step of the way of your holiday, with the inside track before you go, and support if you need it while you’re there.

(The red phone is an analogy, meaning they are there to support you on your family break — no matter what.)

We catch a direct flight from Cork to Manchester, and a one-hour transfer later, we were checking into the theme park’s flagship hotel.

Truth be told, a stay there is worth the flight alone. The bedrooms are all themed, and we were lucky enough to stay in a David Walliams’ family room, decorated in honour of one of the theme park rides, Gangsta Granny.

The attention to detail here is spectacular. Snippets of the soundtrack to the movie play as you open your bedroom door, Raj’s corner shop is painted on the wall, the crown jewels sit encased in a glass box – even Granny’s scooter sits in the corner. We are speechless.

A jar of jelly beans entices the kids immediately – all the more so when we realise we have to uncover a special code to find the coin to release them. Everything in this hotel is designed with a child’s eye.

The carpeted hallway that leads to the water park gradually makes a transformation to a sandy deck.

The lift, decorated to look like a porthole, plays different music, light effects, and voice-overs each time we enter. It’s magical.

Before we set foot in the theme park, we try out the tropical water park. There are indoor and outdoor pools. Inside, the temperatures make you feel far from Stoke-on-Trent — it’s as though you are in balmy climes. We try the lazy river and the three rapid water slides. It’s a joy.

Then, we step outside for the main event — the 550-acre theme park and its 40-plus rides.

We are here to experience Nemesis Reborn, Alton Towers’ iconic rollercoaster, “Back with a vengeance” as the poster goes, after a 16-month overhaul. Marking the ride’s 30th anniversary, the entire 250-tonne, 716m-long track has been replaced. The queues for Nemesis Reborn on its opening day made headlines they were so intense. People waited over four-and-a-half hours for the experience.

Sitting into my seat, I begin to understand why.

It reaches speeds of 81kmph with G-force of +3.5G, yet it feels smooth, seamless. It’s terrifying, yet exhilarating. We are there for launch night and Alton Towers has a team of actors on site for the ultimate immersive experience. Failed experiments, antidotes, conspiracy protestors, roving security teams, even “TV crews” to report on the action – it feels like walking through a film set.

Alton Towers isn’t just for the thrill seekers. There’s the historic house itself, the dungeons experience (for grown-ups only) and the beautiful CBeebies land. Turning 10 this year, Bluey joins the cast for 2024.

The park hosts special events throughout the year: The family-friendly Oktoberfest, the award-winning Scarefest, the Fireworks Spectacular, and the Christmas Experience. But you don’t need a special event to visit. We’re already planning our next adventure. Daughter No 4 is my next little daredevil in waiting. Alton Towers, we’ll be back.

• Vickie was a guest of Alton Towers Resort, staying at the Alton Towers Hotel, courtesy of Magic Vacations and Merlin Entertainments.
• Magic Vacations’ partner agreement with the LEGOLAND Windsor Resort and Chessington World of Adventures now extends to Alton Towers which is now open for the season.
• www.magicvacations.ie
• 2 nights at Alton Towers Hotel, with 2 days entrance to the Alton Towers Resort Theme Park, from €299 per person, based on 2 adults and 2 children with flights from Cork.
• The Alton Towers resort is within easy access of Manchester, Birmingham and East Midlands Airports, with a choice of flights from all Irish airports.
• www.altontowers.com