The Towers

The grounds at Alton Towers Resort were first opened to the public in 1860. By 1890 Alton Towers Resort was attracting crowds of thousands to enjoy a variety of spectacles including elephants, fireworks and lion tamers and of course, the stunning tranquil gardens.

In 1924 the Gothic towers and grounds passed out of the hands of the Earls of Shrewsbury for the first time in around 700 years. They were bought by group of businessmen and remained open until war broke out. After being requisitioned by the military for use as an Officer Cadet training camp, the towers and grounds were returned to their owners in the mid �50s.

Although the Park had become a well known tourist attraction throughout the '60s and '70s, it was not until 1980 that it became known as a Theme Park, with the introduction of the then revolutionary Corkscrew rollercoaster.