Alton Towers and Car Parking

gazzebo69

Folks.

Was looking at going to Alton Towers, but I see tucked away in some remote corner of there website that you have to pay £5.00 to park your car.

I thought that this is highly extortionate so am thinking of going somewhere else.

Any ideas of other theme parks around yorkshire/derbyshire etc where you don`t get ripped off for parking.

I can see why Alton Towers don`t tell you about parking very clearly on their webiste, its nicely tucked away.

Any ideas would be grateful, or maybe people know where you can park nearby.

Regards
Gazza.

Zziggi

Normal parking £5

"special" parking (near entrance) £10

Free parking for disabled with blue badges (they will check them before they let you park near the entrance- don't be tempted to use someone elses!)

buxtonrabbitgreen

You don't pay to park at Drayton Manor.

ian_w_4

It's disgraceful that they have the cheek to charge for parking. It's not like there is a practical alternative to driving and the price for park entry is high enough as it is.

I only learned about the car park fee from a mate who went last week and was caught by surprise on his way out.

gazzebo69

Ive been looking at all other theme parks and they all come with free pakring.

When I went as a kid/young adult it was all free then, no reason why it shouldnt be now, in fact it only seams to be Alton Towers that charge, it is so damn cheeky.

Checked out Drayton Manor, Camelot, Lightwater Valley and they are all free parking.

I only checked because I got stung with parking when I went to Warwick castle, after paying about £25.00 to get in they stung me with a £3.50 parking charge, you would think that this is all included in the ticket price. It appears that the same group own Alton Towers that own Warwick castle and a few other venues. So don`t be caught out either if you intend to go to Warwick castle for a nosey (only popped in with the missus cause we were passing), they charge you to park, I think it was cheaper in the town centre.

Am still searching for other theme parks to see whats on offer, so any ideas would be very good. Is there anywhere to park near Alton Towers, I would even pay £5 private parking just to shove that charge up Alton Towers greedy nose.

Regards
Gazza

gazzebo69

Zziggi wrote: »

Normal parking £5

"special" parking (near entrance) £10

Free parking for disabled with blue badges (they will check them before they let you park near the entrance- don't be tempted to use someone elses!)

Jeez...a tenner to park a few yards closer, its gets worse. Who do they think they are. Its all wrong.


Regards
Gazza.

mew

Blackpool Pleasure Beach also charges for parking, but then that is Justifiable as it's in a town with limited parking (unlike Alton Towers which is in the middle of nowhere with acres of land). Both Thorpe Park & Chessington (same owners as Alton Towers) have Free parking.

Flamingo Land (North Yorkshire) or Drayton Manor (Staffordshire) are both excellent alternatives to Alton Towers and offer free parking!

thor

I went last year and I too was shocked that they charged for parking. I think it was 6 quid then so at least it has come down a it(although I'm sure they will ratchet it up as the weather gets better).
Getting there you had to drive through country lanes and I am wondering what is there to stop you parking on these roads just outside the gates. I don't recall any yellow lines there and even if it is a distance away I would rather walk the extra bit just out of spite for these car park charges. What will they start on next? Hospitals?.....ooops:rolleyes:

bamboozled2

We went at Easter and saw as you drive in, the '£10 quick park' or what ever they called it, drove past and into the car park (that didn't say anything about paying to park.) Then, as you're walking to the monorail and around monorail station there were machines to 'purchase your £5 parking token here'. As we passed these I always 'seemed to be distracted' and looking the other way (Easily done)
We couldn't see how with the mass exodus at closing time that they could enforce the parking fee, so decided to try and 'blag' our way out by acting dumb. (Though this has never worked for me yet:( )
Anyway, as you leave there are barriers, with lovely local pensioners working on them, (on ours anyway) Me - best dumb face-'No I didn't go down the pay for parking way, I drove to the free parking, I've just seen all these signs saying get your £5 token ready, Oooh dear, I haven't got a token, is it too late to get one?'
Lovely, helpful old local pensioner, 'No, no. Never mind, I can sort you out, you can pay cash to me.'
Me, 'Oooh, thanks.':mad:

sickparrot

We paid £200 for four annual passes for AT a couple of years ago and you STILL had to pay to park everytime you went. It was £4 then, and i think we went about 10 times so it soon adds up.

inspector_monkfish

gazzebo69 wrote: »

Folks.

Was looking at going to Alton Towers, but I see tucked away in some remote corner of there website that you have to pay £5.00 to park your car.

I thought that this is highly extortionate so am thinking of going somewhere else.

Any ideas of other theme parks around yorkshire/derbyshire etc where you don`t get ripped off for parking.

I can see why Alton Towers don`t tell you about parking very clearly on their webiste, its nicely tucked away.

Any ideas would be grateful, or maybe people know where you can park nearby.

Regards
Gazza.

if you have yearly merlin pass (available with tesco clubcard vouchers)
parking is free
http://www.tesco.com/clubcard/deals/product.aspx?R=393

to be honest, you should way it all up
£5 to park at Alton Towers for a great day out (and you do get a ride from the car park on the nice mono rail;))
OR
Free to park at an inferior Theme Park

i would say the extra £5, in the big scheme of things, is well worth it.....


if not, Chessington and Thorpe Park are Free to park