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(Wang) #1
Alton Towers offers a huge variety of rides
(Alton Towers)

It’s eerily quiet too when we reach the Forbidden Valley, home to Nemesis, now an impressive 25 years old,
and the adjacent Galactica ride. The latter is designed to make riders feel like they’re flying as it swoops and
swishes through the trees, smooth as a dolphin’s beak. It’s strangely euphoric.


Next up is Wicker Man, the park’s newest attraction that opened in spring last year. Largely constructed
from wood and dominated by a huge pagan man/ram form that periodically emits smoke and fire, it’s
wonderfully atmospheric. We cling to each other as we shuffle into an antechamber just before the ’coaster
itself, where the room is plunged into complete darkness, eliciting gasps and shrieks, before the story is
brought to life by projections overhead. The build-up is almost better than the ride itself.


The Smiler has the most inversions of any
rollercoaster in the world (Mepics)

By this point, we decide we’re ready to take on those 14 “inversions” over at The Smiler. Anticipation
fizzles in my gut as we get closer to the front of the queue. We’re herded forwards in dribs and drabs, once,
twice, thrice and then it’s time: sit down and strap in. I give my partner’s hand a reassuring squeeze as we
look at each other with the same slightly dopey look.


“Here we go,” I squeal.


And we’re off, shrieking, whooping and laughing into the dark as we’re catapulted in every conceivable
direction, cheeks sore from smiling. As we disembark, strolling hand-in-hand in a blissed-out stupor, I can’t
help but think my friend was right about adults-only theme park adventures. Sure, kids are great – but an
unencumbered day of hitting 13 rollercoasters in a row with zero interruptions? That is so, so much better.

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