jon81uk
TS Member
I would assume they were in the coach park (east of the entrance plaza) not the express parking (west of the entrance area)
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2021: General Discussion
- Thread starter Skyscraper
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Steve74
TS Member
I think they use the area right next to where the monorail curves out of the station for some Express Parking too so the coaches would park further down towards the bit where you first drive into Express Parking. But I imagine that is flexible depending on the number of coaches due etc.
I noticed on Saturday that they were getting what I presume was standard parking cars to park on the rough gravel area next to the path to the entrance - basically the area from the sharp bend in the road by the lights right down to where you cross the entrance road by the coach park. And this was a 9am, the main car park was barely used beyond the monorail station. Never seen that used before, I'm guessing that was because it was a sell out day?
CherryBerry17
TS Member
Is anyone going over the next few days at all, do you think it's going to be busy?
I've seen a lot of things on twitter about a wait getting in to the car park, someone tweeted they'd got there at 10 and they were still queuing to get in and park at 11:00
I've seen a lot of things on twitter about a wait getting in to the car park, someone tweeted they'd got there at 10 and they were still queuing to get in and park at 11:00
Steve74
TS Member
Simple answer, get there at 8.30Is anyone going over the next few days at all, do you think it's going to be busy?
I've seen a lot of things on twitter about a wait getting in to the car park, someone tweeted they'd got there at 10 and they were still queuing to get in and park at 11:00
Seriously though, I wouldn't expect it to be hugely busy, ie like half term, because even with school outings, there'll never be as many in the park as a school holiday. I'm going next Tuesday and that's what I'm hoping for anyway!
Is anyone going over the next few days at all, do you think it's going to be busy?
I've seen a lot of things on twitter about a wait getting in to the car park, someone tweeted they'd got there at 10 and they were still queuing to get in and park at 11:00
I visited yesterday with a group of friends, i arrived on park around 9.15am and got straight on the monorail and into the park by 9.30. a few of our group however didn't arrive until 10am and it took them over an hour to park up and get into the park. It was busy but opening was extended by 2 hours! The afternoon was much busier than the morning, get as much done before lunch as you can.
CherryBerry17
TS Member
In partial defence of some of those people, the last few times I've visited I've arrived at 10:00am-10:30am purely based on how bad the traffic getting into Alton and through Cheadle is. I could be 15 minutes away at 9:15am but I still wouldn't get there, parked and into the park until gone 10:30 because of the hold up.
I've always thought Alton would benefit having either 2 entrances or a few alternate routes to get into the main entrance.
Agree with this! The main issue at the moment seems to be the parking, apparently it took my friends almost 45 minutes from Alton village to finally parking up..
CherryBerry17
TS Member
Exactly what happened on my last visit (granted it was July 2019, but Corona stopped me visiting after that)
From Cheadle, through to Alton village was about 20 minutes, and then the road leading up to the main entrance was easily 45 minutes not including the parking and then monorail. I've taken the alternate route before and gone through Cheadle and then Farley lane rather than Cheadle and going right to Alton and both have been just as busy.
Danscott22
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Farley Lane just before 9 in the morning is usually no problem for us. On our route though in May we were stopped by 3 different sets of roadworks.
CherryBerry17
TS Member
Where does everyone travel from/which route is your usual, I'm interested to see if most of us go the same way.
Danny
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I come via Leek, over Cauldon Low and through Farley, and I've only ever queued a handful of times this way before 9am.
The worst circumstance was October 2018 on a horrendously busy day where guests were being encouraged to car share where possible, with Maps advising having to use Wootton Lane as Farley was gridlocked. The queue to get in this way was over an hour; we spent less time on park than we did queueing to get into the resort.
I'd never entertain trying to arrive any time after 10am until midday on days when guest numbers are blatantly going to be high.
The worst circumstance was October 2018 on a horrendously busy day where guests were being encouraged to car share where possible, with Maps advising having to use Wootton Lane as Farley was gridlocked. The queue to get in this way was over an hour; we spent less time on park than we did queueing to get into the resort.
I'd never entertain trying to arrive any time after 10am until midday on days when guest numbers are blatantly going to be high.
CherryBerry17
TS Member
Quick route! I can imagine that stays pretty quiet.
I come off the motorway after Stoke-On-Trent and head toward Uttoxeter & then up through Cheadle and Farley lane.
Sometimes i'll go right at Cheadle and go through Alton village, traffic dependant.
Steve74
TS Member
Coming from the south west, I get off M6 at J13, head through Stafford, then on to Uttoxeter, past the JCB factory and through Alton village. The McDonalds on the A50/B5030 roundabout is at just the perfect distance to cram down a bacon roll and drink before getting to Towers' car park (and now you can order ahead, you spend even less time waiting there!)
Sat navs recommend getting off at J14/J15 Stoke and heading towards Cheadle, ultimately you end up getting to the gates and turning left into the park rather than turning right. I've tried that way once and you don't save much time and in fact I think it is a slightly longer route too
Jonathan
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My most direct route is from Congleton to the A523, then through Leek and via the same route as Danny. I've never had major issues with queuing, though I do make sure to try and arrive a while before the park opens. Partially so I can have more time on park, I'll admit. I've sometimes done pick-ups and drop-offs at Stoke/Blythe Bridge/Uttox stations, so in those cases, I'm a bit more restricted by train times, but it's not too problematic. Down to Stoke, along the A500, turn off at the A50 eastbound, then up through Blythe Bridge and Cheadle if picking up at Stoke or Blythe Bridge (having turned off for Stoke station to pick anyone up from there first), or heading to Uttox and then along the signposted route through Rocester, Denstone and Alton itself. One major advantage of the Leek route for me is I can pop into Sainsbury's and get some last-minute supplies, because there's no way I'm paying Towers' prices for bottled soft drinks.
Towers used to have three entrances, Alton bottom gate for those from the south, the current gate for those from the north, and the staff access road was the coach entrance.
There were at least three parking areas, possibly four.
All changed after a couple of years of the Corkscrew.
There were at least three parking areas, possibly four.
All changed after a couple of years of the Corkscrew.
Skyscraper
TS Member
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From Sheffield I go through the peak District; From South Yorkshire, through Derbyshire and into Staffordshire. Only takes around an hour and 15ish and completely avoids motorways.
Beautiful drive as well, one of my favourite routes.
Beautiful drive as well, one of my favourite routes.
Matt.GC
TS Member
Leave at 6am, M5, stop at Frankly services for a wee and some nosh as it's the half way point, off at Stoke, A500, A50, left at Uttoxeter McDonald's, past JCB, Alton Village. Normally in car park by 9, entrance plaza by half 9. I only ever hit traffic at Cribbs Causeway/Almondsbury interchange on M5 if I don't get there before 7 and Ray Hall interchange through to Stafford on the M6, which is bad pretty much between 7am and 8pm all day anyway. Always found Stoke and Alton Village non troublesome at the times I hit them.
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