• ℹ️ Heads up...

    This is a popular topic that is fast moving Guest - before posting, please ensure that you check out the first post in the topic for a quick reminder of guidelines, and importantly a summary of the known facts and information so far. Thanks.

Alton Towers Ruins - Behind a Paywall

Removing the Attic would certainly be one way of opening up a number of rooms, and would provide access to the Pugin Rooms, which should really be available to the public, and certainly should never have been used for a scare maze.

As I see it, the other two ways would be to open up the bits of the basement level that used to be open to the public (either with or without the area under the Banqueting Hall that was used for Sub Species), or to open up the Music Room and some of the West Wing.

All three of those options would provide a viable tour route with around six additional rooms. Importantly, all three could, and should, include the Music Room. If they've not managed to get the Music Room into the tour this year, I say we riot. 😵‍💫
 
I’d also like to see a commitment for some of the tour funds used for restoration and permanent exhibits.

Paying to walk around something that used to be free to be told facts from books most have already read whilst the place falls to bits still feels a bit bizarre.

But then, Merlin’s gonna merl…
 
As I see it, the other two ways would be to open up the bits of the basement level that used to be open to the public (either with or without the area under the Banqueting Hall that was used for Sub Species),
Apparently there are parts of The Sanctuary and Sub Species sitting SBNO, still waiting to be removed as they’ve become infested with mould. These are mazes that have been left to rot for a decade at this point…

Supposedly the plan was to eventually stop using the Towers due to the expected deterioration of the ruins, which is partly why we saw the new structures pop-up. Not sure what the plans are with the Heritage Tours now. Although, I doubt we’ll see a new maze in the Towers because RWS won’t (at least initially) have the same insight as the Entertainments team did.
 
With the silly money being generated at the Beach with behind the scenes tours currently, I imagine Merlin are looking at mopping up as well.
They should be, with what the Beach are charging.
 
Paying to walk around something that used to be free to be told facts from books most have already read whilst the place falls to bits still feels a bit bizarre.
See pretty much every historical house, castle, palace or gardens in Britain.

You've always paid to walk around Alton Towers. You're now just paying more, or paying in a different way. It was never free, just included in the entry price to the estate.
 
My gran complained about the prices back in the thirties on a Daily Express day out...brass bands and a car show, as well as a steam fair.
She refused to go back to keep my mum company in the early days of the Corkscrew.
"Wasn't worth all that bloody travel back then, it won't be now."
 
I'm still of the opinion that the Towers should be open for all (included in your theme park admission), with a variety of signs in each room explaining its original purpose/history, maybe go the extra step and have staff (could be volunteers) dotted around to give guests a bit more information. Then, run the tours in addition to the included entry, perhaps closing a room or two (or the basement) to make it appear a bit more exclusive.

Much like the gardens, it's disgraceful how Merlin/Alton Towers have neglected these areas for so long.
 
How long has it been since the Sanctuary side of the Towers has been accessible to the Public.


Much like the gardens, it's disgraceful how Merlin/Alton Towers have neglected these areas for so long.
Also this is on previous Merlin Management the Management is different in the 2010's compared to now so it's them who are to blame
 
...Also this is on previous Merlin Management the Management is different in the 2010's compared to now so it's them who are to blame
Nope.
Poor management of the garden areas has been continuous for decades.
Don't let the current dodgy custodians off the hook.
The gardens, specifically the flora and fauna, not the physical structures, have been getting worse, year on year, for half a century.
 
Nope.
Poor management of the garden areas has been continuous for decades.
Don't let the current dodgy custodians off the hook.
The gardens, specifically the flora and fauna, not the physical structures, have been getting worse, year on year, for half a century.
No I don't blame people for others neglect not to mention they have restored numerous buildings in the gardens
 
No I don't blame people for others neglect not to mention they have restored numerous buildings in the gardens
They often do this due to S106 agreements that get put in place when they are granted planning permission for a new attraction. It's a bit of a bargaining tool; if you let us build this rollercoaster then we promise that we will restore x, y or z.

Management at Towers and Merlin, current and former, all have to take responsibility for the shocking state of the Gardens. If they wanted to do something about this they could, but they have not. And seem to show no desire to do so. They were in such a sorry state when I walked around them towards the end of last year.
 
How long has it been since the Sanctuary side of the Towers has been accessible to the Public.

The majority of the West Wing has been closed up for decades, not sure when it stopped being regularly accessible to the public, but its certainly not been open this side of the millenium.

The Music Room and Libraries were closed off in 2012 when The Sanctuary was installed and were never reopened after. It's a real shame because the Music Room was one of the last rooms to be restored, and then was basically hidden away a couple of years later.

Apparently there are parts of The Sanctuary and Sub Species sitting SBNO, still waiting to be removed as they’ve become infested with mould. These are mazes that have been left to rot for a decade at this point…

Supposedly the plan was to eventually stop using the Towers due to the expected deterioration of the ruins, which is partly why we saw the new structures pop-up. Not sure what the plans are with the Heritage Tours now. Although, I doubt we’ll see a new maze in the Towers because RWS won’t (at least initially) have the same insight as the Entertainments team did.
I'm not sure that there's anything notable of The Sanctuary left in the ruins, as most of its course was reused by Mine Tours, but that would definitely track regarding Sub-Species, there have been a few reports that the majority of the maze remains underneath the Banqueting Hall.

I'm not sure how much I'd buy in to the 'deterioration of the ruins' as a reason for removing the scare mazes. I'm more familiar with the ruins than most, and the bits that have been open to the public really haven't been deteriorating at any significant rate - it's mostly stone and good-quality concrete at this point, and even where there is brickwork, it tends to be in areas that are not regularly exposed to the elements. Even last year, during the tours, you could see they are still in a good solid state (as far as a ruin can be).

I'm more minded that the reason the Scaremazes are being phased is that it turned out that they low-key should have got some level of planning permission for that usage of the building, and that poses more of a problem than their old school approach that they could basically just shove anything in the ruins without any real oversight.
 
I'm more minded that the reason the Scaremazes are being phased is that it turned out that they low-key should have got some level of planning permission for that usage of the building, and that poses more of a problem than their old school approach that they could basically just shove anything in the ruins without any real oversight.
I think they do have permission (if i recall there is one on the planning permission page) I think it runs out soon.

I would bet that they are trying to shift away from it with the new buildings and are intending on using the temporary buildings, I would guess much less hassle to set up new mazes, not needing to get planning permission and as some has mentioned being able to use it to say we will renovate X to build this coaster
 
I think they do have permission (if i recall there is one on the planning permission page) I think it runs out soon.
There's an application on the planning permission site, but it has not been approved. Nor has it been rejected... it just seems to have landed in a quagmire of issues.
 
I understand why they would want to charge for tours of the towers, but not how it is right now. Bare rooms with refurbishments to stop the thing toppling over.

Contrast this to, a few days ago, my family went on a day trip to Arundel Castle, and it was brilliant. Every room was taken care of, furnished, plaques to read, routes where planned and even tons of staff that could tell you everything about the castle.

We paid around £70 for four of us to look around the castle, bedrooms and gardens. Not to mention the demonstrations of old firearms and birds outside the castle, mind, as well as a whole - I’m not really sure what to call it - medieval fair outside with music and canvas tents.

Paying for entry does two things, one, prevent little vandals from carving their and their partner for a month’s initials in historical stone. No vandal is going to want to pay for entry, they only do it if they’re there anyway, like in the Toxicator tunnel. This, both Arundel and Towers do:

However, paying to keep the rooms furnished, kept well and paying for the knowledgable and friendly staff appears to be exclusive to Arundel. I understand keeping some clientele out, but it has to be worth the cost first because as it stands it feels like penny pilfering. “Look at this house we named our park after and then refuse to upkeep!” is just a bad look to me.

I also think opening the tours up to non park guests is a good idea. Having to cough up the money to go on all the rides to go in the towers despite only wanting to go to the towers is not a thing many will want to do, especially local residents that will want to view their heritage as much as we do. There where people of all ages at Arundel (despite the steep stairs) and if you also had to pay to go to a theme park next door to go in the castle, there wouldn’t be the range of people going. They’re just using the building as a decaying centrepiece and it’s hurting my soul.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Ash
I understand why they would want to charge for tours of the towers, but not how it is right now. Bare rooms with refurbishments to stop the thing toppling over.

Contrast this to, a few days ago, my family went on a day trip to Arundel Castle, and it was brilliant. Every room was taken care of, furnished, plaques to read, routes where planned and even tons of staff that could tell you everything about the castle.

We paid around £70 for four of us to look around the castle, bedrooms and gardens. Not to mention the demonstrations of old firearms and birds outside the castle, mind, as well as a whole - I’m not really sure what to call it - medieval fair outside with music and canvas tents.

Paying for entry does two things, one, prevent little vandals from carving their and their partner for a month’s initials in historical stone. No vandal is going to want to pay for entry, they only do it if they’re there anyway, like in the Toxicator tunnel. This, both Arundel and Towers do:

However, paying to keep the rooms furnished, kept well and paying for the knowledgable and friendly staff appears to be exclusive to Arundel. I understand keeping some clientele out, but it has to be worth the cost first because as it stands it feels like penny pilfering. “Look at this house we named our park after and then refuse to upkeep!” is just a bad look to me.

I also think opening the tours up to non park guests is a good idea. Having to cough up the money to go on all the rides to go in the towers despite only wanting to go to the towers is not a thing many will want to do, especially local residents that will want to view their heritage as much as we do. There where people of all ages at Arundel (despite the steep stairs) and if you also had to pay to go to a theme park next door to go in the castle, there wouldn’t be the range of people going. They’re just using the building as a decaying centrepiece and it’s hurting my soul.

Not thought of that, opening it up to non park guests is a fantastic idea.

Combining it with afternoon tea at the Swiss Cottage for an extra cost (allowing for extra investment) could also be a real winner.

I could see it being popular in the summer months and maybe using the conservatories in the evenings.

Again free money left on the table because things like this won’t be done right.
 
Again free money left on the table because things like this won’t be done right.
It's not. You'd have to spend additional money on ensuring that those with Towers tickets only couldn't go to other places within the park, or on any of the rides. Inevitably this means Blackpool style turnstiles at the least, effectively turning Alton Towers' entire business model on its head.
 
Top