Destination guide
West Midlands
The West Midlands’ park history includes a major transition from estate attraction to modern theme park.
The story behind the day out
A historic estate enters the coaster era
Alton Towers’ operator dates its theme-park opening to 4 April 1980. The estate and gardens had attracted visitors long before that, so the date marks a change in the destination’s entertainment model rather than the first public interest in the grounds. The historic house at the center of the park is genuine. Its survival gives the modern attractions a setting rooted in an earlier landscape and social history.
