Alton Towers attracted 3.1 million visitors in 2008, making it the second most visited theme park in the UK after Pleasure Beach Blackpool and the 11th most visited theme park in Europe!

About Alton Towers

The early Alton Towers was a hunting lodge, known as Alveton Lodge (or Alverton), which is the ancient name for Alton.

In 1814 Charles Talbot and his wife moved into Alton, and began the creation of extensive gardens. Charles transformed the land into one of the largest gardens in Britain. Set in a valley that leads down to the River Churnet, a variety of features were created. A Pagoda fountain was built as an exact copy of the To Ho Pagoda in Canton. The Garden Conservatories, designed by Robert Abrahams were built of cast iron, and today are filled with various plants. A building known as the Swiss Cottage,  Stonehenge and a copy of Lysicrates' Choragic Monument from Athens were built. Several gardens were planted, including a Dutch garden and a rock garden.