Away from thrills and excitement of Alton Towers' rides lies the tranquil area of the gardens, all in its own secluded part of the theme park. Acres and acres of landscaped beauty awaits, including a diverse range of features; such as lakes, pools, a Chinese Pagoda fountain, a Stone Henge sculpture, grand conservatories, and a Swiss cottage. There is a particularly spectacular view of the gardens to be had if you are on the skyride cable car between Forbidden Valley and Cred Street.
The initial interest in Alton Towers as a tourist attraction was because of the gardens. Having opened to the public in 1860, they have been pulling in the guests ever since, and the current theme park set up owes much to their existence. They were conceived by the 15th Earl of Shrewsbury, Charles Talbot, who consulted a huge array of artists to implement design it, only to largely avoid whatever they recommended. This is deemed to be the main reason why the gardens have such a number of unique features.
The Gardens
Theme Park: Alton Towers
Park Area: The Towers and Gardens
Category: Family attraction
First Opened: 1860
