Best for one visit
1 Day Pass, booked online
Theme park entry, Sharkbait Reef by SEA LIFE included. Prices change by date, so pick a quieter one. Under 90cm go free.
Online only · save up to £39 vs walk-up
No. 0001 · DAY PASSOpen select days
Scarefest runs selected days through Nov 1, with the park open until 9pm on event nights. The fireworks weekend, Nov 6 to 8, closes the 2026 season.
The short version
Never walk up. A 1 Day Pass is £68 at the gate and from £29 online, and prebooked parking is £13 instead of £15. That's up to £41 back in your pocket for one person.
Going five times in a year? The £139 Merlin Essential pass starts to win. At six visits, the £239 Gold pass with free parking does too.
One visit on a cheap date
1 person, booked ahead
1 Day Pass, online£29.00
Standard parking, prebooked£13.00
You pay£42.00
Walk-up: £68 + £15 = £83. You keep £41.00
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Deals that work right now
There's no secret code for Alton Towers. The money is in booking ahead and, for regulars, a Merlin pass. Here's what works now.
Best for big days
2 Day Pass
Add a second full day for £12 more. Handy for a short break with the hotel or lodges.
Book online
No. 0002 · 2 DAYBest for regulars
Merlin Gold Annual Pass
364 days at Alton Towers and 20+ Merlin attractions like LEGOLAND Windsor and SEA LIFE. Free parking at the resorts.
Or £19.99 a month · excludes Alton Towers Fireworks, Nov 6–8, 2026
No. 0003 · MERLIN GOLD£239See passes
Cheapest pass
Merlin Essential Annual Pass
Up to 325 days of entry across the Merlin attractions, Alton Towers included. No free parking, and more exclusion dates.
Check the exclusion dates before you buy
No. 0004 · ESSENTIAL£139See passes
Heads upThe Merlin Gold pass doesn't cover the Alton Towers Fireworks weekend, Nov 6 to 8, 2026. Platinum (£299) has no exclusion dates.
Where it's cheapest to buy
We checked the usual discount spots so you don't have to open ten tabs.
| Where | Best price found | Our take |
|---|---|---|
| Park website | £29 | From £29 online, date-based. £68 walk-up |
| Day Out With The Kids | £32 | From £32. Free rescheduling on most bookings |
| Student Beans | — | Discounted student entry; the park doesn't post the price |
| Merlin Annual Pass | £139 | Essential pass. Gold £239 adds free parking |
My take: the park's own site is the cheapest for a single day. Book it early and prebook parking at the same time.– John
Promo codes we checked
We didn't find a public Alton Towers promo code that works for everyone. Kellogg's cereal pack codes have offered 25% off before, but we couldn't confirm a current one.
No code needed · online prices from £29 show up automaticallyOnline price
Kellogg's pack codes · 25% off up to 2 tickets earlier in 2026Not verified
Merlin "rest of 2026 free" · buy 2027 Gold or PlatinumEnded
Pass or day tickets? Do the math.
Day tickets use the lowest "from £29" online price; many dates cost more. Assumes one car with standard parking prebooked at £13. Merlin passes also cover 20+ other UK attractions, which this doesn't count.
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2026 ticket prices
| Ticket | Online | Walk-up | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Day Pass | £29 | £68 | From price; varies by date |
| 2 Day Pass | +£12 | — | Extra day on top of a 1 Day Pass |
| Under 90cm | Free | Free | Theme park only |
| Parent & Toddler Pass | — | — | Online only; not weekends or school holidays. Price not posted |
The park says booking ahead saves up to £39 on the walk-up price.
Merlin Annual Passes
| Essential | Gold | Platinum | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £139 | £239 | £299 |
| Monthly | — | £19.99 | £24.99 |
| Entry | Up to 325 days | 364 days | 364 days |
| Alton Towers exclusions | Specific dates | Fireworks, Nov 6–8, 2026 | None |
| Parking | Paid | Free | Free |
| Fastrack | 10% off | 10% off | 10% off + 1 free one-shot per visit |
| Bring a friend | — | Up to 50% off | 4 free tickets a year |
Our pick: Gold if Alton Towers is your main park, since free parking saves £13 to £15 every visit.
Parking
| Option | Price | With Gold or Platinum |
|---|---|---|
| Standard, prebooked | £13 | Free |
| Standard, on the day | £15 | Free |
| Express (online only) | £20 | £10 |
Hotel guests park free in the accommodation car park. Express parking can sell out.
What a day really costs
A cheap-date day for a family of four, all booked ahead.
£1164 day passes at the from-£29 price
£13Standard parking, prebooked
£129Total before food
£287Same day at walk-up prices
Can you bring food?
Yes. Alton Towers lets you bring your own food, and there are picnic benches around the park. Little ones can picnic in the Big Fun Show Time area in CBeebies Land.
Scarefest
Selected days through Nov 1, 2026, with the park open to 9pm on event nights. Spooky Days are for all ages; Frightful Nights are aimed at older, braver guests. The Final Exhibit maze is a paid add-on.
Fireworks
The season ends with fireworks on Nov 6, 7 and 8, 2026. Merlin Gold passes don't cover these dates; Platinum does.
Getting there
- Address
- Farley Lane, Alton, Stoke-on-Trent ST10 4DB
- Parking
- £13 prebooked, £15 on the day; free with Merlin Gold and Platinum
- Don't miss
- Nemesis Reborn, The Smiler, Wicker Man, Bluey the Ride, CBeebies Land
Little ways to save
Walk-up for a family of four costs £287. Booked ahead on a cheap date, £129. Same coasters.– John
Book online. The walk-up price is £68; online starts at £29.
Prebook parking at £13 instead of paying £15 at the gate.
Bring a picnic. Alton Towers allows your own food.
Under 90cm? They go in free.
Planning LEGOLAND Windsor or SEA LIFE trips too? A Merlin pass covers all of them.
Questions people ask us
Is there a promo code for Alton Towers?
Not a public one we could confirm. Kellogg's cereal pack codes gave 25% off earlier in 2026. Otherwise, online prices are the discount.
How much is parking at Alton Towers?
Standard parking is £13 prebooked online or £15 on the day. Express parking is £20 online. Merlin Gold and Platinum passholders park free.
How much is a ticket at the gate?
Walk-up is around £68. Online 1 Day Passes start at £29 on quieter dates.
When does Alton Towers close for 2026?
The theme park season ends with the fireworks weekend, Nov 6 to 8, 2026.
Is the Merlin Annual Pass worth it for Alton Towers?
If you'll go five times, the £139 Essential pass wins. At six visits the £239 Gold, with free parking, beats day tickets bought at the lowest price.
Can you take food into Alton Towers?
Yes. Picnics are allowed, with benches around the park.
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Road trip? Try these next
See you on The Smiler.– John & the ThemeParkCoupons crew
Where these prices come from: tickets & offers page, parking help, car parking page, food help, Merlin Annual Pass, Merlin 2027 offer, Theme Park Guide (2026 dates), Haunted Attraction Network (Scarefest), Theme Parks UK (fireworks), Day Out With The Kids. Prices checked October 2026 by John Foster.
We may earn a small commission from some links, at no cost to you. ThemeParkCoupons.org isn't affiliated with Alton Towers Resort; the logo is theirs and shown so you know you're in the right place. Helping families find park deals since 2010.