Rita at Alton Towers: Ride Guide and Thrill Rating

What Rita is and where it sits in the park

Rita is a launched roller coaster built by Intamin Worldwide and located in the Dark Forest area of Alton Towers. It opened in 2005 as Rita – Queen of Speed and was Europe's first hydraulic launch coaster of its kind, transforming the former Ug Land into the rally-themed setting that later became today's Dark Forest. The ride runs outdoors on a twisting track rather than through a show building, so it is visible from across that corner of the park.

Dark Forest sits among the wooded areas of the park, and the Alton Towers map shows how its paths connect to the rest of the resort, which matters when you are sequencing rides across a large, hilly site. Treat Rita as a destination ride rather than something you pass on the way to somewhere else; the surrounding area also holds TH13TEEN, so plan both together.

The launch explained

Rita's headline is its acceleration: the ride propels guests from 0 to 100kph in 2.5 seconds, pulling around 4.5G in the process. That places the force above the sustained load of many conventional coasters and makes the first two and a half seconds the defining part of the experience. If you have ridden a launch coaster before, the sensation is comparable but compressed into a very short burst.

Published ride data lists a top speed of 61.1mph, a height of 69ft and a track length of about 2,100ft, with a g-force figure in the region of 4.7. Those numbers describe a compact, fast cycle rather than an elongated layout, so expect a short, sharp ride built around its opening burst.

Height and size limits

Riders must be at least 1.4m tall, and there is also a maximum height of 1.95m, which is easy to miss when checking whether a child is tall enough. The train seats two riders per row across ten rows, so parties of two ride side by side. Measure children at the ride entrance rather than relying on an earlier measurement, and use a height restrictions guide to compare Rita's limits with the other coasters you plan to ride.

How intense Rita is and which riders it suits

The combination of a near-instant launch and high g-force means Rita delivers more punch per second than almost anything else in the park, even though it is not the tallest or fastest ride overall. Thrill-seekers who ride for acceleration will rank it highly; riders who prefer sweeping layouts or themed dark rides may find the experience over too quickly. Anyone prone to neck or back discomfort should weigh up the launch before queueing.

As a rule, Rita is best for teenagers and adults comfortable with forceful launches. If your group is split, send the thrill-seekers to Rita and take the rest of the party to gentler options nearby, then meet back at an agreed point in the Dark Forest.

Rita for families and younger children

Children below 1.4m cannot ride Rita, so families with younger children need an alternative plan for this corner of the park. CBeebies Land at Alton Towers gives younger visitors their own set of rides and is the natural base for families while older siblings tackle the Dark Forest coasters.

Rider swap lets one adult wait with a child while the other rides, then switch without both queueing from scratch; ask a host at the entrance how it operates on the day. That makes Rita workable for families where only part of the group wants the launch.

Train setup and the ride cycle

Rita's trains run two across and ten rows deep, giving twenty riders per train, and the resort operates two trains on the circuit. The seating arrangement means most groups split naturally into pairs for the launch. Because the ride is short and the launch is the main event, boarding and dispatch move quickly once the queue is moving.

Rita and TH13TEEN in the Dark Forest

TH13TEEN shares the Dark Forest with Rita, so pairing the two makes sense: one is a launched speed ride and the other a family-thrill coaster with a different kind of scare. Ride Rita first if your group wants the bigger adrenaline hit while energy is high, then move to TH13TEEN. Checking height limits across the Alton Towers height restrictions page before you go saves time at each entrance.

Queue strategy and Fastrack

Rita is a headline coaster, so its queue builds through the middle of the day, and the Dark Forest sits far enough from the entrance that arriving early pays off. Ride it in the first hour after opening or in the final stretch before closing, and use the middle of the day for shows, food and gentler rides. Fastrack is available on Rita, and Alton Towers fast track products let you buy a shorter wait on selected rides rather than the whole park.

Buy Fastrack on the day or in advance once you know which rides your group will actually do, because a multi-ride product only pays off if you will use it on several coasters. Ride Access Pass is a separate scheme for guests who cannot queue for extended periods.

Ride photos, shops and refreshments nearby

On-ride photos are sold for Rita, and the ride exits through the Thirteen Shop area in the Dark Forest. The Eastern Express food outlet and a Rita Freestyle refill station sit close by, which makes this a sensible spot to regroup and refuel between coasters.

For a fuller picture of eating options across the resort, including where to sit down for a proper meal, see the Alton Towers food guide. Packing a picnic is often the cheapest way to handle lunch if you plan to spend the whole day on rides.

Accessibility and rider swap

Alton Towers publishes accessibility information covering boarding, ride access and support for guests with disabilities, and Rita's forceful launch is worth discussing with a host if anyone in your group has concerns. The Alton Towers accessibility guide sets out how Ride Access Pass and boarding assistance work across the resort.

Nearby rides worth pairing with Rita

Beyond TH13TEEN, the Dark Forest sits within reach of some of the resort's biggest coasters, so build a route that clusters the thrill rides rather than criss-crossing the park. Decide in advance whether your group wants a coaster-heavy day or a mix with the water park, which suits a second day or a warm afternoon.

If you are staying over, Alton Towers hotels on site make early starts easier and cut out the drive home after a long day on the coasters. Check how to get to Alton Towers by car, train or bus if you are arriving without a car, since the resort sits in rural Staffordshire.

Opening times, closures and seasonal events

Rita runs outdoors, so high winds and storms can affect operations, and the resort posts live ride availability on the day. Check Alton Towers opening times before booking, and book Alton Towers tickets for a dated visit so you know the park is open when you plan to arrive.

Scarefest and the Christmas season bring late openings and themed entertainment, and the Dark Forest area takes on a different atmosphere during Alton Towers Halloween events. If you are visiting in winter, the Alton Towers Christmas guide covers what stays open in the colder months.

What dogs can expect at Alton Towers and around Rita

Dogs are not permitted on Rita itself, and the ride's rider information covers only human riders: Rita is a launched roller coaster manufactured by Intamin Worldwide that opened in 2005, standing 69 ft tall with a 2100 ft track, reaching 61.1 MPH and pulling 4.7G. The launch propels riders to 100kph in just 2.5 seconds. None of this applies to a dog, so plan your day around the fact that the dog cannot join the queue line or board the train, and that the ride sits outdoors in the Dark Forest environment.

The wider resort does, however, include accommodation options that may make a dog-friendly trip easier to organise, with a choice of on-site hotels and lodges. Alton Towers Hotel, CBeebies Land Hotel, Splash Landings Hotel, the Enchanted Village and the Stargazing Pods all appear among the resort's accommodation listings, alongside the Alton Towers Waterpark, Extraordinary Golf and the Rollercoaster Restaurant as other attractions. If you are travelling with a dog, these are the names to look into when deciding where to base yourselves for a visit that includes time in the Dark Forest.

Because Rita's own information deals with height restrictions, rider suitability and the ride cycle rather than pets, keep the dog's day separate from the coaster's. The practical shape of a visit is straightforward: one member of the party rides while another stays with the dog away from the ride, then swap, since Rita's intensity and launch mean it suits riders who meet the stated requirements rather than animals. Beyond the ride, the resort's other listed attractions give a group somewhere to head once the coaster is done, so the dog is not tied to the ride area through repeated circuits of the launch.

Plan Your Day Around Rita

Rita is a short, ferocious launch coaster that rewards riders who want acceleration and punishes anyone hoping for a long, scenic circuit. Check the 1.4m minimum and 1.95m maximum height limits for your group, ride early or late to avoid the worst queues, and pair it with TH13TEEN to make the most of the Dark Forest.

For live opening hours, ride availability and any planned closures, the official Alton Towers Resort site is the place to look before you travel. Build the rest of your day from the Alton Towers Resort guide so Rita sits inside a route that works for everyone in your party.