The Smiler at Alton Towers: What to Expect and Ride Tips

What The Smiler is and where it sits in the park

The Smiler opened on 31 May 2013 as the world's first rollercoaster with 14 inversions, overtaking the previous inversion record. It is a steel Infinity Coaster built by German manufacturer Gerstlauer and stands in X-Sector, the thrill zone that also holds Oblivion. TowersTimes documents the ride's development as Secret Weapon 7 and its press coverage ahead of opening.

Alton Towers describes The Smiler as the world's first 14-loop rollercoaster, with a top speed of around 85 km/h. That combination of inversion count and pace is what places it firmly at the extreme end of the park's line-up rather than in the family bracket.

Treat X-Sector as a half-day block rather than a single stop: the zone's rides sit close together, so riding The Smiler early and working through the neighbouring attractions in the same sweep saves walking. Oblivion, the park's dive coaster, is the obvious companion ride for anyone chasing big drops.

Ride statistics at a glance

The Smiler's track runs 1,170 metres with a maximum track height of 30 metres and a top speed of roughly 85 km/h, pulling forces up to 4.5G. Each car seats 16 riders, and the published throughput is about 1,200 riders per hour.

The ride itself lasts around 2 minutes 45 seconds, which is long for a multi-inversion coaster and reflects the two lift hills built into the layout. The second lift means the experience restarts rather than simply running downhill to the brake run.

For comparison shopping across the park, the height chart is the more useful document than the statistics sheet: it tells you which rides your group can actually board. The full picture of limits across the park sits in the Alton Towers height restrictions reference.

Height limit and who should ride

Riders must be at least 1.4 metres tall, and there is no maximum height restriction. Measure children before you travel, because a child just under the line cannot ride regardless of age or willingness.

This is not a first coaster. The inversion count, the 4.5G forces and the near-miss theming elements make it a poor introduction for nervous younger riders, even ones tall enough to board. It suits teenagers who have already ridden smaller coasters and adults who treat inversions as the point of the day.

Families split by the height limit should plan a meet-up rather than a queue-side wait, since the pre-boarding section takes riders away from the main path. Younger children are better served in CBeebies Land at Alton Towers, where the rides are built for pre-school and early-primary ages.

The ride experience, element by element

The train leaves the station and drops into a heartline roll, then climbs the first lift hill with views across the gardens towards the Towers. From the top it drops into an inverted drop over the X-Sector buildings, then runs a pretzel loop before a batwing and a corkscrew.

A block section stops the train mid-layout with the ride's own signage insisting the experience is only halfway, before a vertical lift hauls it back up for the second half. That section repeats an inverted drop, then adds a sea serpent roll, an air-time hill and a cobra roll, finishing with a barrel roll and corkscrew combination before the brake run.

Riders who want to know exactly what is coming should read the sequence as two halves separated by the mid-course stop, not as one continuous blur. The second half is where the ride's reputation for disorientation is earned.

The Marmaliser and the five mind manipulations

The Marmaliser is the giant structure above the track, and its five legs each deliver a different effect as trains pass beneath: The Inoculator, The Tickler, The Flasher, The Giggler and The Hypnotiser. The names match their roles, from a water spray to flashing lights and piped laughter.

The Inoculator delivers a light jet of water, The Flasher fires a blinding flash as riders pass underneath, and The Giggler releases an infectious dose of laughing gas. The Tickler and The Hypnotiser complete the set with themed audio and disorienting visuals.

The theming continues into the queue and station with a surveillance and smiley-face branding theme built around CCTV cameras and the ride's smiling-advocate identity. Riders who wear glasses should secure them before boarding; the effects and inversions give loose items every chance to escape.

Queue, station and the baggage hold

The queue descends into a concrete pit overlooked by the ride structure, then passes through a projection-mapped room before reaching a baggage hold. Riders hand over loose articles in exchange for a rubber wristband, then climb a long staircase to the station.

Use the baggage hold rather than stuffing pockets: the wristband system means your belongings are logged and returned after the ride, and it removes the risk of losing a phone mid-inversion. Collect your items before heading down to the shop at the exit.

Because the stairs are part of the route rather than an optional shortcut, riders with limited mobility should ask staff about alternative access before joining the main queue. The Alton Towers accessibility guide sets out how ride access is arranged across the park.

Fastrack and managing the queue on a busy day

The Smiler offers Fastrack, the park's paid queue-jump product, which lets holders join a shorter line at a reserved time slot. It is worth considering only if The Smiler is a must-ride on a day when the main queue is long, since the cost stacks up across a group.

Compare products before buying: unlimited and single-ride options work differently, and some bundles cover only selected attractions. The Alton Towers fast track guide explains how each tier works so you can match it to your ride list.

If you skip Fastrack, ride The Smiler early in the day or late in the afternoon, and check the official app for live queue times rather than committing to a fixed plan. Book park entry in advance through the official Alton Towers tickets page, since dated tickets are usually cheaper than gate prices.

Accessibility, rider swap and on-ride photos

Ride photography is available, with cameras placed around the layout, including after the sea serpent roll and at the foot of an air-time hill. Photos are collected at the ride's exit shop rather than on the platform.

Families with one rider and one supervising adult should ask staff at the entrance about rider swap so the waiting adult can ride without queuing twice. The swap procedure varies by ride, so arrange it before the first rider joins the queue.

Riders who need step-free access or extra time to board should raise it with staff at the ride entrance, where the access arrangements for that attraction are explained. The park's accessibility scheme covers documentation and the Ride Access Pass system used across attractions.

Rides near The Smiler and building a thrill circuit

X-Sector is compact, so The Smiler pairs naturally with Oblivion and the zone's other attractions in a single sweep before moving on. Plan the circuit clockwise from the park entrance and hit X-Sector while energy and queue tolerance are highest.

Thrill-seekers can then push on to the park's other major coasters, saving gentler dark rides and family attractions for the afternoon lull. Anyone staying overnight should base themselves close to the entrance to shorten the walk at opening. If you are comparing inversion-heavy days out, the Drayton Manor guide covers another Midlands park with its own thrill line-up.

Food in the park is spread across the zones, and X-Sector's kiosks are convenient for a quick stop between rides rather than a sit-down meal. For a proper break, the wider options are covered in the Alton Towers food guide.

When to ride The Smiler

The park operates a seasonal calendar, and The Smiler runs only on days the theme park is open, so check the official Alton Towers calendar for your date before booking travel. Weekends and school holidays bring the longest queues, making an early arrival or a Fastrack purchase the more sensible plan.

The park's Halloween and Christmas seasons change the atmosphere and the opening pattern, with Scarefest and festive events running on selected dates. Both are covered in the Alton Towers Halloween and Alton Towers Christmas guides, which explain what the events add to a visit.

If you are combining the park with an overnight stay, the water park at Splash Landings is a useful rest-day option for families with mixed ages. Details of the pools and slides are in the Alton Towers water park guide.

Plan Your Visit

The Smiler is the ride to build a thrill-focused day around: a 14-inversion Gerstlauer coaster with a 1.4 metre height limit, a mid-layout second lift and a baggage hold that keeps the boarding process quick. Ride it early, use Fastrack if the queue is long, and pair it with the rest of X-Sector.

Work out your route and ticket type before you travel, then confirm the day's opening hours on the official park calendar the week you go, since the seasonal schedule drives everything else. Sorting out how to get to Alton Towers in advance, whether by car, train or bus, is the other big time-saver.