Galactica

Galactica is Alton Towers' space-themed roller coaster, a proper thrill ride that launches you from 0 to 100 km/h in under two seconds before hurling you through an inverted loop. It's brutal, relentless, and absolutely not for the faint-hearted. You're strapped into a seat that hangs beneath the track - feet dangling, nothing between you and the ground - which adds a genuinely unsettling dimension to the whole experience.

This is one for adrenaline junkies and confident older kids who've conquered other coasters. Younger children or anyone nervous about heights will find it properly intense. The queue moves reasonably well on quieter days, but expect substantial waits during school holidays and weekends.

Alton Towers sits just outside Uttoxeter in Staffordshire, and if you're basing yourself at one of the nearby holiday parks - Lower Micklin Touring Park is barely over a mile away, or Ecopod Holidays offers glamping a short drive off - you can split your theme park visits across multiple days rather than trying to cram everything in. That's the smart move. One ride takes maybe three minutes, but you'll spend an hour queuing for it in summer, so factor that into your planning.

The ride itself is brilliant engineering, but whether it's worth your time depends entirely on what gets your pulse racing. If you live for inversions and speed, absolutely. If you're after gentle family fun, skip it and head to the gentler attractions elsewhere in the park.