EIGHT times and we cracked it – we finally worked out the best seat on the new Nemesis Reborn rollercoaster at Alton Towers.
On the left towards the back is where a passenger feels the most G-force on the latest exciting addition to Britain’s best loved theme park.
“Daddy, this is awesome!” screamed my son as we were whizzed around the 716-metre track at speeds of up to 55mph.
As the name suggests, Nemesis really has been reborn. And wow. What a thrilling ride it offers.
Smooth, slick, exciting and terrifying in equal measure – it is a rollercoaster where, when you get off, you are not quite sure what just happened.
Since Nemesis shut down in November 2022 after a 30-year stint which saw a 52million people ride it, each time we have visited Alton Towers my eldest has looked longingly through the barriers and asked when he would be able to go on it.
Finally, I could give him the answer he wanted after we were among the lucky ones invited to the opening night party. And go on it we did.
Front row, back row, middle row. With a little help from an expert (the guy who designed it), my lad plonked down in the best seat in the house.
And when the staff gently tried to usher us back to the Alton Towers hotel, where we were staying, we managed to persuade them to allow us to sneak on one last time.
This left my lad boasting that he should be in the Guinness Book of Records for the person who has ridden Nemesis Reborn the most.
The following morning, Nemesis Reborn fever had truly arrived in rural Staffordshire.
Some roller coaster fanatics had to settle for pressing their faces up to the fences to catch a glimpse of the beast – while thousands of others dutifully waited in line to experience it again for the first time.
Queue times of 275 minutes failed to put people off, as they happily took part in that very British phenomenon of lining up and seemed just as thrilled after they clambered off.
Elsewhere we sampled the park’s other attractions, including the Th13teen rollercoaster.
I knew what to expect, but the moment where the carriage drops towards the floor before shooting off is capable of dislodging anyone’s nerve.
Next on the “Daddy, daddy, can we do that one” list was the Rita rollercoaster.
My first time, I didn’t know what to expect and was taken by surprise by the 0-60mph start in 2.5 seconds.
Magical day
My son loved it. If I ever win the lottery I will never buy a Porsche.
Others in our family are more sedate, so Gangsta Granny was next on the list once my wife had a helpful staff member confirm it was not a “thrill ride”.
Then there’s the Runaway Mine Train which meant our gruesome twosome could ride together as they are both big enough, allowing mum and dad to enjoy a coffee.
2
To top off a magical day, we decided to give Nemesis another go.
For a ninth time.
Despite the queue warnings earlier in the day, we happily wound our way around the path and jumped onboard for our final go.
This time we were back-seat warriors, shrieking our way around the track.
Read more on the Scottish Sun
We knew what to expect – but it was as thrilling as the first time, which is perhaps the biggest compliment we could give it.
- Alton Towers tickets cost from £35 for one day. See altontowers.com.
