You’re looking for something that’ll actually entertain the whole family without costing a fortune. Alton Towers CBeebies Land sounds perfect on paper. But is it actually worth the drive? (Also check my guides for free days out and rainy day activities if you want more family ideas.) And can you really take a three-year-old and a nine-month-old and have a genuinely good day?

Spoiler: yes. We just did it, and we could have stayed longer.

 

What is CBeebies Land?

CBeebies Land is a dedicated area within Alton Towers theme park (you need an Alton Towers ticket to enter). It’s designed specifically for young children – think toddlers through about age 8. The whole area is themed around CBeebies programmes but my kids don’t watch it and still had a fantastic time!

Unlike the rest of Alton Towers (which is full of big, intense roller coasters), CBeebies Land feels calm, colourful, and genuinely designed for little ones. There’s a good mix of rides for different ages, live shows, character meet-and-greets, and actual places to sit down (which is rare at theme parks).

 

The Best Bits

Rides for every age

This is the big win. My three-year-old could go on proper rides – not just baby-friendly spinning things. There are actual little roller coasters (the new Bluey ride was a hit!!) that they absolutely loved. We went on them at least five times each because she just wanted to keep going. My nine-month-old went on some of the gentler rides too (the in the night garden boat ride and the bugs ride), which meant we could both do things without someone sitting on a bench the whole time.

The 90cm height rule means some rides are off-limits, but there’s genuinely enough for younger toddlers and babies. And going midweek meant zero queues; we walked straight on to everything.

Live shows

We caught the Teletubbies live show during our picnic lunch, and it was brilliant. Short (about 15 minutes), engaging, and a good way to have a sit-down and break up the day. The kids loved seeing the characters in real life. There are multiple show times throughout the day, so you can plan around them.

The Sea Life Centre

When the kids got overwhelmed (after a few hours of busy rides and stimulation), we went into the aquarium section. It’s calm, quiet, and genuinely soothing. Watching fish and seeing the big underwater tunnel did exactly what we needed – reset everyone’s nervous systems and gave us energy to keep going. This is brilliant if you’ve got sensory-sensitive kids or just need a break from crowds and noise.

The Downsides

The 90cm height requirement

A lot of rides have a 90cm minimum height. Our three-year-old just scraped in, but if you’ve got younger toddlers, this is a real limit. The good news: ask customer services for a height wristband when you arrive. Genuinely the best hack. Instead of queuing for every ride just to be told “you’re not tall enough,” you get a wristband that shows you’ve been measured. No repeat measurements all day.

Getting in and out takes forever

This is the one real frustration. Alton Towers car parks are huge, and at the end of a long day when everyone’s tired and fractious, the walk back to the car is brutal. With a nine-month-old who needs carrying and a three-year-old whose legs have stopped working, it felt like a mile. Leave early if you can (the park gets quieter late afternoon anyway), or accept that the last 30 minutes will be chaos.

Before You Go: Checklist

Tickets & money-saving tips:

• Check if toddler tickets are part of the VAT summer scheme (they might be, which makes it cheaper)
• Book online in advance for better prices
• Midweek is genuinely quieter
• A full day (10am–4pm) is doable; you won’t see/do everything, but you won’t need to

What to bring:

• Sun hats and UV protection – you’re outside all day with little shade in CBeebies Land
• Natural suncream – reapply every two hours minimum
• A compact, lightweight pram – babies get tired, and you might need somewhere for a nap but you need to fold it up for the transport into the park
• Water bottles (refillable; there are stations in the park)
• Snacks for in between rides

 

Packed Lunch & Food

Alton Towers food is expensive (£12–16 for a main meal). We brought a picnic and ate during the Teletubbies show. Honestly, this is the best way to do it. You save money, the kids eat what they actually like, and you get a proper break midday. Pack a proper picnic with these ideas – it genuinely halves your day’s cost.

If you do buy food in the park, the café meals are reasonable; it’s the snacks and drinks that bump up the bill fast.

Practical Tips

The height wristband hack: When you arrive, go to customer services and ask for a height measurement wristband. They’ll measure your toddler once, give them a wristband, and that’s it. No more “are they tall enough?” conversations. This alone made the day less stressful.

Go midweek: We went on a Wednesday in the middle of the school holidays. Zero queues. Genuinely. You walk straight on to rides. If you can shuffle your holiday dates to avoid weekends, do it.

Bring a proper pram or carrier: A lightweight, compact pram is essential if you’ve got a baby who might nap. The one-year-old got tired around 2pm and had a proper sleep in the pram while we took turns on rides with the toddler. No pram = constant carrying or everyone stuck on a bench.

Plan around the shows: Check the live show times before you arrive. Build your day around them so you get a sit-down break, and the kids see something genuinely entertaining.

Embrace the sensory breaks: When anyone gets overstimulated (and you will), the aquarium or quiet areas are your friend. Five minutes of calm resets everyone.

Is it Worth the Money?

If you’ve got kids aged 2–6, absolutely. It’s a full day out, genuinely designed for little ones, with enough variety that everyone gets something out of it.

Compare it to free days out with kids – this costs money, but you’re not herding everyone around a beach or park for free. You’ve got rides, entertainment, and structure.

Could You Stay Longer?

Honestly? Yes. We did a full day and left wishing we had another few hours. There are rides we didn’t get to, shows we didn’t catch, and areas we rushed through. If you’re into theme parks, a two-day trip would be perfect (and the hotel looks amazing!)

The Summary

Alton Towers CBeebies Land is the rare theme park that actually works for young children. You can take a toddler and a baby, have a genuinely good day, and come home with everyone happy (and the kids properly tired, which is a bonus). The rides are age-appropriate, the atmosphere is calm, and there’s enough sensory variety to keep it interesting.

Downsides are real (the height requirement, the car park walk, the cost), but they’re manageable. Go midweek, get a height wristband, bring a picnic, and plan around the live shows. You’ll have a brilliant day.