Alton Towers has some lovely formal gardens that are much older than the rides, and they're usually really quiet.
If you need a break from the noise, head down into the gardens. It’s a really nice change of pace from the rest of the park, the views are lovely, and the loudest thing you’ll hear is other people’s children a long way off.
Give yourself longer than you think you’ll need, because it’s all downhill on the way in.
Head to the gardens straight afterwards for twenty minutes of plants and birdsong. It's a lovely way to get back to a normal afternoon.
Somewhere green and gentle feels really nice after being dropped into a concrete tunnel.
Keep the gentle mood going with a slow wander somewhere green, before you head off to the bigger rides.
Somewhere green and peaceful afterwards is a nice reminder that not every clearing in the woods is a trap.