Sneak preview of new Alton Towers attraction and Stargazing accommodation

The Staffordshire theme park has provided a sneak preview of the new Alton Towers Dungeon and Stargazing Pods ahead of the park opening to the public on March 23.

Three key characters from the Alton Towers Dungeon have been introduced - including The Judge, The Gatekeeper and The Torturer - as well as the spooky entrance guests will take before experiencing five shows based on the UK’s most controversial deviants.

A release from the attraction says guests will be "screaming with laughter" while being sentenced by the Bishop of Stafford, surviving the plague, enduring The Torturer and also making a stop at the Witch of Burslem’s haunted cottage.

The Alton Towers Dungeon will draw on the best of the Dungeons’ brand and apply Alton Towers’ expertise in family entertainment to bring to life some of the spookiest tales from the local area.

The 45-minute experience will include five actor-led shows and a scary boat ride, with the recommended age for guests advised as 10 years and over.

Work for the attraction began in September last year and was completed in just six months.

Twenty three actors have been recruited to work in the dungeon and have undergone 240 hours of training each.

The Stargazing Pods will open ahead of the Easter holidays, offering families the chance to spend more time outdoors and experience a unique overnight stay on the doorstep of the theme park.

Each of the 102 pods made from sustainably sourced timer is complete with a telescope – encouraging guests to look up and gaze at the magic of the night sky.

The pods will be open for 149 days during the season.

Each pod takes a day to build and weight one tonne each. More than 250 people have worked on the project, with the first pods arriving on site in October last year.

The final pods were placed at the attraction in February this year ahead of the opening.

For more information and to buy tickets, click here.