
I create rollercoasters at the UK's top theme park – I know the best place to sit on the popular rides
Well, one ride expert, who is called 'Britain's Rollercoaster King' has revealed where exactly you should sit on a ride to get the ultimate experience at
4
Anyone riding Nemesis should take a seat at the front for the most thrills
Credit: Alamy
4
John is the brains behind topspin rollercoaster, the Toxicator
Credit: Alton Towers
John Burton, aka Britain's Rollercoaster King, is the mastermind behind some of the biggest rides in Alton Towers.
As the Senior Creative Lead, John has made the likes of Nemesis Reborn, Toxicator and
John says that where you sit on a ride can dramatically affect the ride experience.
He explained: 'On coasters like Wicker Man, sit at the back for stronger airtime and a more intense pull over the hills.
Read More on Attractions
"For cinematic rides like Nemesis Reborn, go front row to get the full view and immersive story.'
Once you've chosen where to sit, John added that it's crucial to never shut your eyes.
He explained: 'By doing that you're missing half the experience - all the incredible theming, the storytelling, and the artistry that is built into every ride.
'People think it helps calm their nerves, but it actually makes the whole experience worse.
Most read in Family
"You lose all visual context, your brain can't process what's coming, which amplifies the fear.'
It's not just individual rides that John has handy tips on, he also has a way to beat queuing at the park.
I was the first to ride Alton Towers' newest ride Toxicator - it was a topsy-turvy spinning explosion
4
On Wicker Man, John said to sit at the back
Credit: Alamy
The classic mistake that John said everyone makes is heading straight to biggest rollercoasters with the most recognisable names at the front of the park.
Instead, go to the back of the theme park first and work your way forwards.
By doing this, John explained that you will "beat the queues and get more rides in.'
For particular rides like the Nemesis Reborn, there's a particular way to avoid lightheadedness.
It's a technique used by fighter pilots which is to tense your calves and core - these are said to reduce blackout sensations.
Another ride that John knows all about is the new attraction for 2025, the
The topspin ride has people seated back-to-back before being flipped around and held face down over a "pool of toxic alien acid".
And here's what
Vaz revealed described the ride as "an intense assault on the senses as you are whirled round and round before being dragged back and flung forwards again."
The ride is part of the theme park's Forbidden Valley and is next to Nemesis Reborn which was revamped last year.
Dramatic green-lit water fountains on both sides of the ride shoot up around the attraction to represent toxic terror.
And here's more about the
4
John Burton is the creative mind behind the Toxicator and Nemesis Reborn
Credit: Alton Towers
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


The Irish Sun
8 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
How Sylvia Young went from housewife charging 10p for drama lessons to theatre school boss who made Britain's top stars
FOR a housewife who started out charging ten pence for after-school drama lessons, Sylvia Young had an incredible ability to spot raw talent. The 85-year-old, who 15 Sylvia Young had an incredible ability to spot raw talent Credit: Alamy 15 Sylvia helped hone the skills of a who's who of the British entertainment industry Credit: Facebook/FrancesRuffelle 15 Amy Winehouse passed the audition to join Sylvia's theatre school in London Credit: Getty 15 A young Amy Winehouse pictured at the Sylvia Young Theatre School Credit: X Among those to have passed the audition to join her theatre school in London were singers Dua, who has won seven Brit awards and three Grammys, said that she did not know she could sing until a teacher at the Sylvia Young Theatre School told her how good she was. Actors who attended her classes include The school was also a conveyor belt for EastEnders stars, with Nick Berry, Letitia Dean, Adam Woodyatt and Dean Gaffney all passing through its doors. READ MORE ON DRAMA SCHOOLS Stage fright But there were problems along the way. In 1998 one of the drama masters was arrested for indecent assault, and the company struggled to survive the Covid shutdown. The pressures of fame also proved too much for some former pupils, including the late Winehouse and EastEnders' original Mark Fowler, David Scarboro, who was found at the bottom of cliffs as Beachy Head in East Sussex in 1988. Sylvia, though, was loved by her former pupils, many of whom paid tribute to the 'backstage matriarch'. Keeley Hawes wrote: 'I wouldn't have the career I have today without her help'. Most read in Celebrity And All Saints singer Nicole Appleton commented: 'This is going to really affect us all who were lucky enough to be part of her amazing world growing up. What a time, the best memories.' DJ Tony Blackburn added: 'She was a very lovely lady who I had the privilege of knowing for many years. She will be sadly missed.' Winehouse Shows Star Quality Actress Sadie Frost commented online: 'What a woman, what a family, what a legacy! Sending everyone so much love and support. She was always so lovely to me.' And TV and radio presenter Kate Thornton said she 'meant so much to so many'. Sylvia did not boast about the success of her students and the school's website does not mention its incredible roster of ex-pupils. But it is hard to imagine a single drama teacher ever having as much impact as her. Sylvia's two daughters, Alison and Frances Ruffelle, who are directors of the theatre school, said: 'Our mum was a true visionary. 'She gave young people from all walks of life the chance to pursue their performing arts skills to the highest standard. 'Her rare ability to recognise raw talent and encourage all her students contributed to the richness of today's theatre and music world, even winning herself an Olivier Award along the way.' 15 Pop star Rita Ora also attended Sylvia's school Credit: Getty 15 Rita Ora pictured as a student of the Sylvia Young Theatre School Credit: John Clark/22five Publishing 15 Denise Van Outen was a product of the prestigious school Credit: Getty 15 A young and smiling Denise at Sylvia's school Credit: YouTube Sylvia made it to the top of the British entertainment industry the hard way. She was the eldest of nine children born to Abraham Bakal, a tailor's presser, and housewife Sophie in London's East End. Born in 1939 just after the outbreak of World War Two she remembered the air raid sirens during the Blitz of the capital. She was evacuated to a village near At the local library she was gripped by reading plays and would meet up with friends to perform them. While still at school she joined a theatre group in North London, but her dreams of treading the boards in the West End were dashed by stage fright. She said: 'I used to lose my voice before every production. When I think about it, they were sort of panic attacks.' Instead, she married telephone engineer Norman Ruffell in 1961 and stayed at home to look after their two daughters. When Alison and Frances attended primary school, Sylvia started teaching drama to their fellow pupils. It cost just ten pence and the kids also got a cup of orange squash and a biscuit. Word spread and when her students got the nickname the Young-uns, Sylvia decided to adopt the surname Young for business purposes. The first Sylvia Young Theatre School was set up in 1981 in Drury Lane in the heart of London's theatre district. Two years later, it moved to a former church school in Marylebone in central London, where most of its famous pupils got their start. Even though it is fee-paying, everyone has to pass an audition — and only one in 25 applicants are successful. 15 Dua Lipa, who has won seven Brit awards and three Grammys Credit: Redferns 15 She did not know she could sing until a teacher at the Sylvia Young Theatre School told her how good she was Credit: Instagram 15 Emma Bunton joining the Spice Girls was thanks to Sylvia's school Credit: Getty 15 It was thanks to talent scouts and casting agents putting up requests on the notice board at the school Credit: Shutterstock Editorial It costs up to £7,000 per term for full-time students and only has places for 250 pupils aged ten to 16. There are bursaries and fee reductions for pupils from less well-off backgrounds, plus a Saturday school and part-time classes. Sylvia was always keen to avoid it being a school for rich kids. When she took an assembly she would ask pupils, 'What mustn't we be?', and they would shout back, 'Stage school brats'. Keeping kids level-headed when stardom beckoned was also important for the teacher. She said: 'I offer good training and like to keep the students as individual as possible. 'We develop a lot of confidence and communication skills. Of course they want immediate stardom, but they're not expecting it. You don't find notices up here about who's doing what. It is actually played down tremendously.' 'Baby Spice was lovely' A need for discipline even applied to Sylvia's daughter Frances, who she expelled from the school. Frances clearly got over it, going on to have a career in musical theatre and representing the United Kingdom in the 1994 Eurovision Song Contest, finishing tenth. Those genes were strong, with Frances' daughter, stage name Eliza Doolittle, having a Top Five hit with Pack Up in 2010. The ever-rebellious Amy Winehouse, who died in 2011 aged 27 from accidental alcohol poisoning, claimed to have been kicked out, too. She said: 'I was just being a brat and being disruptive and so on. I loved it there, I didn't have a problem, I just didn't want to conform. 'And they didn't like me wearing a nose piercing.' But Sylvia did not want Amy to leave. She said: 'She would upset the academic teachers, except the English teacher who thought she'd be a novelist. She seemed to be just loved. But she was naughty.' Other singers were clearly inspired by their time at the school, which moved to new premises in Westminster in 2010. 15 Billie Piper had her acting skills honed thanks to Sylvia Credit: Getty 15 Billie attended the Sylvia Young Theatre School Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd 15 Sylvia was loved by her former pupils, many of whom paid tribute to the 'backstage matriarch' Credit: Alamy She said, 'I was terrified', but that the vocal coach 'was the first person to tell me I could sing'. Talent scouts and casting agents would put up requests on the notice board at the school. One such posting led to Emma Bunton joining the Spice Girls. Of Baby Spice, Sylvia said: 'She got away with whatever she could. But she was a lovely, happy-go-lucky individual with a sweet singing voice.' Groups were also formed by Sylvia's ex-pupils. All Saints singer Melanie Blatt became best friends with But Melanie was not complimentary about the school, once saying: 'I just found the whole thing really up its own arse.' Casting agents did, however, hold the classes in very high regard. The professionalism instilled in the students meant that producers from major British TV shows such as EastEnders and Grange Hill kept coming back for more. Hundreds, if not thousands, of less well-known performers treading the boards of Britain's stages also have the school's ethos to thank for their success. Those achievements were recognised in the 2005 Honours List when Sylvia was awarded an OBE for services to the arts. Sir Cameron Mackintosh, who has produced shows including Les Miserables and Cats, said: 'The show that provided the greatest showcase for the young actors she discovered and nurtured is undoubtedly Oliver! which has featured hundreds of her students over the years. 'Sylvia was a pioneer who became a caring but formidable children's agent.'


The Irish Sun
10 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Beloved children's author who wrote over 150 books dies aged 87 – 30 years after first wife died of cancer
A BELOVED children's author who wrote over 150 books has died aged 87. Allan Ahlberg produced a host of bestselling nursery classics during a stellar career as an author. Advertisement 3 Allan Ahlberg has died aged 87 Credit: Alamy 3 The children's author left behind an incredible legacy Credit: CLPE 3 He worked with his late wife Janet on books together Some of his most famous work includes lasting favourites Peepo!,, Each Peach Pear Plum and The Jolly Postman. Allan came to writing in his late thirties, when his wife Janet grew tired of illustrating non-fiction and asked him to write a story for her to illustrate. Allan later recalled the moment was "as if she turned a key in my back and I was off". The Ahlbergs went on to produce 37 books together, and Allan also wrote more than 100 others. Advertisement Other notable works from Allan and his wife included The Baby's Catalogue and The Old Joke Book. Janet sadly died from breast cancer in 1994 but Allan kept up his craft. Following Janet's death, Allan worked with illustrators such as Raymond Briggs and Bruce Ingman. His career came full circle in a series of collaborations with his daughter Jessica including Half a Pig and a pop-up set of anarchic variations on the tale of Goldilocks. Advertisement Most read in The Sun Latest Latest Belinda Ioni Rasmussen, CEO of Walker Books Group, which published some of his books, said: "He was enormously playful in spirit and language and had the ability to make you smile in one sentence. "Allan inspired generations of children's writers, inspired all of us who worked with him, and inspired artists to make some of their very best work.'


The Irish Sun
13 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
We live on street made famous by Hollywood films & TV shows – but we're trapped in our homes due to thoughtless council
RESIDENTS who live on a famous street thanks to it featuring in Hollywood films and TV shows say they are trapped in their homes due to a thoughtless council. Portobello Road in West London is also well-known thanks to its markets which attracts visitors from far afield all year round. Advertisement 4 Portobello Road Market attracts people from all around the world Credit: Getty 4 The road and its markets featured heavily in the hit movie Notting Hill, starring Hugh Grant Credit: Alamy Locals in the area say though that they feel 'trapped in their homes' due to the It comes after the road underwent significant renovation which saw a A legal challenge is being launched by residents and traders over the anti-terrorism measures which prevent vehicles from gaining access during the day. The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea , which oversees the market, erected barriers and implemented traffic restrictions due to fears of vehicles being driven into pedestrians. Advertisement Read More UK News The vehicle ban is in operation between 10am and 4pm for either three or seven days a week, depending on the section, and this has given rise to concerns by residents that they won't be able to leave or that emergency services, deliveries or taxis won't be able to reach them. Patrick Somers, who lives in Portobello Mews, said residents only found out about the restrictions just a few days before they were implemented on July 1. Mr Somers is now leading a legal challenge by residents and local traders against the council's decision. He told Advertisement Most read in The Sun Latest Exclusive 'But you've got to balance it, because if you talk to the police or a risk consultant, they'll say, 'don't go out, lock yourselves in and you'll be fine'. "But most people can't live that way — and with that approach, the terrorists win as well.' Our famous London road will go through a big change... we're overrun by tourists and need help but we like it how it is Although the barriers are meant to open for emergency services, Mr Somers alleged that when a resident called for an ambulance for a young child who was having difficulty breathing, paramedics had to park beyond the barriers and carry their kit in. He added: 'It doesn't matter if you would like to get to the airport or get to the hospital appointment or you have an emergency or whatever. It's banned to all traffic. Advertisement 'No taxis can come between ten and four o'clock, between three and seven days a week. That has in effect trapped people in their homes.' The council has said it had consulted with emergency services to ensure their vehicles could get through. Antiques dealer Geoff Knowles told the paper the council had advised traders they could arrive before 10am and leave after 4pm, but he added that was not how many traders operated. He said that the majority of traders that operated on Westbourne Grove usually got there at around 5-6am on a Saturday and then normally left about 1-2pm, making the new restrictions 'a bit of a pain'. Advertisement He added that some traders needed to park near their stalls or had to go out to restock during the day. Mr Knowles said that a fruit and veg stall holder would maybe turn up with tons of potatoes and carrots and would need to park near his stall; they wouldn't be able to drag a sack of potatoes 300 yards every time he sold out of them. A Kensington and Chelsea council spokesperson said the measures had been implemented following advice from the Metropolitan Police's counterterrorism security adviser. They added the council had set up new blue badge bays and drop-off areas along the side streets and that blue badge holders in the closed sections could enter and leave. Advertisement The spokesperson said: 'Our top priority remains the safety and wellbeing of everyone in the community and we believe the current measures strike a reasonable balance between protecting the public and supporting the needs of individuals. 'The temporary Anti-Terrorism Traffic Regulation Order on Portobello Road was introduced to protect residents, traders and visitors from the potential threat of vehicle attacks during busy trading periods , following advice from counter-terrorism police. 'We continue to speak with residents and businesses, addressing concerns case by case to help inform proposals for a permanent scheme.' 4 The council erected barriers and implemented traffic restrictions due to fears of vehicles being driven into pedestrians Credit: AFP Advertisement 4 Hugh Grant's character in the film, William Thacker, owned a travel book shop on Portobello Road Credit: Alamy