Oblivion

Oblivion is an iconic steel dive roller coaster located at Alton Towers Resort within the beautiful Staffordshire countryside. Opening as a pioneering £12m thrill ride, it holds a legendary place in theme park history as the world’s first-ever vertical drop roller coaster.

Oblivion at Alton Towers: Plunging into X-Sector

Oblivion completely redefined the theme park industry when it opened to the public on 14th March 1998. The roller coaster features a deceptively simple yet terrifying layout centered around a massive vertical drop. As each car reaches the edge of the precipice, it is caught by a heavy holding chain and paused for up to five seconds. This brief hold gives riders a clear, unhindered view of the abyss below before the brakes release, letting the car plunge down into a dark, mist-filled underground hole.

To ensure everyone gets an equally terrifying view, each custom car features two rows of eight seats, with the back row slightly stepped above the front row to maximize visibility. Before you head to the park to brave the drop, make sure to read our dedicated Alton Towers Offers Page to snap up active ticket discounts, short break deals, and family entry vouchers.

How Tall is Oblivion at Alton Towers? (Height Rules & Stats)

For theme park fans looking for the exact Oblivion alton towers height, the physical lift hill structure stands at a modest 66ft (20m) tall above ground level. However, because the track drops straight down into a massive underground tunnel, the total vertical drop of the ride measures a staggering 180ft (55m) from the peak to the lowest point of the pit!

How Fast is Oblivion?

Due to the extreme acceleration generated by gravity during the steep 87-degree drop, Oblivion reaches a breathtaking top speed of 68mph (110km/h). This immense velocity makes it one of the fastest roller coasters in the country, pulling a crushing 4.5 Gs as the train levels out inside the underground tunnel.

Oblivion Statistics

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• Current Wait Time: Loading…
• Top Speed: 110km/h (68mph)
• Original Cost: £12m
• Estimated Cost Today: £22.5m
• Track Length: 1220ft (373m)
• Height: 66ft (20m) – 180ft Total Drop
• Manufacturer: Bolliger & Mabillard (B&M)
• Type: Steel Dive Coaster
• Lift/Launch: Chain Lift Hill
• Inversions: 0
• G-Force: 4.5 G
• Trains: 7
• Passengers per Train: 16
• Ride Duration: 1m 15s
• Year Opened: 1998

If you have not played the game before, view our Roller Coaster Top Trumps instructions.

The Storyline & Planetarium History

Oblivion anchors the sinister, industrial-themed X-Sector zone of the park. The overarching storyline immerses riders in a high-tech, psychological experiment based around facing the ultimate unknown. The queue line winds past flashing warning sirens and overhead video monitors delivering monochromatic, unsettling instructions about surrendering yourself to the pit.

While moving through the queue, look out for the distinctive circular building housing a large mechanical object lit by flashing strobe lights. This historic artifact is actually the original star projector harvested from the park’s old Planetarium, which operated inside the Towers conservatory from 1973 until 1987. The show projected mapping coordinates across the conservatory walls, taking guests on a virtual journey through the universe narrated by the legendary astronomer Sir Patrick Moore.

Alton Towers Secret Weapons Timeline

Due to strict local planning rules that prevent rides from rising above the Staffordshire tree canopy, Alton Towers dug deep into the bedrock to accommodate the massive drop. Like many of its record-breaking stablemates, Oblivion was developed under total secrecy using an internal project code name – carrying the title Secret Weapon 4 (SW4). See how it anchors the historical timeline:

• Secret Weapon 1 & 2: 1991/1992 – Arrow Pipeline Coaster (Project Cancelled)
• Secret Weapon 3: 1994 – Nemesis (Europe’s First Inverted Coaster)
• Secret Weapon 4: 1998 – Oblivion (World’s First Vertical Drop Dive Coaster)
• Secret Weapon 5: 2002 – Galactica (World’s First B&M Flying Coaster)
• Secret Weapon 6: 2010 – Th13teen (World’s First Vertical Freefall Drop Coaster)
• Secret Weapon 7: 2013 – The Smiler (World Record 14-Inversion Coaster)
• Secret Weapon 8: 2018 – Wicker Man (GCI Wooden Coaster)

The Full Alton Towers Coaster Collection

Oblivion is just one piece of a world-class selection of thrill rides waiting for you at the resort. Browse our comprehensive visitor guides for the other signature layouts:

• Wicker Man: A groundbreaking wooden layout blending traditional timber tracking with real fire effects.
• Galactica: The ultimate B&M flying machine that completely mimics the sensation of space flight.
• Nemesis Reborn: The iconic B&M inverted coaster, completely retracked and enhanced for 2024.
• Rita: A high-intensity launch machine firing riders from 0 to 61.1mph in just 2.5 seconds.
• The Smiler: A record-breaking marvel holding the undisputed world title with 14 full inversions.
• Th13teen: A multi-element psycho-coaster featuring an unexpected vertical drop track sequence in the dark.

Planning your journey? Explore our master Alton Towers Resort Directory, read our breakdowns on Alton Towers Secrets, or optimize your day out using our comprehensive Alton Towers Insider Tips.

UK National Record-Breaking Statistics

See where the park ranks nationally on our interactive leaderboards by exploring the Tallest Roller Coasters in the UK, the Longest Roller Coasters in the UK, the Fastest Roller Coasters in the UK, and our definitive guide to UK Roller Coasters with the Most Inversions.

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