Wicker Man is a spectacular wooden roller coaster located at Alton Towers Resort in the beautiful Staffordshire countryside. The £16m ride set multiple milestones upon its opening, notably becoming the first new wooden roller coaster built in the UK in over 20 years, following the legacy of Megafobia at Oakwood Theme Park in Wales. Most importantly, it was the first wooden coaster globally to seamlessly incorporate real fire effects.
Wicker Man at Alton Towers: Reconnecting with Primal Thrills
Wicker Man offers a unique experience designed to reconnect riders with the primal essence of wooden coaster thrills. Unlike many modern steel rides that rely on dizzying inversions, Wicker Man focuses on the raw, rattling speed and natural agility of classic timber construction. Before you visit, be sure to check our dedicated Alton Towers Offers Page to grab active ticket discounts, holiday packages, and family entry vouchers.
Buy Alton Towers Tickets
How Fast is Wicker Man? (Speed & G-Force Stats)
For visitors asking how fast does Wicker Man go, the coaster hits a top speed of 44mph (70km/h). While this speed might seem moderate compared to modern hydraulic launch coasters, the wooden track design delivers a frantic, high-intensity experience. Riders experience approximately 2.7 Gs during the ride’s tightest banking manoeuvres.
Wicker Man Statistics
Click the Compare Button below to stack these technical specs against up to 5 other rides using our comprehensive master log of UK Roller Coasters.
- Current Wait Time: Loading…
- Top Speed: 70km/h (44mph)
- Original Cost: £16m
- Estimated Cost Today: £17.5m
- Track Length: 2608ft (795m)
- Height: 65ft (20m)
- Manufacturer: Great Coasters International (GCI)
- Type: Wooden Roller Coaster
- Lift/Launch: Chain Lift
- Inversions: 0
- G-Force: 2.7 G
- Trains: 3
- Passengers per Train: 24
- Ride Duration: 3m 30s
- Year Opened: 2018
If you have not played the game before, view our Roller Coaster Top Trumps instructions.
The Rite of Passage Experience
As you enter the pre-show, you are informed that you have been “chosen” to take part in a celebratory rite of passage. The Beornen—a secretive community living in the woods surrounding Alton—gather annually to provide a sacrifice. That sacrifice, inevitably, is the riders! You board the Beornen’s train and splinter through a labyrinth of twisted track, hurtling three times through the chest of a six-storey-high flaming effigy that spectacularly ignites as you pass.
Development and “Secret Weapon 8”
Wicker Man was initially developed under the codename Secret Weapon 8 (SW8), continuing the park’s traditional naming scheme for major projects. While the park initially explored building an attraction in the Forbidden Valley alongside Nemesis and Galactica, the plans were moved in 2015 to the site previously occupied by The Flume.
Legendary designer John Wardley was brought in at a late stage to refine the ride’s drop profiles. While describing the original drafts as lacking intensity, he expressed confidence in the final layout’s success. Construction began in November 2016, and the ride officially opened on 20 March 2018.
The Full Alton Towers Coaster Collection
Wicker Man is part of a world-class selection of thrill rides. Browse our visitor guides for the other major layouts:
- Galactica: The iconic B&M flying machine that mimics space flight.
- Nemesis Reborn: The legendary inverted coaster, fully retracked and enhanced for 2024.
- Oblivion: A massive vertical diving machine.
- Rita: An intense launch machine firing riders from 0 to 61.1mph.
- The Smiler: The record-holding infinity coaster with 14 full inversions.
- Th13teen: A multi-element coaster hiding a vertical freefall drop track.
Planning your journey? Explore our master Alton Towers Resort Directory, read our breakdowns on Alton Towers Secrets, or map your day out using our expert Alton Towers Insider Tips.
UK Record-Breaking Leaderboards
See where the park ranks nationally by reviewing our ultimate statistics matrices tracking the Tallest Roller Coasters in the UK, the Longest Roller Coasters in the UK, the Fastest Roller Coasters in the UK, and our countdown of UK Roller Coasters with the Most Inversions.
View More Discount Days Out at Attractions Near Me. Remember to join our community over on Facebook to stay ahead of flash ticket promotions and vacation voucher releases.
Theme Park
Disclaimer: Attractions Near Me makes every effort to ensure that all pricing, ticket perks, opening hours, and facilities listed on this directory are accurate at the time of publication. However, attraction details can change frequently. We strongly advise checking the official venue website to verify operating schedules, booking requirements, and current admission models prior to starting your journey.
