Three. Two. One. Go. Few coasters anywhere compress as much violence into as little time as Stealth. Thorpe Park’s Intamin Accelerator hurls riders from a standstill to 80 mph in roughly 1.8 seconds, rockets 205 feet over a top hat, and has the train back in the station well under a minute after it left.
Opened in 2006, Stealth remains the fastest-accelerating roller coaster on the planet — a title it has held since 2021 — even though a newer Thorpe Park neighbor has since taken the UK’s outright top-speed crown. Here’s everything riders actually need to know: the exact stats, who can and can’t ride, and how it stacks up against the record-breakers around it.
Quick Answer
Stealth launches from 0 to 80 mph (129 km/h) in about 1.8 seconds — the fastest acceleration of any roller coaster in the world — then climbs 205 feet (62.5 m) over a top hat before the 400-meter circuit ends in well under a minute. Minimum height to ride is 140 cm (4’7″); maximum is 196 cm (6’5″). Hyperia took the UK’s overall top-speed record in 2024, but Stealth’s launch is still the hardest-hitting in the country.
Key Stats
Height: 205 ft (62.5 m) — Top speed: 80 mph (129 km/h) — Launch: 0-80 mph in about 1.8 seconds (hydraulic) — Length: 1,312 ft (400 m) — Inversions: 0 — Max g-force: approx. 4.7g — Manufacturer/model: Intamin Accelerator Coaster — Capacity: around 1,000 riders per hour across 3 trains of 20 — Cost: £12 million — Opened: 15 March 2006 — Park: Thorpe Park, Chertsey, Surrey, UK.
The Launch Is the Ride
Stealth uses Intamin’s hydraulic catapult system — the same technology behind Kingda Ka and Top Thrill Dragster — in which a winch driven by hydraulic motors yanks the train down the launch track like a jet off an aircraft carrier. The acceleration is so sharp it pins riders’ heads back before the brain has processed the countdown.
That punch is why Stealth has been the world’s fastest-accelerating roller coaster since 2021, when Japan’s Do-Dodonpa was taken out of action after reports of rider injuries (it was permanently closed in 2024). Two decades on, nothing else — anywhere — gets riders to 80 mph quicker, and the launch remains the single most intense few seconds on any UK ride.
The Layout: Short, Sharp, Perfect
The circuit itself is minimalist: launch, a 90-degree climb up the 205-foot top hat, a twisting vertical descent, and one airtime bunny hop before the brakes. At just 400 meters, it’s one of the shortest major coasters anywhere — but that’s the point.
Like a drag race, Stealth is engineered around a single overwhelming moment, and the brevity makes re-rides irresistible. There’s no theming trickery or multi-minute circuit to pad it out; the whole experience is the launch and its aftermath.
Height, Weight & Health Restrictions
Riders must be between 140 cm and 196 cm (4’7″-6’5″) tall, with a maximum torso/chest restriction of 51 inches. Thorpe Park’s official restraint guidance also requires at least three full limbs (any limb difference or amputation must be below the elbow or knee), full upper-body strength, and head/neck control sufficient to withstand the launch forces.
Because of the strong magnetic fields used in the hydraulic launch system, Stealth is not suitable for anyone with a pacemaker or similar implanted medical device. Prosthetic limbs must be removed or securely fastened before boarding, and footwear must be worn at all times. These rules are enforced strictly given the ride’s roughly 4.7g launch forces, so check them before queuing if any apply to your group.
Records and Context: Stealth vs Hyperia
When it opened in 2006 at a cost of £12 million, Stealth became the fastest and tallest launch coaster in Europe, and held the UK’s outright speed record for 18 years. In 2024, Thorpe Park’s own Hyperia — a Mack Rides mega coaster standing 236 feet tall with speeds just over 80 mph — took both the UK’s tallest and fastest-coaster titles.
Stealth is now the UK’s third-tallest coaster, behind Hyperia and Blackpool Pleasure Beach’s The Big One, but it still owns the harder, sharper launch: Hyperia builds its speed over a drop, while Stealth delivers all of its speed in under two seconds from a standing start. For raw acceleration, nothing in the UK — or the world — currently beats it.
Single Rider Queue and Fast Track
Stealth’s station layout gives it the infrastructure to run a single rider queue without disrupting the main line or Fastrack access, and Thorpe Park has trialed the lane specifically on Stealth as a way to fill empty seats and cut waits for solo riders. If you’re happy to be split from your group, ask a team member at the entrance whether the single rider queue is running that day.
Stealth is also one of the park’s Fastrack-eligible attractions, meaning a Fastrack pass lets you skip the standard queue entirely. Because it’s one of the park’s most popular rides alongside Hyperia and Colossus, expect standard queue times to build quickly after opening, especially during school holidays.
Planning Your Visit
Thorpe Park typically runs a seasonal schedule, open from around late March through early November with shorter hours in the shoulder season and occasional weekend-only openings outside peak summer. Ticket pricing works on a dynamic, date-based system — tickets bought online in advance are consistently cheaper than paying on the gate, and prices rise on weekends, school holidays, and busier dates.
For the current calendar, opening hours, and ticket prices, check the official Thorpe Park website before you travel, since both change throughout the year. Ride-specific details, including any temporary closures for Stealth, are listed on Thorpe Park’s official Stealth ride page.
Photos
Keeps your phone strapped to you, not in a loose-article bin. Zip it before the lift hill and walk straight off the exit ramp.
Rapids, log flumes and splash zones without the rice-bag aftermath. The touchscreen still works through the window, so you can still take photos.
Cheaper than the $15 poncho at the gift shop and you get a whole bag. Toss one in every backpack for water rides and pop-up storms.
Stealth roller coaster at Thorpe Park FAQs
How fast does Stealth accelerate?
Stealth launches from 0 to 80 mph (129 km/h) in about 1.8 seconds using a hydraulic launch system — the fastest acceleration of any roller coaster in the world.
Is Stealth still the fastest coaster in the UK?
Not for outright speed — Hyperia, which opened at Thorpe Park in 2024, now holds the UK’s top-speed record at just over 80 mph. Stealth remains the UK’s fastest-accelerating coaster, reaching 80 mph far quicker than Hyperia reaches its top speed.
How tall do you have to be to ride Stealth?
You must be at least 140 cm (4’7″) tall, with a maximum height of 196 cm (6’5″) and a maximum torso/chest size of 51 inches.
How many g-forces does Stealth pull?
Stealth’s launch generates approximately 4.7g, concentrated in the roughly 1.8-second burst from 0 to 80 mph.
Can you ride Stealth with a pacemaker or prosthetic limb?
No to pacemakers — Thorpe Park prohibits riders with pacemakers due to the strong magnetic fields in the hydraulic launch system. Riders need at least three full limbs (amputations must be below the elbow or knee), and any prosthetic must be removed or securely fastened before boarding.
Is there a single rider queue for Stealth?
Thorpe Park has trialed a single rider queue on Stealth, which can significantly cut wait times for solo riders willing to fill empty seats. Availability can vary by day, so ask staff at the entrance.
How long does Stealth last?
The full circuit is only 1,312 feet (400 meters) long — the ride is over in well under a minute, with the 0-80 mph launch and 205-foot top hat as its centerpiece.
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