The Smiler is a steel Infinity Coaster built by Gerstlauer at Alton Towers Resort in Staffordshire, England, and it opened on 31 May 2013. From its debut, the ride claimed the world record for the most inversions on any roller coaster — a total of 14 — beating every rival by a wide margin and cementing Alton Towers’ reputation as home to some of Europe’s most extreme thrill rides.
Themed around a fictional mind-control programme called the Ministry of Joy, The Smiler squeezes its record haul of inversions — corkscrews, cobra rolls, heartline rolls, and more — into a surprisingly compact footprint in the park’s X Sector. Riders reach a top speed of around 53 mph across 3,840 feet of track before the 2 minute 45 second ride deposits them back, dizzy and grinning, at the station.
Stats at a Glance
- Park: Alton Towers Resort, Staffordshire, England
- Manufacturer: Gerstlauer Amusement Rides GmbH
- Model: Infinity Coaster (Custom)
- Opened: 31 May 2013
- Height: 98 ft (30 m)
- Top Speed: 53 mph (85 km/h)
- Length: 3,840 ft (1,170 m)
- Inversions: 14 (world record)
- Duration: 2 min 45 sec
The Ride Experience
Boarding one of The Smiler’s trains, riders are plunged immediately into a relentless sequence of inversions with barely a moment to catch their breath. The layout features corkscrews, a cobra roll, a sea-serpent roll, and several heartline rolls, generating G-forces of up to 4.6. The compact layout means that elements weave over and under each other, giving the impression of an impossibly tangled knot of steel track — a spectacle almost as thrilling to watch as it is to ride.
Unlike many tall-and-fast coasters that rely on height for their headline statistic, The Smiler’s trump card is pure disorientation. At just 98 feet tall it is far from the loftiest ride at Alton Towers, but the sheer density of inversions — averaging one roughly every 270 feet of track — delivers an intensity that taller, faster machines rarely match.
Safety History and Improvements
On 2 June 2015, a serious collision occurred when a passenger-occupied train travelling at speed struck a stationary empty train, resulting in severe injuries to several riders. The incident was attributed to a manual override of the automated safety block system. The Smiler was closed for approximately nine months while Merlin Entertainments, the park’s owner, worked with regulators to overhaul its operating procedures and safety controls. Merlin pleaded guilty to health and safety breaches and was fined £5 million in September 2016.
The ride reopened on 19 March 2016 with enhanced safety systems and additional staff protocols. Since its return it has operated as one of Alton Towers’ flagship attractions, and its world record of 14 inversions remains unbroken as of 2026.
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The Smiler FAQs
How many inversions does The Smiler have?
The Smiler has 14 inversions, which is a verified world record for the most inversions on any roller coaster.
Who manufactured The Smiler?
The Smiler was built by Gerstlauer Amusement Rides GmbH, a German manufacturer, as a custom Infinity Coaster model. It opened at Alton Towers on 31 May 2013.
How fast does The Smiler go?
The Smiler reaches a top speed of approximately 53 mph (85 km/h) along its 3,840-foot (1,170 m) track.
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Photo by Paweł L. on Pexels.