The Smiler is a Gerstlauer Infinity Coaster at Alton Towers Resort in Staffordshire, England, and it is officially the roller coaster with the most inversions in the world: 14. It opened to the public on 31 May 2013, and it beat the previous record of 10 (held by Colossus at Thorpe Park) by a margin few people expected any single ride to attempt.
This guide covers the numbers people search for most: how many inversions The Smiler has, every element in order, the ride’s height, speed and length, the minimum height, how its record compares with Eejanaika in Japan, what happened in the 2015 accident, and how to plan a ride.
Quick Answer
The Smiler has 14 inversions, the Guinness World Record for the most track inversions on a roller coaster (the record cycle was on 7 May 2013, before the public opening). It is 98 ft (30 m) tall, reaches 53 mph (85 km/h) over 3,840 ft (1,170 m) of track, runs for about 2 minutes 45 seconds, and requires riders to be at least 140 cm (4 ft 7 in) tall.
The Smiler Stats at a Glance
Park: Alton Towers Resort, Staffordshire, England (X-Sector). Manufacturer: Gerstlauer Amusement Rides GmbH, the first Infinity Coaster ever built. Opened: 31 May 2013. Height: 98 ft (30 m). Top speed: 53 mph (85 km/h). Track length: 3,840 ft (1,170 m). Inversions: 14. Ride time: about 2 minutes 45 seconds. Maximum g-force: 4.6. Seating: 16 riders per train, four across. Minimum height: 140 cm (4 ft 7 in). Reported cost: about £18 million.
During construction the ride went by the codename Secret Weapon 7. Its opening slipped by roughly two months after a malfunction at a press preview event.
All 14 Inversions, Element by Element
The count is easier to follow if you break it into elements, because several of them contain two inversions each. In order, the course runs: an indoor heartline roll leaving the station (1), a corkscrew (2), two dive loops (3 and 4), a batwing-style element made of a reverse sidewinder and a sidewinder (5 and 6), two more corkscrews (7 and 8), a sea serpent roll (9 and 10), a cobra roll (11 and 12), and a closing double corkscrew (13 and 14) before the brakes.
Different sources group the early elements slightly differently, but every source lands on the same total of 14. Enthusiasts sometimes call the tangle where the cobra roll and batwing weave through one another the “Staffordshire Knot”.
What Is It Like to Ride?
The Smiler’s appeal is density rather than height. At 98 ft it is far from the tallest coaster at Alton Towers, but the inversions come almost back to back, so there is very little time to recover between them. Reviewers often describe it as relentless, with little of the pacing you get on a coaster that alternates airtime and slower sections, and some note the second half can feel rougher than the first.
The ride also passes through the Marmaliser, a central machine-like structure that trains travel through, with lights, vapour and effects. Even if you skip the ride, the knotted layout is worth watching from the queue or from the path around X-Sector.
Is The Smiler Really the World Record Holder? The Eejanaika Question
Guinness World Records lists The Smiler as the roller coaster with the most track inversions, at 14, and it has held that title since 2013. Before it, the record was 10, first set by Colossus at Thorpe Park in 2002.
There is one caveat worth knowing. Eejanaika at Fuji-Q Highland in Japan, a 4th Dimension coaster whose seats rotate freely, is also credited with 14 rotations. Because those rotations come from the seats rather than the track, it is counted differently, and Guinness names The Smiler as the record holder. You will see both claims online, which is why some pages say the two are tied. On pure track inversions, The Smiler stands alone.
Theming: The Ministry of Joy
The Smiler’s story casts riders as subjects of the Ministry of Joy, a fictional organisation that promises to engineer permanent happiness through “treatment”. The queue, signage and propaganda-style posters play on that dark, tongue-in-cheek idea, and it gives the ride an identity beyond the record.
Safety History: The 2015 Collision
On 2 June 2015, a train carrying passengers collided with an empty test train that was stationary on the circuit. Sixteen people were injured, five seriously, and two riders needed leg amputations. Investigators found that a ride engineer had manually overridden the safety system and that a ride operator then restarted a halted train.
The ride closed for around nine months and reopened on 19 March 2016 with track and train modifications and revised operating procedures. In September 2016, Merlin Entertainments, the park’s owner, was fined £5 million over the incident. The ride has operated in the seasons since, including 2026.
Planning Your Visit
Alton Towers runs as a seasonal theme park. In 2026 it opened in mid-March and runs daily through early November, with a typical 10 am opening and closing times that vary by date. Tickets are sold on the day and in advance. Advance and online prices are generally lower than gate prices, and they vary by date, so exact prices are best checked before you book. Fastrack and single-rider queues are also offered on The Smiler, which helps on busy days.
For current opening times, ticket prices and any ride closures, check the official Alton Towers site. Rides can close temporarily for weather or maintenance, so check the ride status on the day of your visit.
How The Smiler Compares With Other Alton Towers Coasters
Nemesis, Oblivion and Wicker Man are each known for a different kind of thrill: a low, twisting layout, a vertical drop, and a woodland wooden coaster respectively. The Smiler is the one to pick if you want maximum inversions and disorientation. If you dislike being upside down, this is the ride to skip.
The Smiler Alton Towers inversions FAQs
How many inversions does The Smiler have?
The Smiler has 14 inversions, more than any other roller coaster on track inversions, according to Guinness World Records.
Is The Smiler still the world record holder?
Yes. Guinness lists The Smiler as the record holder for most track inversions on a roller coaster. Eejanaika in Japan is also credited with 14 rotations, but they are seat rotations on a 4th Dimension coaster and are counted differently.
How tall and fast is The Smiler?
It is 98 ft (30 m) tall, reaches about 53 mph (85 km/h), and has 3,840 ft (1,170 m) of track. A ride takes about 2 minutes 45 seconds.
What is the height requirement for The Smiler?
The minimum height is 140 cm (4 ft 7 in). Restrictions can change, so confirm on the official Alton Towers website before you go.
Who built The Smiler and when did it open?
Gerstlauer built it, and it was the first Infinity Coaster. It opened to the public on 31 May 2013 at Alton Towers Resort in Staffordshire.
What was the previous inversion record?
The previous record was 10 inversions, held by Colossus at Thorpe Park.
What happened in the 2015 Smiler accident?
On 2 June 2015, a passenger train hit a stationary empty train after the safety system was manually overridden. Sixteen people were injured, five seriously, and two riders lost part of a leg. The ride reopened on 19 March 2016, and Merlin Entertainments was fined £5 million.
Is The Smiler open in 2026?
Alton Towers has listed The Smiler as operating during the 2026 season, which runs from mid-March to early November. Individual days can still see closures, so check the park’s site.
Is there a way to skip the queue for The Smiler?
The Smiler has a single-rider queue and Fastrack, both of which can save time on busy days. Availability and prices vary, so check with Alton Towers.
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