Colossus

The world's first roller coaster with 10 inversions, opened in 2002.

Is Colossus open today?

Colossus is currently closed as of 00:01 UK time. This is normal outside opening hours, and also happens for weather or short technical stops during the day. Check the live status above through the day — it updates every couple of minutes.

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How many loops does Colossus have?

Colossus has 10 inversions and was the world's first ten-looping roller coaster when it opened in 2002. Its 850m track runs through corkscrews, a cobra roll and a quadruple heartline roll. The minimum height to ride is 1.4m. Check live Colossus queue times, updated every 2 minutes.

About Colossus

When Colossus opened at Thorpe Park in 2002, it became the first roller coaster anywhere in the world to feature 10 inversions in a single ride. Designed and built by Intamin, the ride packs a vertical loop, two corkscrews, a cobra roll, a heartline roll, two in-line twists, and more into its 850-metre track.

Over two decades later, Colossus remains one of the park's most popular rides. It is not the tallest, fastest, or smoothest coaster in the park - that is part of its character. The relentless sequence of inversions at sustained speed is unlike anything else at Thorpe Park, and its place in roller coaster history keeps it on every enthusiast's list.

What to Expect

Colossus delivers its 10 inversions in rapid succession with little time between each one to recover. The ride has a physical quality that newer coasters smooth away - you feel every element distinctly. Riders in the back of the train experience the most intense transitions; the front is somewhat smoother.

The inversions include a traditional vertical loop, two corkscrews (which spin you horizontally), a cobra roll (two inversions in quick succession over a single element), heartline rolls, and flat spins. If you have never experienced an inverted element before, this is an extreme introduction - ten of them consecutively.

Tips for Riding Colossus

• Ride in the morning. Colossus builds significant queues by mid-morning - it is consistently one of the three busiest rides in the park alongside Stealth and Hyperia.
• Middle rows are smoother. The front has the best view; the back is the most intense. Rows 3–5 are the best balance of smoothness and thrill.
• Brace lightly. Keep your head back against the headrest. Riders who tense up or lean forward during inversions experience more roughness.
• Not for inversion beginners. Ten consecutive inversions is a significant experience. If you have not ridden an inverting coaster before, consider starting with Nemesis Inferno or The Swarm first.
• Check the live queue. Use the live queue page to find the best window - Colossus queues fluctuate throughout the day.

When to Ride Colossus

Colossus rarely tops the park's queue table - Hyperia and Stealth absorb the crowds - but its line moves more slowly than the posted length suggests. Loading is leisurely: over-shoulder restraints, a single station, and a layout that means one train is often waiting on the brake run. A 30-minute Colossus queue can take as long as a 45-minute queue elsewhere, so treat the posted number with slight suspicion and check how it compares with the day's pattern on the queue calendar.

The sweet spots are mid-morning, while the crowds are still pinned to Hyperia and Stealth, and the last hour of the day. On quiet term-time days Colossus is frequently walk-on all afternoon - it is one of the rides that makes an off-peak visit feel absurdly good value.

Good to Know Before You Queue

Twenty-four years on, the world's first ten-inversion coaster is still a rite of passage, but it is a product of its era: the transitions are tighter and less glassy than a modern B&M, and taller riders should keep their head back against the restraint through the quad heartline rolls at the finale - that final sequence is where the rattle lives. The ride experience is noticeably smoother towards the front of the train.

The quadruple heartline roll - four consecutive twists taken just above the ground, with a fifth and final roll before the brakes - remains unique in the UK and is worth experiencing at least once, dizzy or not. If inversions are your thing but you want a smoother ride, Nemesis Inferno delivers four of them with none of the roughness. Riders who struggle with restraint pressure on their collarbones may find Colossus the least comfortable of the big five - slighter riders generally fare better.

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