I am traveling with 4 children flying into Gatwick what would be the easiest way to get to Alton Towers without having to drag the kids arou?

First Alton Towers is in Staffordshire, while Gatwick is in West Sussex. Basically the distance is approx. 190 miles or 306km. Agree that Thorpe park is much closer. They are both owned by Merlin Entertainment. https://www.thorpepark.com/

Gatwick is the wrong side of London for that. You will need to go to Euston first.

Virgin Trains do not serve Gatwick, you need to go to Euston. The easiest way to do this is to catch a First Capital Connect service direct to Farringdon, and then a Metropolitan/Circle/Hammersmith and City service (which ever comes first) to Euston Square, from which it is about a 5 minute walk to Euston mainline stattion (or possibly 10 with 4 kids). You don't say at what time you are arriving at Gatwick, so it is impossible to say how long it will take to get to Alton Towers. You may not be able to do it in one day.

Not flying into Gatwick for a start. Manchester Airport would have been far better for Alton Towers. A similar theme park called Thorpe Park is far closer to Gatwick and easier to reach. From Gatwick take the train to Staines (change to platform 6 at Clapham Junction) - All trains very frequent. From outside Staines Station catch the 950 bus to Thorpe Park. The whole journey will take 75 minutes. For Alton Towers take a Southern train to London Victoria; then the Underground Victoria Line to Euston; then a Virgin Train to Stoke-On-Trent; then a taxi to Alton Towers from outside Stoke-On-Trent Station. Through tickets from Gatwick to Stoke on Trent including the Underground Section in North London are available The Whole whole journey will take around 3 hours 30 minutes including all changes www.virgintrains.co.uk www.nationalrail.co.uk www.railcard.co.uk www.thorpepark.com www.altontowers.com