Alton Towers Resort is arguably the most famous theme park in England. The park owes its fame to its 10 roller coasters, 6 of which are called SECRET WEAPONS (SW). These 6 coasters are Alton Towers' most profitable and therefore, its favorites. Secret Weapon coasters hold "world's first" or otherwise innovative features that are heavily marketed.

The name Secret Weapon comes from a pipeline roller coaster that was never opened, what is now called SW1. The prototype was deemed slow and boring, and couldn't be built due to the park's planning restrictions that limit rides to tree height. The revision of Secret Weapon, SW2, was also scrapped to develop SW3, Nemesis. After this, the codename stayed for any big project the park created.