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Aquariums Near You

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Updated on: February 21, 2025
Published on: July 2, 2021
Father and son looking at fish
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We’ve reeled you in and now it’s time to deliver, as we reveal the best aquariums in the UK for an amazing animal adventure. Dive underwater to experience tropical waters and discover wonderful creatures of the deep, from fascinating fish,  not-so-scary sharks, turtles, jellyfish and marine displays. Plus loads more too!

With thousands of aquatic creatures to discover, plus the chance to learn all about special conservation projects to help protect them, it’s o-fish-ally a great family day out, whatever the weather! Many of the biggest attractions also have seasonal events throughout the year .

So take a deep breath and get ready to take the plunge, with our guide to the UK’s best aquariums:

Aquariums near you in Sussex

Fish swimming in a tank

SEA LIFE Brighton, East Sussex

Take a visit to the world’s oldest operating aquarium (yes, really!), to discover over 1,500 beautiful creatures at SEA LIFE Brighton. Go on a rainforest adventure full of snapping jaws and leaping frogs, stop by the seahorse nursery, ‘sea stars’ in the new starfish display and keep your eyes peeled for Nemo and Dory as you uncover all the secrets of the reef. Home to everything from turtles and jellyfish, to octopus, rays and even sharks, loads of exciting talks and feeding demonstrations bring the underwater action to life for the whole family. Don’t miss the amazing Ocean Tunnel where you can view fascinating creatures through a floor to ceiling viewing window. SEA LIFE Brighton has transformed its ocean displays following recent exciting refurbishment plans.
Shape Location Get directions

Marine Parade
Brighton
East Sussex
BN2 1TB

Opening Times

9.30am-6pm

Pricing

Standard Ticket Adult £21.50
Child £17.95
Under 3s go free

Path You'll love this if… Discover more
...You like hands on experiences. At Sea Life Brighton you can explore rockpools and stroke a Starfish!
Discover more about Sea Life Brighton
aquarium

Hastings Aquarium

Discover the fantastic creatures that live off our own shores in the UK and also meet the inhabitants of more tropical waters with an exciting underwater ocean tunnel to explore. See the dangerous sea creatures of the South Pacific such as the impressive Blacktip Reef Shark. Don’t miss the giant Pacific Octopus playing with toys and completing puzzles the Hastings Aquarium team have given her.  Daily talks and feeding sessions to watch plus a schedule of fun events will keep the whole family entertained.
Shape Location Get directions

Rock-a-Nore Road
Hastings
TN34 3DW

Opening Times

10am-6pm

Pricing

Standard adult ticket (13+ years) £12.75
Child(3-12 years) £9.75
Under 3 free
Family ( 2 adults 2 children) £43.00

Path You'll love this if… Discover more
...You want to see baby fish. Hastings Aquarium successfully breeds a number of different species including Seahorses, pipefish and rays. See these tiny, colourful creatures in their specially designed nursery tanks.
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Aquariums near you in Dorset

Nemo Fish

Weymouth SEA LIFE Adventure Park, Dorset

Explore 7 acres of underwater adventures, as you dive into a day out at Weymouth SEA LIFE Adventure Park! With both indoor and outdoor zones there’s much more to this day out than meets the eye, from the Sensory Garden to the Caribbean Cove adventure playground, all available alongside the chance to see a host of sea life creatures. Otters, turtles, rays, sharks and seals are just some of the animals you’ll see on your day out, alongside two penguin species! It’s well worth a trip here, so grab your SEA LIFE Weymouth Tickets now!
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Lodmoor Country Park
Weymouth
DT4 7SX

Opening Times

9.30am-5pm

Pricing

Standard ticket: £21.55

Path You'll love this if… Discover more
...You like penguins. Penguin Beach is home to a cheeky colony of Humboldt penguins. On Fairy Penguin Island you'll find the world's smallest penguin breed! Arriving all the way from Australia, these super cute creatures are the only ones of their kind in Europe.
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kids at aquarium looking at sharks

Oceanarium, Bournemouth

Have you met Ziggy the green iguana? What about Bob the pig-nose turtle? Introduce yourself to the entire gang at the Oceanarium as well as 150 different species of fish. To guide you on your way, there’s an adventure quiz trail for families which will lead you from the creeps at crocodile rock to the suited and booted chaps at Penguin Cove, via the River Ganges. Where you end up is up to you, just be sure to stop off at the Kids’ Play Zone which has been specially designed with under 10s in mind. That means wobbly walkways and a ‘spring rocker’ penguin.
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Oceanarium Pier Approach
Bournemouth
BH2 5AA

Opening Times

10am-5pm

Pricing

Adult: £15
Child: £10

Path You'll love this if… Discover more
...You like sharks. The virtual underwater sharks experience has enormous plasma screens and audio-visual effects which really make you feel like you're swimming in the deep!
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Aquariums near you in Wales

family and son at an aquarium

Anglesey Sea Zoo

Take a deep dive to the bottom of the Irish Sea at Anglesey Sea Zoo, where conger eels, catsharks and other curious creatures roam. The most memorable character here, however, is one you might not expect: the humble lobster takes centre stage with a specially designed lobster hatchery. It’s been built to help the UK’s dwindling population survive and ultimately thrive and is a great way to get kids interested in environmentalism. Even the smallest person can make a difference.
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Brynsiencyn
Llanfairpwll
LL61 6TQ

Opening Times

10am-4.45pm

Pricing

Adults £9.50
Child (3-15 yrs) £8.50
Under 3 Free

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...You are interested in conservation. The lobster hatchery shows how the sea zoo is helping UK’s dwindling population of lobsters thrive.
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Father and son looking at fish

Folly Farm Adventure Park and Zoo

An excellent attraction for children located in Kilgetty, Pembrokeshire. Folly Farm has an indoor tropical adventure and aquarium to experience as part of the zoo. Tropical Trails is home to crocodiles, snakes and many species of fish. Be amazed as you watch the colourful fish swimming in the impressive, bubbling fish tanks. You can also enjoy fun themed events throughout the year at Folly Farm including for Halloween and Christmas.
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Begelly
Kilgetty
SA68 OXA

Opening Times

10am-5pm

Pricing

Adult £21.95
Child £19.95

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...You like adventure playgrounds. Folly Farm has a variety of both indoor and outdoor themed play areas to enjoy.
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Aquariums near you in Lincolnshire and The Midlands

SEA LIFE birmingham sea tunnel

National SEA LIFE Centre Birmingham

Birmingham may be one of the furthest UK cities from the sea, but the National SEA LIFE Centre Birmingham sure makes up for it. With 60 displays of freshwater and marine life featuring over 2,000 creatures, 15 themed zones help you get up close to everything from jellyfish to sea dragons! Step into an Antarctic adventure, as you meet a colony of Gentoo penguins in Penguin Ice Adventure, reach into the rockpool, become a jelly explorer and walk through the incredible 360° Ocean Tunnel whilst sharks and other creatures swim above your head. With loads of chances to find out about the Breed, Rescue, Protect programme too, it’s a great way for families to learn more about our ocean life.
Shape Location Get directions

Eleven Brindley Place
The Water's Edge
Birmingham
B1 2HL

Opening Times

9.30am-5pm

Pricing

Standard ticket £20.65

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...You like seasonal events. Calendar of events planned throughout the year at Sea Life Birmingham
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SEA LIFE hero banner

Natureland Seal Sanctuary, Skegness

While we know this is not technically an aquarium, it deserves a spot on the list of the best aquariums because of the adorable seals, and even penguins! At Natureland you can meet plenty of aquatic animals, including plenty of different types of fish in the aquarium, cheeky penguins, and of course, the cute rescued or orphaned seals.
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N. Parade
Skegness
PE25 1DB

Opening Times

10am-4.30pm

Pricing

Adult £9.75
Child £8.00

Path You'll love this if… Discover more
...You are an animal lover. There are more than just seals here! You can also see meerkats, alpacas and penguins. Plus there's a pets corner to get up close with cute guinea pigs and rabbits
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Aquariums near you in Yorkshire and Scotland

turtle swimming

Deep Sea World

Deep Sea World is Scotland’s national aquarium, so it’s only fitting that it makes the list of best aquariums in the UK. Found beneath the Forth Rail Bridge, this aquarium is home to over 2,000 creatures, taking you on a journey through the planet’s rivers, lakes and oceans. Don’t miss Seal Harbour or the Underwater Safari – the longest underwater tunnel in the UK gives you an incredible view of loads of exciting creatures, from sharks to rays!
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Battery Quarry
Forthside Terrace
North Queensferry
KY11 1JR

Opening Times

10am-5pm

Pricing

Adult £16.50
Child £11.75

Path You'll love this if… Discover more
...You want to see sharks. This aquarium is home to one of Europe's largest collections of them!
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kids interacting with penguins

The Deep

Home to the UK’s only pair of Green sawfish, 3,500 other finned friends and an incredibly diverse mix of deep-sea beasties, The Deep is one of the biggest and best aquariums in the UK. It’s also pretty high tech with a walkthrough viewing tunnel, interactive stations and the Lagoon of Light where you’ll travel past sharks and rays. Don’t miss the Endless Ocean Exhibit, where you can ride the famous glass lift through 10m of, seemingly, open ocean. The view is honestly spectacular.
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Tower Street
Hull
HU1 4PP

Opening Times

9am-6pm

Pricing

Adult £17.75
Child £14

Path You'll love this if… Discover more
...Your children would like to sleep in an aquarium. Yes you read it correctly kids can come for sleepover sessions where they actually get to snooze alongside sharks, rays and other species for a night. We hear it's amazing.
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Aquariums near you in the North West

clown fish SEA LIFE

Blue Planet Aquarium

Get up close and personal with all sorts of fantastic fish and marine life below the waves. The largest aquarium in the North West meet over 1,500 different types of fish and marine life. See the fascinating octopus and the exciting electric eels, plus you’ll get to meet some of the larger ocean animals, including majestic stingrays and caiman crocodiles! You can even meet all sorts of sharks, and if you’re feeling brave enough you can even go shark diving too. Blue Planet is a very accessible aquarium being recognised by The Rough Guide to Britain for the excellent facilities for wheelchair users and carers
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Longlooms Road
CH65 9LF

Opening Times

10am-5pm

Pricing

Adult £20.75
Child £14.75

Path You'll love this if… Discover more
...You like frogs. The Frog Zone exhibit is home to some of the world's most colourful and unusual amphibians
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Fish swimming in a tank

Lakes Aquarium

More than 30 spectacular, naturally themed habitats show the diversity of life in the Lakes. See Lakeland’s menacing pike, eels, perch, char and many more.

Watch playful otters as they forage around in their specially designed woodland home and discover mammals from all around the world such as cheeky marmosets, menacing caiman and piranha. Walk through the incredible underwater tunnel to enjoy a fish eye view of our recreated Windermere lake bed.

Uncover crabs, prawns, anemones and baby flatfish in the rock pools and meet inquisitive rays and British sharks in the Morecambe Bay displays.

With regular talks during the day and a special children’s quiz trail as well as an action packed schedule of events throughout the year, there’s always lots to see and do at the Lakes Aquarium!

Shape Location Get directions

Lakeside
Newby Bridge
Cumbria

Opening Times

10am-5.30pm

Pricing

Adults: £7.45
Kids (3-15): £5.45
Under 3's: Free

Path You'll love this if… Discover more
...You want to discover amazing sea creatures from all over the world. The Lakes has displays covering Asia, Africa and the Americas.
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Aquariums near you in the South West

Boy at Aquarium

Bristol Aquarium

Meet and greet 1,000s of aquatic creatures over 40 naturally themed displays at the Bristol Aquarium. Which is your kid’s favourite critter? They can take their pick between seahorses, puffer fish, piranhas – the list goes on! We suggest taking a trip to the Bay of Rays to see some of the swooping inhabitants or the underwater tunnel where sharks glide above your head. You could then take a casual vacation to the tropics down by the Coral Seas or battle your way through the Mighty Amazon where the wildest beasts are hidden in the water.
Shape Location Get directions

Anchor Road
Bristol
BS1 5TT

Opening Times

10am-6pm

Pricing

Adult £17.75
Child £11.35

Path You'll love this if… Discover more
...You would like to explore an underwater shipwreck. In the Sunken Shipwreck exhibit you can experience what it would be like to see a ship underwater and watch the many marine species that have made it their home.
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Californian sea lion

Blue Reef Aquarium

Go on an underwater adventure that takes you on a journey from local waters to the more exotic in over 40 different displays. The largest animal swimming in these waters is the black tip reef shark, which can grow to almost 2 metres in length. See them, along with loggerhead turtles and colourful fish, swim above your head as you walk through the ocean tunnel.

With three hearts, blue blood and a brain shaped like a donut the giant pacific octopus wins the prize for the most unique animal on display, whereas you’ll be dazzled by the pulsating coral and the reef fish that dart, like lightening, around it. There’s a lot more to see on the native sandy seabed than you might think. Watch sharks, ray fish and dogfish swim around each other. Finally keep your fingers and toes away from the claws of the crabs, lobsters and shrimps!

Shape Location Get directions

Towan Promenade
Newquay
TR7 1DU

Opening Times

10am-6pm

Pricing

Adult £12.75
Child: £9.75

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...You want to dip your toes in the water. No need to stay dry if you don't want to on a visit to Newquay Aquarium it's located right next to the beach!
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So as you can see there’s plenty of fishy family fun to be had at your local aquarium! Get ready to be amazed experiencing life under the waves and at the many fascinating creatures you will meet.

There’s even more jaw-some aquariums for you to visit, why not take a trip to SEA LIFE Great Yarmouth? Or why not grab your tickets to SEA LIFE Loch Lomond and SEA LIFE Manchester? For more day out ideas check out our blog National Trust Houses and Gardens Near Me! Or maybe you would like to try a new water sport? Have a look at Paddleboarding Near Me. 

Fancy a thrilling time riding a rollercoaster? We’ve got all you need to know with our article Best Theme Parks Near You 

For the latest on new attractions and places to visit around the UK, don’t miss our Social Round Up Blog !