Inside: SEA LIFE Centre London Aquarium Review. Press trip.
We are big SEA LIFE fans and have been to quite a few centres around the country, visiting the Great Yarmouth SEA LIFE just last year, which was amazing. But, you just can’t beat the London Aquarium though which takes the SEA LIFE experience just that little bit further.
The London Aquarium sit along South Bank in London and is fun for all the family. You can see a huge variety of animals from Clown Fish, to Sharks, to the most incredible jelly fish! By far one of the best things to do as a family visiting London.
There is always so much to see, it is hard to pack it all into a review but I will try!
Visiting the London Aquarium
The aquarium is part of the SEA LIFE family which has 53 attractions around the world, with 12 being in the UK. They do a lot of conservation work and use their attractions to educate people about the different sea creatures around the world.
The entrance is situated alongside the London Eye, Shrek’s adventure, the London Dungeon and other attractions on the south bank of the River Thames, although the actual aquarium itself is underground inside the County Hall building.
With the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben just over the other side of the river, it is a great place to spend the day getting to know London.
Things to note:
The nearest tube station is Westminster and it is then just a short walk over Westminster bridge to get to the entrance.
As of July 2022 you must pre-book if you’d like to visit and this guarantees you a time slot. It is quieter early in the morning if you plan to go in peak time.
What animals are at SEAL LIFE London?
There are lots of animals that are common to most SEA LIFE centres and you definitely get a sense of familiarity if you have visited other centres before. Of course there are always differences though so I will share a few photos to give you an idea of the sort of thing to expect.
As you enter the aquarium you cross over a glass walkway with sharks swimming beneath you – such a great way to start your visit so that you really feel like you’re stepping into an underwater adventure.
There is a one-way system in place which takes you through themed zones, grouping the animals according to their natural habitat.
The Atlantic Coast zone is first with an octopus and other funny looking creatures. You then go into the Ray Lagoon where you can watch them up close in an open top tank.
One of the iconic elements of a SEAL LIFE centre is the Ocean Tunnel. The one in the London Aquarium is quite short compared to others around the country but nevertheless you get to see turtles and sharks swimming all around you and be part of their underwater world.
This ray was having a little rest on the tunnel – I love their little faces!
Into the Open Oceans you’ll see a huge tank filled with lots of tropical fish and rays swimming all around, followed by the Shipwreck zone where you’ll find shark infested waters!
The Coral Kingdom is such a colourful place, with tropical fish of all different shapes and colours!
Of course our favourites are the Clown Fish from Finding Nemo.
The seahorses and seadragons are the most mysterious and magical creatures in the ocean in my opinion – just incredible little animals.
One of the things the children liked were the little peephole windows they could go inside in certain zones – allowing them to get even closer to the creatures.
One of the newest sections in the aquarium is the Rainforest Adventure zone, which takes you out of the ocean and into the Amazon to look at the different animals you find there.
The piranhas were menacing but beautiful! You can also catch a glimpse of a crocodile, snapping turtles, a tarantula and lots more!
The peephole window here let the children get up close with an ant colony on its way to find food – I could watch them for hours as they journey along their trail!
As with other centres, there are touch pools which are home to creatures found in a rock pool habitat, although this one was a little disappointing compared to others we’ve seen. A member of staff will talk you through what you can discover in each tank and if you’re feeling brave you can put your hand in and give everything a stroke.
One of my favourite moments of the visit was when we went past the top of the Open Oceans zone and found the turtles swimming there. As William watched in awe, one swam right past him – he couldn’t believe it! So magical!
Something you won’t find in all centres is the Polar Adventure zone where you’ll find their Gentoo penguins at Penguin Point. This is often a controversial exhibit as people believe that they should be able to see daylight but being in the middle of London, with fluctuating temperatures, means that isn’t possible.
Of course, in an ideal world they would be returned back to the Antarctic but as an endangered species, they are safe here and part of a conservation program that will ensure their species is preserved for years to come.
With regards penguin enclosure itself, their light and temperature conditions mimic those in their natural habitat to encourage seasonal behaviour patterns. The centre has a successful breeding program – a strong indicator that their penguins feel safe and cared for.
With the exhibit only having penguins, they have created a virtual reality section that allows you to get up close with polar bears and a killer whale – it totally blew their minds!
The Shark Reef Encounter was Grace’s favourite as she came face to face with a shark! What a shot!
My favourite is always the jellyfish – they are just the most mesmerising creatures – don’t you think?
And of course, at the end of the aquarium is the gift shop where you can find lots of mementoes to mark the trip, from cuddly toys to fridge magnets – something for everyone.
How long does it take to go round the London Aquarium?
The website says it takes between 1 and 1.5 hours and I would say that’s accurate. We went during a quiet period (10am on a Sunday) and were able to take our time wandering around and it took us exactly 1.5 hours from start to finish (plus a bit extra while the kids browsed the gift shop).
How much are London Aquarium tickets?
Standard tickets (correct as of July 2022) start at £28 for adults and £25 for children (no option for a family ticket).
You can also buy multi-attraction tickets if you want to combine your visit with other attractions along South Bank. We went along to Shrek’s Adventure the day we went and had a great time.
There are also lots of offers to take advantage of throughout the year, with National Rail often giving you 2 for 1 entry and Kelloggs offering a free adult ticket with promotional packs.
If you have Merlin annual passes then SEA LIFE is included within that, as it is part of the Merlin family.
Extra costs (optional)
Your SEA LIFE London Aquarium tickets will get you entry into the aquarium but there are a few optional extras that you can pay for if you want to.
One of the extras is a section with several virtual reality pods. The headsets are fine for older children or adults and take you on an underwater adventure. Lily was the only one who wanted to do it but she loved it!
The experience £8 per person or £12 for two, on the day or you can book ahead and save money in a bundle.
There is also a tattoo and face painting parlour which will cost between £5-£15 depending what you have done.
There is a hurricane machine which costs £2.
And of course, the gift shop is an optional cost if there’s anything that catches your eye.
Final thoughts
We have been to the London Aquarium before, years ago, and it was just as brilliant a second time round. The whole experience is so wondrous and magical, being able to see enormous sharks and teeny tiny starfish. We really did have a great day!
South Bank is a great part of London and offers so much – perfect for the school holidays.
Find out more at visitsealife.com
Disclosure: We were given press tickets to the experience in return for coverage on my Instagram account. This review was not part of the agreement. All words and thoughts are my own, as always.