You can see some wonderful aquatic animals, plants, and other mysterious things while visiting aquariums in the UK.

You cannot even imagine how exciting it will be to see some tropical fish, infrequent turtles, penguins, and sharks.

Additionally, many aquariums in the UK are allocating considerable amounts of money and time for the conservation of marine species, as well as helping them protect and restore the ecosystem.

1. 13 Famous Aquariums in UK

1.1. National Marine Aquarium in Plymouth 

The biggest aquarium in the UK is the best place to start your trip. The National Marine Aquarium in Plymouth was established in 1888, but it was then designed by the LHC firm in 1995 and opened in 1998. 

The country’s biggest single marine exhibit is the Atlantic Ocean display tank at the National Marine. It is home to over 4000 animals and other groundbreaking ocean conservation work.

A Great Barrier Reef exhibit in the aquarium also represents Australia’s most popular natural wonder.

National Marine also works as a conservation institution for UK seagrass restoration and arranges breeding programs for endangered species, including Aetobatus ocellatus and sand tiger sharks.

1.2. Sea Life in Brighton

Sea Life Brighton is the world’s oldest and was established in 1872. The most beautiful offerings of Brighton’s aquarium are a walk-through rainforest, deadly piranhas, red-bellied piranhas, an iguana named Eugene, and an optional glass-bottom boat riding opportunity.

The boat ride is separate from a normal ticket. To enjoy the boat ride, you have to buy a ticket separately. We suggest adding it to your trip, making your day more memorable.

In this ride, you can slide over the tanks to witness the rare turtles, big sharks, and much more. You will also learn some interesting facts about these species from your guide.

If you are lucky enough, a curious turtle may come to your boat to say hi, which will surely be something special.

1.3. National Sea Life Centre in Birmingham

Even though Birmingham is located far away from the sea, the National Sea Life Centre aquarium is considered one of the best in the UK. A trip there is a beautiful way to spend your holiday with friends and family.

Multiple kinds of colourful fish are present in the aquarium. You will also find a classic marine exhibit that includes a walkthrough underpass and a tropical reef exhibit.

This beautiful aquarium in the UK is a residential area for numerous gentoo penguins. You can watch these penguins shuffling on all sides of the ice, diving into the water.

You can go through the exhibit to watch the penguins dancing and playing, which will take you to the penguins’ pool.

Cute little penguin chicks are also there to entertain you with their unrealistic activities. 

The Marine Mammal Rescue Program at the National Sea Life Center Birmingham has become home to the first two Alaskan sea otters in the UK.

The National Sea Life Centre team also protects the freshwater environment, and they clean the canal regularly.

1.4. Weymouth Sea Life Aquarium Centre

Weymouth Sea Life Aquarium Centre is a great place to visit during your off day. The aquarium includes a beautiful Caribbean Cove adventurous playing field, a great place for your children.

Recently, they have also spent a large amount to modernize the enclosure housing penguins. 

Penguins were taken there from Australia in 2018 as their old house at the sanctuary needed to close due to some issues. Later, the penguins gave birth to six cute babies in 2020.

Therefore, the aquarium is expected to establish a permissible procreation population in European aquariums.

1.5. Bristol Aquarium

The Bristol Aquarium is the only aquarium in the country that is both a botanical home and an aquarium. This great aquarium feature is a big reason for attracting visitors’ eyes. 

Here, you can watch and witness the growth of tropical plants, rays, and some species of fish. The fish will splash, and you might get wet, but do not mind; they show love and love for you.

Some other beautiful features of Bristol Aquarium include a huge Amazon exhibit, a house of colossal arapaima fish, etc.

Did you Know? Colossal arapaima fish can grow up to about three meters long in the wild.

The Sunken Shipwreck exhibit teaches you how artificial reefs can help aquatic life, as the shipwrecks make for beautiful houses for reef species.

Additionally, the tropical fish will be dashing inside and outside of portholes and mounting around sunken masts, which is the best thing to witness in the Bristol Aquarium.

1.6. Blue Planet Aquarium Chester

This aquarium is home to the biggest collection of sharks in Europe, making it a lovely place for individuals to love watching the greatest aquatic creatures of the Lord.

If you visit the underwater tunnel, it surely will be the best experience of your life. Inside the tunnel, you will see a tiger, a guitar, and black-tip sharks.

Besides the sharks, there are some other beautiful marine creatures as well. Visitors can enjoy over 100 living displays and thousands of marine creatures from around the world.

You can also dive with the biggest sharks in the world. You don’t need to have any previous experience to enjoy the opportunity, as the expert team at the aquarium will be there for your support.

A frog zone is also present in the aquarium, where you can experience various kinds of frogs.

Other things to watch at the Blue Planet Aquarium in Chester are mangrove swamps and snipping caiman crocodiles.

1.7. Sea Life London Aquarium

This aquarium is situated very close to the Eye of London and across the river from Parliament House. You can easily hang out in the whole park within two hours. Despite being a little aquarium, it offers a lot of entertaining things to the guests.

Therefore, it will be a great trip for you to the capital city of the UK. In the Sea Life London Aquarium, you will witness the biggest jellyfish exhibit in the UK.

The attackers of the ocean teach the visitors the things they need to know about the mysterious animals.

Besides the great attackers of the ocean, you can also see some jellyfish in the aquarium. The most interesting offering of the aquarium is the experience of a long walk with views of the Amazon rainforest.

Throughout this exciting walk, you can get the chance to see the exciting snapping turtle Bowza. This little aquarium in the UK offers great excitement and entertainment to visitors.

1.8. The Deep Hull 

The Deep Hull was established in 2002 in the UK. It is a significant conservation facility in the UK and is involved in international marine conservation efforts.

Slowly, they involved themselves in the conservation work and started working globally. Today, they have become an international player in the conservation of marine animals.

It will be a nice choice for spending a day away from regular activities. During your trip to the aquarium, you will see great aquatic animals like red-tailed catfish, green sawfish, and white-tip reef sharks whilst gentoo penguins waddle across the Ice Kingdom.

All the money the aquarium gets from selling tickets to visitors is used to support marine conservation across the globe. Hence, you can contribute by visiting the aquarium. 

1.9. Sea Life Manchester

The Sea Life Manchester Aquarium is an isolated exhibit. Due to the many exciting opportunities the aquarium offers, it is a very good one-day trip to Manchester in the UK.

Visitors will see some sharks, clownfish, turtles, rays, jellyfish, sea horses, and other marine creatures.

If you are a fearless visitor, you should go to the Lair of the Giant Crab. There, you will see the unusual Japanese spider crab.

These deadly creatures are estimated to be three meters from nail to nail. Therefore, if you keep a mini car in front of it, it could easily stand out on top of the vehicle.

There are multiple viewpoints from which to watch the carbs in the aquarium; you can choose your perfect view and enjoy their doings.

Watching this deadly creature from a very close distance will be a great opportunity, and you will not even get wet.

Hence, you should add this aquarium to your list of visiting aquariums in the UK.

1.10. Lake District Coast Aquarium, Maryport, Cumbria

The aquarium of the 1990s is still one of the best in the country. It was built in 1997, and since then, it has become a very famous place to visit in the UK.

Inside Lake District Coast Aquarium, you will find over 75 display tanks featuring a diverse collection of marine life primarily from around the Cumbrian and UK coastline.

Besides watching the fish, the aquarium also offers some other entertaining things to enjoy during the trip.

Some other offerings of Lake District Coast Aquarium are the outdoor adventure playground, a shop for fishing, and a beautiful café.

The café provides tasty and yummy dishes like fish, chips, and much more.

1.11. Sea Life Scarborough

This aquarium is loaded with many sea animals. It offers great excitement and a lot of things to experience. Besides caring for the visitors, they also care for the animals.

Animals to watch in the aquarium are the otter river, a colony of Humboldt penguins, and the seal. There is also a hospital for seals.

In the hospital, they take care of the seals and treat them. If possible, they release them back into their wildlife with the help of RSPCA or the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

Therefore, almost every year, 30 seals are rescued from the coast of Yorkshire and taken to the hospital for treatment.

1.12. Sea Life Great  Yarmouth 

You will see black-tip reef sharks during your trip to Sea Life Great Yarmouth. These sharks are why visitors visit the aquarium; the big fish catch visitors’ eyes.

A shark nursery is also present in the aquarium, where you can watch sharks’ breeding. 

Besides these sharks in the aquarium, you will also see some green turtles.

Other than the sharks and turtles, there are a few other sea animals as well, like crocodiles, jellyfish, Humboldt penguins, etc.

1.13. Oceanarium Bournemouth

The aquarium of Oceanarium Bournemouth has a huge collection of aquatic animals, and you can witness various animals there.

Visit the aquarium and go down into the underwater shark tunnel, and suddenly, you will come across the deadly creatures of the marine world.

The aquarium in Bournemouth is also a duplicate home to exhibit the freshwater environment of African Lake Malawi, an exhibit of the Amazon, and a beach of penguins,

Here, you will also find a very interesting and unique exhibit that explores the predicted side effects of whether every ice cap of the earth melted. 

In A Nutshell

In the beautiful city of London in the UK, you will find many things to enjoy and to spend a great day off with your loved ones.

Aquariums are not only built for people to visit; they are also a good way to conserve endangered aquatic species and provide treatment to them to cure their harm.
Therefore, aquariums in the UK both entertain people and help animals.

Last Updated on January 16, 2024 by Arnab Nandi