The London Aquarium was first opened in 1997 and provides visitors with an opportunity to view the 3000 various types of marine life on view. The massive tanks are home to huge Sharks, Rays and all manner of other fish. Visitors are only separated from the thousands of tons of water by 9mm thick acrylic windows.
The ‘sea-water’ is actually London tap water that is treated and mixed with salts to make it habitable for the fish. The London Aquarium has more than fifty separate displays- the largest of which hold one million liters of water! The Aquarium is situated on the bank of the Thames, next to Westminster Bridge, near to Waterloo station.
The London Aquarium is set across three floors and attempts to recreate many water environments. Alongside the vast Pacific Ocean display is a smaller Tropical Rainforest environment, and coral reefs, the Indian Ocean and a freshwater stream have all been simulated. The Aquarium hosts daily talks about the exhibits, and feeding times are a highlight of the day. An adopt a fish scheme is also available and proceeds help to support the upkeep of the animals.
The facilities are laid out in a very impressive arrangement and the feeling of being so close to the sharks and piranhas is fascinating- if a little frightening.
On the day entry to Sealife is expensive, but many 2for1 offers are around if you look online in advance, or (at the time of writing) you can often also take advantage of this offer if travelling there by SouthWest trains - see their website for details.
Sealife London Aquarium
Visitor Attraction in Lower Marsh
rated 8 / 10 from 3 reviews
Address
County Hall, Westminster Bridge Road , Lower Marsh, SE1 7PB
County Hall, Westminster Bridge Road , Lower Marsh, SE1 7PB
Telephone
020 7967 8000
020 7967 8000
Category
Visitor Attractions
Visitor Attractions
Region
Lower Marsh
Lower Marsh
Sealife London Aquarium Picture Gallery
Best For
London's top attractions and activities for Animal Lovers
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Do you ever dream of snorkelling with sharks in the ocean?Then you’ll be pleased to know you don’t need to fork out for a flight to the Solomon Islands yet, as there’s a place right here in the capital where you can do just that. Granted the aquarium by the South Bank is not quite the same as the Pacific Ocean, but it’s a tad more convenient. Plus you also get to watch fearsome creatures like crocodiles, rays and piranhas behind glass, from a safe distance.
Things to Try
User Reviews
John
from Williams
from Williams
Aug 13, 2013
If you visit in school holidays prepare yourself for a very long wait to get in. I wish i had paid for fast track, to save an hour and a half .
JohnT999
Jul 23, 2012
Great aquarium, and lots to see. The only downside for me was the amount of schoolchildren barging around and screaming a lot. Other than that, great. Tip - make sure you've got headache tablets in your bag if you're going during school-trip season. :)
Debbylynley
Nov 16, 2010
This is one of the main attractions on the South Bank. The only bad thing is that it is pretty expencive. On the other hand, there is lots to see. The tour starts in London and goes worldwide, with fishes from all over the world. Populair are the sharks, and they are very impressive. But the most populair are the rays. You can touch them and even if you don't dare it is fun to watch the people touch them. There are also lectures about the wonders of the sea and there is lots to do for children. A nice thing to do on a day in London. As I said, the only bad thing is the price, but combination tickets with other attractions are avaliable.