Aquariums in and near Great Yarmouth

SEA LIFE - Great Yarmouth

Great Yarmouth SEA LIFE brings you closer than you ever imagined to a breathtaking world of underwater life where you will come face to face with an amazing array of creatures from curious rays to majestic seahorses. ... more

Sharks circle around you, so close you can see their fierce-looking teeth, and colourful tropical fish dart out from behind rocks, while strange eels slither in the depths and anemones wave their luminous fronds... no, you're not diving in the deep blue sea, this is simply what you can experience when you visit England's amazing aquariums, which bring you face to face with the most fascinating marine life from all over the world.

The National Marine Aquarium at Plymouth is Britain's biggest aquarium, and the operative word is 'big' - the the largest of the 50 plus tanks is the height of a three-storey building! The aquarium is home to 11 species of shark and 200 species of marine life, and some of the highlights include the massive Black-tip Reef and Sand Tiger Sharks, the large collection of delicate seahorses, coral tanks filled with vividly-coloured fish, and Snorkel, the aquarium's famous turtle. Technology helps to educate visitors about magnificent sea creatures, as you can experience their 3D theatre which takes you on a trip across the ocean floor.

Bournemouth clinches its reputation as a fun-filled tourist attraction with The Oceanarium, which has more than just tanks full of fish, as it allows visitors to experience feeding demonstrations, plasma screen documentaries and a walk-through underwater tunnel so that they can get a real understanding of the underwater world. Its marine exhibits are magnificent, and are themed according to various global waters, such as The Amazon, the Mediterranean and the Great Barrier Reef. You won't want to miss the world's first interactive dive cage, a virtual experience that uses the latest technology to bring you up close and personal with magnificent great white sharks, dolphins and manta rays - all without gettting wet. The Oceanarium's Marine Research Laboratory is home to some of the world's most unique marine residents and allows visitors to peer into open-top and bubble-glass display tanks to admire weird and wonderful animals like sea ponies, lion fish and clown fish.

Blue Reef Aquarium has three branches - in Portsmouth, Tynemouth on Newcastle's coast and in Newquay. The underwater displays at the aquariums showcase the rich sealife of the English coastline as well as exotic tropical reefs and other spectacular marine habitats. You can see everything from giant grabs and lobsters to tropical sharks, and huge ocean tanks and walk-through tunnels bring you close to the brightly coloured fish of a coral reef. The Newquay aquarium, on Towan Beach, features local marine species from the Cornish coast as well as an amazing Seahorse Ranch. Portsmouth also has local fish, while Tynemouth has a wonderful Seal Cove.

To see an awesome variety of unusual marine species, head to the Blue Planet Aquarium in Chester. A moving underwater walkway takes visitors on a journey through warm Caribbean waters, and you can marvel at their 20 species of sharks from the safety of the Aquatheatre. The most unusual is the Wobbegong Shark, which has a specially camouflaged body, so try and see if you can spot it. Other special species include the scary Pirahnas and tropical poison dart frogs, as well as the charming Asian Otters which you can admire frolicking in their pool.

One of the most unique aquariums in the world is The Deep at Kingston upon Hull, a 'submarium' featuring England's deepest viewing tunnel and a glass lift ride through a 10m deep tank. The aquarium, situated on the Humber Estuary, is dedicated to carrying out important research into the marine environment, and shares this fascinating knowledge with its visitors. You can explore the Twilight Zone, the world's largest exhibition featuring the strange sea creatures that live in the darkest depths of the ocean. There are 40 sharks and 3500 fish, so you'll definitely be able to spend a good few hours gazing at these incredible marine creatures. You can even eat with the sharks - the aquarium's restaurant has a great view of the shark tank.

If you'd like to see aquatic life that is not necessarily from the ocean, visit the Aquarium of the Lakes in Windermere, a freshwater aquarium which recreates the route of a river from a mountain top to the sea, and displays the Lake District's indigenous species, as well as freshwater fish and animals from all over the globe. You can see Lakeland's local pike, char, otters and giant carp, and also pirahnas, blind cave fish and tropical frogs. Walk through the underwater tunnel to see the diving ducks, and you can also admire an exhibit of the Lake District's coastal species such as sharks and rays.