National SEA LIFE Centre Birmingham

Right in the heart of the country is a portal to the oceans of the world.

It’s the National SEA LIFE Centre Birmingham. This aquarium is impressive inside and out. The futuristic building was designed by architect Sir Norman Foster and houses tanks with a combined capacity of over a million litres of water. The aquarium is also the site of the only underwater tunnel in the UK that’s fully transparent.

What about the animals? Over 60 displays house more than 2,000 animals from freshwater, marine and semiaquatic environments around the world. Some of the star attractions are a sea otter couple, a gentoo penguin colony, a giant pacific octopus, green sea turtles, sharks, stingrays and endangered blackchin guitarfish.

The aquarium is an important location in the SEA LIFE Breed, Rescue and Protect conservation initiative, hosting a seahorse programme that produces huge numbers of offspring. Seahorse males carry the young, and visitors can see “newborn” seahorses in special tanks.

Other attractions include a VR experience, events featuring children’s favourites Peppa Pig and Cocomelon and regular feeding times and expert talks. Quiet hours on certain days of the week and wheelchair accessibility throughout the venue ensure that everyone is welcome to experience the wonder of life underwater.

Start organising your visit now!