What is it?
It’s hard to imagine, when you’re standing on the South Bank, that you’re going to find sharks and penguins inside what used to be a boring old council building. But give them their dues – Sea Life has created a pretty impressive aquatic wonderland right here in Zone One, and within easy reach of Waterloo and London Bridge stations.
Why go?
If you're after an under the sea adventure, then there really is no better place to spend the day (other than maybe the ocean itself).
Upon entering – over a glass window that peeks down to the Pacific waters display – you’ll follow a winding route through every attraction in the building. Wade into the Shark Walk before reaching the Atlantic Coasts (look out for sand eels and octopuses here). Life gets a little more exotic and vibrant as the display merges into the Ray Lagoon and the Dive Discovery tropical waters.
There's much more, too. The Ocean Tunnel makes you feel like you've been properly submerged underwater. The polar experience is your one-way ticket to the frozen extremities of the Antarctic. Take your kids, your friends or partner - there's something for everyone.
Don't miss:
If you really want to get up close and personal with the sealife, the brave adventurers out there can book a ‘snorkelling with sharks’ experience and dive into the shark tank.
When to visit:
Monday - Wednesday 10am-4pm; Thursday 11am-4pm; Friday 10am-5pm; Saturday 10am-7pm; Sunday 10am-6pm
Half-term and school holiday hours differ and can be found on the website.
Ticket info:
Tickets can be purchased on their own or as parts of packages that include other London attractions. Group tickets and annual passes are also available. Standard tickets start at £27.50. Check out the details on the website.
Time Out tip:
Visit during off-peak hours if you can, in order to avoid the usual hordes and get a better glimpse of the wild inhabitants. Like the piranhas, for example, the poison dart frogs and Cuban crocs in the rainforest section. Also see if you can time your visit with a feeding, because that's when everything comes out of any hiding places they might have been lurking in.