Blue Planet Aquarium

Blue Planet Aquarium is one of the standout activities in the area, whether you’re bringing your whole family, friends or looking for a cute date idea. A marine and freshwater aquarium, Blue Planet is home to thousands of animals from all around the world and one of the UK’s largest collections of sharks, swimming around in the 4 million litre tropical display.

The exhibits are divided into sections such as Flooded Forest, home to species from the Amazon Rainforest, Frog Zone where the game is to find the brightly coloured creatures hiding behind leaves and twig, or Coral Cave where you’ll see some of the most colourful species of tropical fish. The Caiman Crocodile exhibit is where you’ll find tiny crocodiles (how can something be cute and scary all at once?), while the outdoor Pelican Cove is home to these beautiful birds classified as at risk of future extinction.

The highlight of Blue Planet Aquarium is, of course, the 71-metre underwater tunnel where you can see the shark up close, swimming directly above you! If you want to get even closer, shark dives for all ages are also available so check the website for more information. You can sit in the Aqua-theatre too and watch the divers or catch the daily shark feed. Elsewhere, you’ll find talks on the different areas and their residents, such as the Venom area, or the Octopus Talk and Feed.

Once you’re done with exploring, there is a café where you can grab a snack, and of course, a gift shop where you’ll find soft toys, keyrings and other bits and bobs that will make for cute souvenirs of your visit.

All exhibits are designed in way that replicates the animals’ natural environment. Blue Planet Aquarium is home to many endangered species to raise awareness and emphasise why it’s critical to look after our oceans and other water environments. They work with multiple charities too, supporting conservation efforts and participate in local beach cleans.