SEA LIFE Manchester
Sarah Catherine Jones
Embark on a journey of underwater discovery at SEA LIFE Manchester, located in Trafford Palazzo.
Perfect for families and animal enthusiasts alike, you’ll be able to dive into the unique stories of the oceans’ most fascinating residents, including clownfish, stingrays, sharks and sea turtles.
You’ll start your experience at Turtle Beach, an interactive, 3D projection experience that takes you through the life cycle of a sea turtle. From here, you’ll venture deep into the world’s underwater cave systems in Rocky Hideout, where little ones can get up close and personal with weird and wonderful species. Keep your eyes peeled for moray eels and purple reef lobsters.
You’ll also get the chance to come face-to-face with jellyfish, piranhas and lionfish before making your way through the Ocean Tunnel, where you’ll be fully submerged in the wonders of SEA LIFE’s tropical waters. Here you’ll find a huge array of creatures like black tip reef sharks, cownose rays, groupers and black chin guitarfish.
We’d also recommend visiting SEA LIFE Manchester’s rockpool to say hello to some of the aquarium’s smaller creatures. You might find a fire shrimp climbing into your palm if you’re lucky!
The whole aquarium experience takes about an hour, but you can easily double that time. Your tickets will be valid for the whole day, so you can come and go as you please.
Unlike other aquariums, SEA LIFE Manchester has a stellar schedule of events. They regularly host Manchester Canal Cleanups (volunteers receive complimentary tickets to SEA LIFE Manchester) as well as After Hours with the Mermaids, which gives smaller visitors the chance to marvel at real-life mermaids in the ocean tanks.
SEA LIFE Manchester also offers Quiet at the Aquarium sessions, which provide a more comfortable experience for those with autism and sensory impairments. Tickets for these events should be booked in advance online.
