London's Sealife Centre Aquarium on the Southbank
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London Aquarium sits right at the heart of London and is a fun place to bring the whole family for an afternoon of entertainment.
On this page you will find how to get to the aquarium, contact details, photos of the Sealife centre, information on what to expect at the aquarium and links to detailed pages on ticketing and tours of the Sealife centre.
London Aquarium overview: what makes the place special
London Aquarium sits on the Southbank in the heart of one of London's most popular tourist districts. It offers an opportunity for both the grown ups and kids to see over 500 species of sealife, including everything from sharks to rare breeds of star fish. The kids will love the special features that the attraction offers, including free talks on the animals and trails to follow as you make your way around the aquarium.
London Aquarium experience
The London Aquarium entrance sits right next to the London Eye on the South bank. As you enter the building you will join queues to buy your tickets for the attraction. Once you have your tickets you follow signs to head two floors down in a lift to where the fun begins. The trip down in the lift gives the sense that you are like a deep sea diver. On arrival in the underwater world plants hanging from the low ceilings and mottled blue walls add to the deep sea atmosphere.
There are a total of 14 different themed areas that you will pass through as you make your way through the attraction. You will find areas filled with small tropical fish and other areas that are domed and large stingrays and sharks swim around your heads. As you walk through the aquarium there are opportunities to touch some of the animals with specially trained supervisors. There are also talks given by instructors who will answer questions. If you have kids with you it is worth keeping an eye out for the quiz trail that runs through the attraction.
The piece de resistance at the end of the aquarium is the famous 'Shark walk'. Here you will have the opportunity to walk over clear glass as sharks swim beneath your feet. This experience is not for the faint hearted!
If you are bringing small kids to the attraction, it is worth remembering that it is a reasonably long walk from one end to the other. With kids in tow the trip through could take around two hours. Luckily there are seating points throughout where you can sit and rest your feet if you are getting tired. There are also a few vending machines, however you might want to bring a bit of extra sustenance if there's a chance that the kids might get hungry or thirsty.
How to get tickets
To find out how to buy tickets and how to select the ones that are right for you, the different ways there are to buy tickets and how much they cost, see our Guide to London Aquarium Tickets
Opening times
London Aquarium opening times remain the same all year round. They are as follows:
Monday - Wednesday: 10:00 - 16:00
Thursday: 11:00 - 16:00
Friday: 10:00 - 16:00
Saturday - Sunday: 10:00 - 17:00
How to get there
London Aquarium is closest to London Waterloo train and tube station. On arrival at the station, simply follow signs for the South bank and the London Eye. Once you exit thee building you can continue to follow signs for the London Eye. Within five minutes you will have reached the London Eye. The London Aquarium sits just to the left of the London Eye if you are facing the wheel.
Tube: Waterloo (Black Line / Northern Line, Grey Line / Jubilee Line, Brown Line / Bakerloo Line)
Contact details
Sealife London Aquarium
County hall
Westminster Bridge Road
London
SE1 7PB
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7967 8025 (tickets)
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7967 8025 (general enquiries)
Website: Official London Aquarium Website
London Aquarium is an entertaining place to head for all the family if you are looking for something to do in London. It is particularly useful if you are looking for something to do on a rainy day as it is entirely indoors. It is also an amusing place to bring the kids, as many of the activities offered are aimed at keeping them entertained. Located in an interesting part of town, within walking distance of the London Eye, the Tate Modern and the Globe Theatre, it will be a convenient place to fit into your schedule.