Sea Life Aquarium in London

The SEA LIFE London Aquarium is home to one of Europe’s largest collections of global marine life and the jewel in the crown of the 28 SEA LIFE attractions in the UK and Europe. Situated in the heart of London, the experience takes visitors on an immersive and interactive journey along the Great Oceanic Conveyor. Located on the ground floor of County Hall on the Southern bank of the River Thames in central London near the London Eye, the Sea Life Aquarium is the largest of its kind in Europe. It opened in March 1997 as the London Aquarium and hosts about one million visitors each year. It is the largest aquarium in London and in the United Kingdom.

Along the journey, a stunning glass tunnel walkway offers guests an unforgettable experience by strolling underneath a Tropical Ocean. There is plenty of interaction along the way, from feeding the stingrays and watching diving displays to touch pools and discovery zones. Other stars of the show include seahorses, octopus, zebra sharks and the ever popular clown fish.

As well as allowing millions of people to discover the marvels of the marine world, the SEA LIFE network has an important role to play in helping safeguard our seas and their inhabitants for the future. The SEA LIFE London Aquarium provides the UK with a leading centre of excellence on marine management, conservation, preservation and education in the heart of the capital.

It features 45 exhibits showcasing 30,000 specimens including over 350 species of fish, invertebrates and marine life, from different zones around the world.

The aquarium is also designed to conduct educational programs; for instance, it contains two classrooms themed around the Zoo’s cardinal conservation scheme. Every year, more than 40.000 school children benefit from the Zoo’s conservation educational program. Alongside pupils, members of the public can also make use of its educational program activities, especially when not in use by schools.

In May 2001, 10 gentoo penguins from the Edinburgh Zoo were introduced into the Zoo, pioneering a penguin exhibition in the aquatic setup.

The aquarium is also well known for its breeding program, including the Cuban crocodile, seahorses, butterfly goodeids and jellyfish. More so, the Zoo works in collaboration with numerous other conservation organisations; including Whales and Dolphin Conservation Society, Save Our Seas, Shark Trust, Rainforest Concern, Earth Sea Sky and South Pacific Projects.

In the aquarium is displayed an extensive variety of fish and sea life from all over the world, including stingrays, sharks, piranhas and sea scorpions. Visitors to the park are privileged to engage in a Shark Walk experience, during which they walk over a floating glass platform, with sharks swimming just below their feet.

  

Californian cownose rays which swim in synchronised formation are another recent feature, as is a tunnel constructed from a 25-metre-long whale skeleton, beneath which visitors can view a tropical ocean of fish, coral and green turtles. New for Easter 2013 is the Ocean of Stars display, showcasing six different species of starfish, with a central pop-up display, enabling visitors to get a close-up view in the tentacle tunnel. The Rainforests of the World area, complete with exotic vegetation, a tropical waterfall, is home to a pair of six-foot dwarf crocodiles.