Located in a colonnade-fronted, early 20th-century County Hall building (the former headquarters for the Greater London Council), the Sea Life London Aquarium is one of Europe’s aquatic museums with 14 themed zones. Marine-life displays include walk-over glass shark tanks, transparent tunnels where sea turtles swim overhead, and kaleidoscopic coral reefs. Visitors also love the penguin exhibit, where it’s possible to observe adorable orange-beaked gentoo penguins waddling on land and swimming gracefully underwater.
The Basics
Admission to the aquarium not only includes access to the themed zones but also allows visitors to attend various feedings and educational talks held throughout the day. Guests can opt for skip-the-line tickets to save time or combo tickets to save money, the latter of which access to the aquarium as well as other big-ticket London attractions, such as the London Eye, Madame Tussauds London, and DreamWorks Tours: Shrek's Adventure. Alternatively, combine a trip to the aquarium with a cruise on London’s Thames River to view major riverside landmarks such as Big Ben, the Tower of London, and St. Paul’s Cathedral from the water.
Things to Know Before You Go
- Book in advance for VIP experiences, such as a behind-the-scenes tour offering exclusive access or snorkeling with sharks.
- Lines often form during peak periods when 15-minute time slots are allocated for entry. Book a skip-the-line ticket for fast and flexible access.
- The London Aquarium is wheelchair accessible.
How to Get There
The Sea Life London Aquarium is located on the South Bank right beside the London Eye. Take the Tube to Westminster (Circle, Jubilee and District lines) or to Waterloo (Northern, Bakerloo, and Waterloo & City lines). Rail services also stop at Waterloo station.
When to Get There
The aquarium is open Monday through Friday from 10am to 6pm and weekends from 9:30am to 7pm. The site is a kid-friendly and family-oriented attraction and is therefore busiest during school vacations and on weekends. Avoid waiting around by purchasing a skip-the-line ticket in advance.
The Weird and Wonderful Marine Species of London Aquarium
More than 500 marine species of all shapes and sizes are represented here, from finger-length seahorses to giant Japanese spider crabs. You can spot flesh-eating red bellied piranhas and endangered Cuban crocodiles, pointy-toothed sand tiger sharks and a 6.5-foot-tall (two-meter-tall) lion’s mane jellyfish—the largest known jellyfish species in the world.
