UK Educational Marine Life?

January 14, 2004 3:14 AM

Finding more than Nemo: aided by innumerable viewings of Finding Nemo and the Little Mermaid, my three-year old's fascination with the aquatic world continues, fuelled by a lovely trip to the small-ish but very impressive Mote Marine Laboratory while in Florida a few months ago. However: we're in the UK, where - despite being surrounded by water - good quality aquariums seem rather thin on the ground (sic). Can anyone recommend good places of this kind (educational, subjects well looked after)? Is the London Aquarium good?
posted by humuhumu to Pets & Animals (12 answers total)

There's a few SeaLife Centres (a review, more info). Although I live 4 miles from the Birmingham one, I haven't been so can't vouch for it.
posted by Pericles at 3:46 AM on January 14, 2004

There are a number of sealife centres dotted around the UK. Can't comment as to quality.
posted by biffa at 3:47 AM on January 14, 2004

Oops, curse you pericles (and why didnt my link work?)
posted by biffa at 3:48 AM on January 14, 2004

The Deep in Hull has a very large tank; the world's only submarium. Whatever that means.
Impressive.
Also Blue Planet Aquarium in Ellesmere Port.

London Aquarium is supposed to be good.
There is also an aquarium on the south coast that specialises in local fishies.
posted by asok at 5:40 AM on January 14, 2004

Yes, the London Aquarium is good.... (favourable review for families here).

Might he have a more general natural history interest?
If so, the Natural History Museum is also good and can be combined with the Aquarium if visiting London means a day out.
posted by plep at 6:01 AM on January 14, 2004

There's also the National Marine Aquarium.
posted by monju_bosatsu at 6:21 AM on January 14, 2004

I've heard very good things about Blue Planet Aquarium in Ellesmere Port - haven't been myself though.
posted by adrianhon at 6:24 AM on January 14, 2004

We went to the London Aquarium on our vacation to London in the fall and were very pleasantly surprised at how good it was. Our two-year-old is also something of an a-fish-ionado of aquaria, and she liked it quite a bit.

Make sure you go to the open tank where you can touch the small rays, who swim right up to the visitors, fin extended into the open air.
posted by briank at 6:52 AM on January 14, 2004

Humuhumu - no email in your preferences, so I can't write to you personally. Thanks for the kind word about Mote. If you are ever in Sarasota again, let me know. I can take you and your daughter around our aquarium again, if you like. For everyone else, Mote is one of the few places in the State where you can see a giant squid. Mind you, its pickled in preservatives.
posted by piskycritter at 8:58 AM on January 14, 2004

Response by poster: Mote is one of the few places in the State where you can see a giant squid. Mind you, its pickled in preservatives.

Thanks for the offer of a tour, piskycritter (though the daughter is actually a son, despite the Little Mermaid obsession...). How could I forget the giant squid? That's certainly an amazing exhibit. I loved the Rays, also - never thought they'd feel like suede... I mainly loved the detailed information by each tank and the *incredibly* helpful guides (which I'm assuming you are) who would just wander up and start telling you good facts about sea snails or octopus tentacles.
posted by humuhumu at 3:08 PM on January 14, 2004

I went to the London Aquarium a year or so ago, and was surprised how much I enjoyed it.
posted by Vidiot at 6:34 PM on January 14, 2004

Plymouth has a lovely aquarium.
posted by Goofyy at 3:34 AM on January 21, 2004