During the Easter Half Term Holidays, we were fortunate enough to have a rare family day out together, this time at Sea Life Aquarium centre in Manchester located inside the Trafford Centre. It is one of my favourite Places to go with Kids for a spot of shopping, whilst keeping them happy as the take look around an aquarium full of amazing aquatic species.
In the most unlikely setting adjoined to a Shopping Centre, we were transported into an amazing underwater world at the UK’s newest Aqua attraction. This Aquarium is truly a hidden gem. Kids not only have fun, but its a great educational experience for them (Actually I learnt a thing or two as well).
Places to go with kids: The Sea Life Aquarium
Entering the Sea life centre you travel to Turtle beach, where a guide presents a short talk along with state of the art technology to tell the tale of a newborn baby Turtle.
There is so much to see and do here from Sharks and clownfish to our personal favourite Ernie the Giant Green Sea Turtle. This Sea life Aquarium is Spread over 11 themed zones, there is enough here to suit everyone in the family, with a play area for the kids to run off steam. Even the teenagers were happy, enjoying snapping great pictures of the fish.
We learnt so many new facts about the sea creatures, conservation, breeding vulnerable species, rescuing of sea turtles and even got the chance to touch a crab and starfish in the Interactive Rock pool experience.
It was so much fun walking underneath creatures from sharks to a sea turtle, You can even take this one step further, if you are feeling daring that is and have a truly unique experience walking on the sea bed. For £60, you can take a 1-hour dive experience, including training and ten minutes walking on Europe’s first Seabed amongst Ernie the sea Turtle, Sharks, Rays and hundreds of fish. This indoor sea life aquarium is an experience suitable for ages 8+. You can still go shopping afterwards without wet hair as you wear a custom-made breathe easy helmet that does not even get your hair wet!
Before leaving, we got the chance to colour in and make our very own Ernie badges free, the gift shop was our final port of call. You could buy plush toy creatures, and all other Sea life memorabilia.
Opening Hours are 10am until 7 pm (Last admission 6pm).
- Ticket prices are much cheaper if you buy them on-line before you visit, with general admission prices costing £9.95 each on-line or £16.95 on the day. Children under 3, visit for free.
- For £19.00 on-line you can purchase a Fish & Bricks combi ticket. This type of ticket gets you entry and the family into both the Sea Life Aquarium and LEGOLAND Discovery Centre.
- The Sea life aquarium at the Trafford Centre do a very special Midweek Parent & Toddler ticket, admitting one child under five and one adult for a special on-line price of £12.00, the website has all the terms, conditions and exclusions, check out the ticket information.
We were lucky enough to then visit Legoland Manchester check out our review below:
Maybe you could take a look at our other family days out reviews for some great fun:
- Military Adventure Park
- Chessington World Of Adventures
- Legoland Windsor Review
- Pole Position Indoor Go Karting Experience
- Flow House Xscape Castleford Surfing Indoors
- Diggerland Castleford fun with the kids Review
- Chester Zoo family day
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Pam Francis Gregory says
May 27, 2014 at 7:27 pmLooks like a great day out – we’ve got one near us & I’ve always wanted to visit.
Vicky (@aroundandupsidedown) says
May 28, 2014 at 8:48 pmMe and the kids used to love the Sea Life Centre but have seen so many local centres have completely upped their game and made it a completely new experience. They all look totally awesome and it looked like you were in awe of the little (and not so little) fishies here 🙂
rachelhirst says
June 7, 2014 at 8:31 amSeriously, This is a great day out. As you say the local Sea Life Centre’s have really upped the game and you can have an amazing experience even when you go shopping. Thanks Rachel x
Tracy Nixon says
May 31, 2014 at 2:34 pmWe have a Sea Life Centre about five minutes from our home (we live by the sea too) and it is a great place to take the kids!
Talisa says
May 31, 2014 at 6:53 pmThank you so much for writing this post – I’m often stuck for idea’s for days out and have never thought of visiting Sea Life Manchester. Thanks for the heads up! 🙂
rachelhirst says
June 7, 2014 at 8:38 amI am glad you found this information useful, you and your kids will really enjoy the experience. Rachel x
Sandra Clarke says
June 1, 2014 at 10:20 pmThank you, I didn’t know this existed in Manchester. Will look forward to a visit.
Ashleigh Allan says
June 3, 2014 at 7:06 pmLooks a great day out!
Lynne Durkin says
June 7, 2014 at 11:46 pmMy daughter took her children to the Sea Life Centre in Birmingham last weekend. Her 18mth old loved it 🙂 the younger one at just 4mths wasn’t really into it though yet, think they’ll visit again next year when they’ll both get new experiences from it. We went a couple of years ago and spent an enjoyable couple of hours walking round.
Natalie White says
June 8, 2014 at 2:23 pmWe adore aquariums but haven’t been to this one yet – we should pay a visit though as we all love sea turtles!!
Joanne Higgins says
June 11, 2014 at 1:03 pmLooks amazing, were going to Weymouth sealife centre later in the year. I can’t wait now xx
Kelly Donald-Pattullo says
June 17, 2014 at 8:24 pmLooks like a great day out, I think Manchester is our nearest one but that’s about 2 hours away from us. Maybe we’ll make a family outing and stay over. I’ll get working on the hubster ha ha
Jane Davies says
June 18, 2014 at 8:59 pmCan see why the kids would enjoy but I have to say I don’t like seeing these amazing animals in captivity. They belong in the ocean, their home 🙁 xxx
George Worboys Wright says
June 30, 2014 at 7:15 pmWe love the Sea Life centres but haven’t been to that one yet, it’s great to see your pictures.
Susie Wilkinson says
November 6, 2014 at 10:38 pmIt’s been a good long while since I went to the Trafford Centre, but I thought it was one of the best shopping centres in the country, now with the Sealife Centre added, wow! I went to the Sealife Centre at Hunstanton many years ago and was impressed with it, so much more than The Deep.
Sara Jane G says
December 16, 2014 at 6:10 pmLooks great, will have to take my little one