WHY YOU MUST VISIT SEA LIFE CENTRE IN MANCHESTER

Manchester, England’s second city, the capital of the north, and probably one of the furthest British Towns or cities from the coast. So, it really is one of the last places you’d expect to find an aquarium. After all, it’s not like we can learn about our local sea life because… well, there isn’t any!

However, although it might initially seem like a strange place to have a Sea Life Centre, it actually makes a lot of sense. Located within the Trafford Centre shopping plaza, where heaps of entertainment venues and activities are housed under one roof, meaning you can keep the family entertained for hours.

The Sea Life center in Manchester is also positioned directly next door to LEGOLAND Discovery Center, which is another great attraction, especially for those obsessed with those tiny plastic blocks of fun. But that’s not all you’ll find housed here. There’s an Odeon Cinema on the top floor, with over 20+ screens, as well as Laser Tag, Mini Golf and the Namco Center packed with arcade games and bowling. Oh, and let’s not forget the hundreds of department stores and shops here too, which sometimes almost seem like an afterthought.

Planning Tools

As always, before heading abroad, I would encourage you to do your research before traveling to another country so that you can apply for the correct visas and or fulfill that county’s entry requirements. Therefore, I encourage you to check your country’s travel restrictions and government recommendations before you travel. If you’d like to learn more about the UK’s visa requirements, visit iVisa’s website.

If you’re looking to start planning your trip to the UK, check out one of my favourite books, Discover Great Britain by Lonely Planet. I highly rate this book because it’s full of beautiful photos of places to visit throughout the kingdom, and if you’re like me, you can plan ahead so that you will know what to expect when you arrive, with few nasty surprises. It’s also colour coordinated and split into different sections such as London, Wales, Oxford, and Central England, making it easy to navigate. Pick up your copy today.  

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Wait… It costs how much???

Okay, before we dive right in, let’s discuss the only negative of the Sea Life Centre in Manchester. For its size, it’s a pretty expensive attraction. In fact, when I first visited, it actually costs more to visit this aquarium than the admission price for the Vatican Museums in Rome. Even children over two years of age had to pay the same fee as adults, which was a joke. However, fast forward a few years, and after doing some research, it appears as though the prices have become slightly more reasonable, with booking online giving you the biggest savings. However, despite all of this, it’s an excellent little aquarium!

Turtle Cove

When the aquarium first opened, I took my young niece for a day out. After we had purchased our tickets, we then entered a darkened room, where after waiting for a few seconds, an illuminated turtle appeared on the sand just ahead of us. This little guy was called Ernie; he’s the star attraction, and rightly so as he’s impressive. He must be over 100 years old, at least, due to his sheer size. For the next few minutes, we listened to an interesting presentation about turtle conservation and how current human behaviours affect these amazing creatures.  

The Ocean Window

Once the talk is over, you are free to walk through to the main aquarium, where you’ll come to the first section called the ‘Ocean Window,’ and it really is exactly that! You’re greeted with an enormous tank, the length of the wall, where calming music and mood lighting fill the area. It’s a great spot just to sit and take it all in while you’re here and watch the many different fish swim around. It’s such a peaceful area. During my visit, some starfish had attached themselves to one of the portholes, which was cool as it was the first time I’d seen one so close, and it was so clear that I could see all of its pores on its skin.

Next, we came to the ‘Ocean Tunnels,’ where we enjoyed walking through and checking out the sharks, stingrays and other big fish swimming above our heads. When I went more recently, I took my little girl, and she was absolutely amazed by the fish swimming around us, being so close.

Past the tunnel, there are more windows and portholes to peer into, while learning from the information displays dotted throughout the area known as ‘Shark Shipwreck.’ Be sure not to miss the excellent ‘Jellyfish Seas’ area around here too, which displays several different species. It’s pretty easy to forget where you are as you stand and watch their graceful and hypnotic movements. They are so relaxing to look at… unless they’re stinging you. Then they can bugger off!

The “Fun” Play Area

In the middle of the aquarium, you’ll come to a kid’s play area with a ball pit and a very tall slide. It’s an excellent spot for the kids to burn off some energy, and the adults to chill out. On my first trip, as I said, I was the cool Auntie, taking my cute, little niece out for the afternoon. She took one look at the massive slide and insisted she would be totally fine to climb it all by herself. Adults beware! Don’t let your kid climb to the top of the slide like I did so that she screams blue murder when she’s too scared to slide back down by herself. I had to climb up to the very top, and believe me when I say that these kiddy rides are not designed for any adult to maneuver in. I hiked to the top to rescue her, then precariously traveled back down with the little monkey clinging to me, and all the while, the brave big kids were streaming past me. But we survived the ordeal.

Natural Nail Polish Remover

While you’re here, be sure to check out the excellent ‘Rockpool’ zone, where you get to hold a number of ocean creatures and listen to the staff give informative talks. I picked up a rather large-looking shrimp. Do you remember Jacques from Finding Nemo? It’s true that they really do love cleaning everything! I was wearing nail polish, and the little guy actually tried to clean it off! Who needs nail polish remover, right?

The Big Fish

The best part of the entire aquarium has got to be the main area where you can finally see the excellent Ernie in action, swimming amongst sharks and other large fish. It’s a great zone as amongst the fish, you’ll see ruined-looking building fragments and an enormous statue head that looks like they were swallowed up by the ocean long ago and are now covered in moss. You can pay to go into the tank and dive with sharks if you’re brave enough. No, thank you! I prefer seeing sharks from behind glass, or from the comfort of a large boat as opposed to seeing them face to face.

Barton Square, Trafford Centre, Manchester M17 8AS, | BUY YOUR TICKETS HERE

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO

How to get to Sea Life Centre in Manchester?

The Sealife Centre in Manchester is housed in the Trafford Center, so it’s very well connected and easy to get to.

If you’re driving here, head to the new section of the shopping precinct called Trafford Palazzio. Travel along the M60 motorway, then exit at either junction 9 or 10.

If you’re traveling via public transport, many buses stop here, especially from Manchester City Centre, such as the X50 express or the 250.

You also have the Metrolink Trams, which stop at the Trafford Center. If you’re coming from Manchester City Centre, change at the Cornbrook stop, then get off at the Barton Dock Road tram stop.

Is the aquarium accessible?

Yes, the aquarium is very accessible for wheelchairs and pushchairs. I have pushed a pram around here myself, so I know this for a fact.

Do you need to pre-book?

Not always, but in busy times such as weekends, school holidays, Christmas and Easter, they have capacity limits, so it’s best to book ahead to avoid disappointment. Plus, it’s cheaper than just turning up on the day. You can book ahead on Tiqets here.

Is there parking nearby?

There is free parking all year round, as the Trafford Center has over 11,000 parking spaces. However, despite this, they can often fill up at weekends, especially during the Christmas period, so be sure to plan ahead.

How much does it cost to enter the Sea Life Centre in Manchester?

Children under the age of 3 go free! Above this age, you’re classed as an adult, and the admission charges are as follows:

£19.75 ($24.10 USD) – Per Adult Standard Ticket Online.

£21.95 ($26.75 USD) – Per Adult On The Day.

£26.95 ($32.90 USD) – Per Adult Any Time Entry Ticket.

£27.75 ($33.85 USD) – Per Adult Standard Ticket + VR Experience.

£29.75 ($36.30 USD) Sea Life and LEGOLAND Discovery Centre.

What are the opening times?

The Sea Life Centre in Manchester is open every day except Christmas Day and Easter Sunday. Opening hours are 9.30-5 PM every day. During school and public holidays, the venue opens until 6 PM. The last entry is 1 hour before closing.

Any other information I should be aware of?

Yes, the Sea Life Centre in Manchester is now cashless, which means you cannot pay for your visit here with cash, so make sure to carry a debit or credit card with you.

Thanks for reading my post on Sea Life Centre in Manchester. Despite being a small aquarium, it’s a great attraction in such a popular shopping hub, making it well worth a visit. I’ve loved all my visits here and would like to go back in the future to check out the new Giant Spider Crab section (though not willingly!), which seems like an interesting new addition. Also, I’ve heard that Ernie now has a girlfriend called Cammie, so it would be awesome to check out the two of them together. My advice would be to time your visits here in time with the animal talks to enhance your experience and make the most of your time. Next time, I think I’d like to get the Combo Ticket and take my little girl to LEGOLAND next door, and really enjoy ourselves.

Have you visited the Sea Life Centre in Manchester before? Are you planning to visit when you come to Manchester next? Let me know in the comments section below.

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