Zoos & aquariums · Northern Ireland
Exploris
In or near Strangford.
Exploris — aquarium in Portaferry, Northern Ireland.
%2C_October_2009.JPG?width=1200)
Wikimedia Commons contributors — see linked file page for photographer and licence licence
%2C_October_2009.JPG){kind=link}
Plan your visit
- Typical visit
- 3 h–5 h
- Nearest railway station
- Delamont · 8.3 km
- Paid entry
- Family-friendly
- Limited wheelchair access
Getting there & planning your visit
To visit Exploris, the nearest railway station is Delamont, which is 8.3 km away. The postcode for sat-nav is BT22 1NZ. Please note that entry is paid and wheelchair accessibility is limited.
About
Exploris is a zoo, wildlife park, or public aquarium in the United Kingdom. Records date its origin to 1987. Address: BT22 1NZ. Wikidata describes it as: "aquarium in Portaferry, Northern Ireland". Coordinates: 54.3820°, -5.5490°.
Photo gallery
Summary from the official site
Exploris is an aquarium and seal sanctuary that offers visitors the chance to see a variety of marine life, including seals, otters, and tropical fish. The facility features interactive exhibits and educational experiences, making it a great destination for families and school groups.
Read more on the official property page.
From the Wikipedia article
Exploris is a public aquarium situated in Portaferry, Northern Ireland. The facility is the only public aquarium in Northern Ireland and it is located on the shores of the Marine Nature reserve of Strangford Lough, which is an important winter migration destination for many wading and sea birds. The lough is home to almost 75% of the marine species found in Northern Ireland, including common seals, basking sharks and brent geese. Three quarters of the world population of pale bellied brent geese spend winter in the lough area. Exploris illustrates and exhibits the large variety of animals that live in Strangford Lough. Exploris was closed in late 2014 for refurbishment. It reopened in August 2016 following an investment of close to £1.5m in refurbishment works by the operators, Crumlin Road Gaol Ltd., but also with the help of the Department of the Environment.
Excerpt from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0. See the source article linked in Sources below.
- Coordinates
- 54.3820, -5.5490
- District
- Ards and North Down
- Postcode
- BT22 1NZ
- Parliamentary constituency
- Strangford
- Phone
- +44 28 4272 8062
- Established
- 1987
- Annual visitors
- ~100,000/year
- Nearest railway station
- Delamont — 8.3 km
- Opening
- Mo-Su 10:00-17:00
- Official site
- www.exploris.org.uk
Sources
- wikidata: Q5421418 (CC0)
- wikipedia: Exploris (CC BY-SA 4.0)
- commons: Exploris Aquarium, Portaferry (10), October 2009.JPG (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Other places nearby
Exploris Aquarium
Zoos & aquariums · 0.0 km
Portaferry Lifeboat Station
Natural landmarks · 0.1 km
Portaferry
Natural landmarks · 0.1 km
Portaferry Castle
Castles · 0.2 km
Portaferry Marina
Natural landmarks · 0.5 km
Portaferry Marina
Marinas · 0.5 km
Strangford Castle
Castles · 1.2 km
Evopod
Natural landmarks · 1.3 km
.JPG?width=1200)
Strangford
Towns & cities · 1.3 km
SeaGen
Natural landmarks · 1.5 km
Audley's Castle
Castles · 1.5 km
Ballyhenry
Natural landmarks · 1.7 km
Nearby
📷 3Zoos & aquariums · Northern Ireland
Exploris Aquarium
Exploris Aquarium — a zoo aquarium in northern-ireland, United Kingdom.
📷 4Natural landmarks · Northern Ireland
Portaferry Lifeboat Station
Portaferry Lifeboat Station in Northern Ireland, United Kingdom.
📷 5Natural landmarks · Northern Ireland
Portaferry
Portaferry in Northern Ireland, United Kingdom.
📷 5Castles · Northern Ireland
Portaferry Castle
Portaferry Castle — castle in Portaferry, County Down, Northern Ireland.
📷 5Natural landmarks · Northern Ireland
Portaferry Marina
Portaferry Marina is situated in Portaferry, on the east shore of The Narrows (separating Portaferry and Strangford villages), the gateway to Strangford Lough, County Down, Northern Ireland. It is own
📷 5Where to eat & stay near Exploris
Places to stay
📷 5Campsites · Northern Ireland
Castle Ward Caravan Park
Castle Ward Caravan Park — a campsite in northern ireland.
📷 5Caravan parks · Northern Ireland
Strangford Holiday Park
Strangford Holiday Park — a caravan park in northern ireland.
📷 5Campsites · Northern Ireland
EDYC Caravan and Camping Area
EDYC Caravan and Camping Area — a campsite in northern ireland.
📷 5Campsites · Northern Ireland
Delamont Country Park
Delamont Country Park — a campsite in northern ireland.
📷 4Caravan parks · Northern Ireland
Quoile Yacht Club Caravan Park
Quoile Yacht Club Caravan Park — a caravan park in northern ireland.
📷 3Campsites · Northern Ireland
The Lodge at Quarterland Bay Camp Site
The Lodge at Quarterland Bay Camp Site — a campsite in northern ireland.
Other zoos and aquariums from this era
Flagship📷 10Zoos & aquariums · London
Sea Life London Aquarium
London's largest aquarium, in County Hall on the South Bank — walk-through shark tunnel.
Flagship📷 10Zoos & aquariums · South East England
Bucklebury Farm Park
Bucklebury Farm Park — animal park located in Berkshire, England.
Flagship📷 10Zoos & aquariums · South East England
Howletts Wild Animal Park
Howletts Wild Animal Park — zoo in Kent, England.
Flagship📷 10Zoos & aquariums · South East England
Port Lympne Wild Animal Park
Port Lympne Wild Animal Park is a zoo or aquarium in the United Kingdom.
More zoos and aquariums in this region
Flagship📷 5Zoos & aquariums · Northern Ireland
Belfast Zoo
Belfast Zoo — zoo in Northern Ireland.
📷 3Zoos & aquariums · Northern Ireland
Exploris Aquarium
Exploris Aquarium — a zoo aquarium in northern-ireland, United Kingdom.
📷 3Zoos & aquariums · Northern Ireland
North Coast Alpacas
North Coast Alpacas — a zoo aquarium in northern-ireland, United Kingdom.
📷 3Zoos & aquariums · Northern Ireland
Rainforest House
Rainforest House — a zoo aquarium in northern-ireland, United Kingdom.
Frequently asked questions
- Where is Exploris?
- Exploris is in Northern Ireland, United Kingdom (postcode BT22 1NZ).
- What is Exploris?
- Exploris — aquarium in Portaferry, Northern Ireland.
- How do I get to Exploris?
- The nearest railway station is Delamont, about 8.3 km away. Drivers can use postcode BT22 1NZ.
- When was Exploris built?
- Built or established in 1987.
- How do I get to Exploris?
- Drivers can navigate to postcode BT22 1NZ. It sits within the Strangford parliamentary constituency.
- How busy is Exploris?
- Exploris draws around 100,000 visitors a year.