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The Great Britain Guide

Zoos & aquariums · London

Sea Life London Aquarium

London's largest aquarium, in County Hall on the South Bank — walk-through shark tunnel.

County Hall, internal windows and the top of the debating chamber, 1990 - geograph.org.uk - 3419696

Christopher Hilton — CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons licence

Plan your visit

Typical visit
3 h–5 h

About

Sea Life London Aquarium occupies the basement of County Hall on the South Bank, opposite the Houses of Parliament. Around 600 species across 14 themed zones — Atlantic, Pacific, Antarctic Penguin Ice Adventure — make it the largest aquarium in central London. The walk-through Shark Tunnel under a 25-metre Atlantic ocean tank is the headline.

Photo gallery

From the Wikipedia article

Sea Life London Aquarium is a public aquarium in London, England, located in County Hall on the South Bank of the River Thames. Opened in 1997, it has been part of the Sea Life chain since 2009 and is operated by Merlin Entertainments. It forms part of a cluster of attractions, including the London Eye, London Dungeon, and DreamWorks Tours: Shrek’s Adventure! As of 2025, the aquarium receives more than one million visitors annually.

Excerpt from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0. See the source article linked in Sources below.

Background

History

In 2005, the aquarium displayed three robot fish created by the computer science department at the University of Essex. The fish were designed to be autonomous, swimming around and avoiding obstacles like real fish. Their creator claimed that he was trying to combine "the speed of tuna, acceleration of a pike, and the navigating skills of an eel." In April 2008, the aquarium was purchased by Merlin Entertainments for an undisclosed sum. The facility was closed for a £5 million refurbishment, and reopened as part of the Sea Life chain in April 2009. The additions included a new underwater tunnel, Shark Walk, a revamped Pacific Ocean tank, and a complete rerouting of the exhibit, all of which…

Sourced from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Coordinates
51.5018, -0.1192
Address
South Bank, London, England
Opening
Mo-Su 10:00-18:00

Sources

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Frequently asked questions

Where is Sea Life London Aquarium?
Sea Life London Aquarium is in London, United Kingdom.
When was Sea Life London Aquarium built?
Dates from the modern period.
Who owns Sea Life London Aquarium?
Sea Life London Aquarium is owned by Merlin Entertainments.