Zoos & aquariums · London
Sea Life London Aquarium
In or near London.
London's largest aquarium, in County Hall on the South Bank — walk-through shark tunnel.
Christopher Hilton — CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons licence
Plan your visit
- Typical visit
- 3 h–5 h
- Nearest railway station
- Waterloo · 0.4 km
- Paid entry
- Family-friendly
- Limited wheelchair access
Getting there & planning your visit
To visit Sea Life London Aquarium, the nearest railway station is Waterloo, which is 0.4 km away. Entry is paid, and wheelchair accessibility is limited. The postcode for sat-nav is SE1 7PB.
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
Summary from the official site
SEA LIFE London Aquarium offers an immersive experience showcasing over 500 species across 14 themed zones. Visitors can explore diverse marine life, including a Gentoo Penguin colony, jellyfish, and the UK's largest living coral reef, all while learning about marine conservation efforts.
Read more on the official property page.
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
- District
- Lambeth
- Parish
- Lambeth, unparished area
- Postcode
- SE1 7PB
- Parliamentary constituency
- Vauxhall and Camberwell Green
- Nearest railway station
- Waterloo — 0.4 km
- Opening
- Mo-Su 10:00-18:00
- Official site
- www.visitsealife.com
Sources
- manual: sea-life-london-aquarium (manual)
- wikipedia: Sea Life London Aquarium (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Featured in these 2 guides
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Frequently asked questions
- Where is Sea Life London Aquarium?
- Sea Life London Aquarium is in London, United Kingdom (postcode SE1 7PB), in the parish of Lambeth, unparished area.
- What is Sea Life London Aquarium?
- London's largest aquarium, in County Hall on the South Bank — walk-through shark tunnel.
- How do I get to Sea Life London Aquarium?
- The nearest railway station is Waterloo, about 0.4 km away. Drivers can use postcode SE1 7PB.
- 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.
- How do I get to Sea Life London Aquarium?
- The nearest railway station is Waterloo, about 0.4 km away. Drivers can navigate to postcode SE1 7PB.