SEA LIFE London Aquarium London Aquarium
Last Friday afternoon was my first visit since it became a Sea Life Aquarium . It was uncomfortably busy as it was half-term . I used Tesco Clubcard Reward vouchers for entry and elbowed through the crowds fairly briskly . A longer visit on a quieter day would be good as the collection is much larger than the average Sea Life .
They have a large shark collection including quite a few smaller species , up to big sand tigers and a very impressive bowmouth guitarfish . Two big green turtles in the large tank with walk-through tunnel . A female Cuban crocodile in Tropics area ( website says they have 2 females ) . Fairly certain that at least one of the 3 nesting pairs of gentoo penguins had chick(s) - an absolute scrum here with not a very large viewing area . Temporary 'Claws' exhibit had 2 big Japanese spider crabs ( the curved tank makes them look much bigger ) .
They have a large shark collection including quite a few smaller species , up to big sand tigers and a very impressive bowmouth guitarfish . Two big green turtles in the large tank with walk-through tunnel . A female Cuban crocodile in Tropics area ( website says they have 2 females ) . Fairly certain that at least one of the 3 nesting pairs of gentoo penguins had chick(s) - an absolute scrum here with not a very large viewing area . Temporary 'Claws' exhibit had 2 big Japanese spider crabs ( the curved tank makes them look much bigger ) .
devilfish
Well-Known Member
I visited the aquarium last week and was glad to see an improvement. Themed music isn't nearly as annoying, with different tunes for each area, and many of the graphics/educational displays look much more appealing.
However, the standard entry price of £23.50 is ridiculous and they have also removed any concession discounts.
One of the new changes was a small number of Triakis spp. sharks in the ocean tunnel tank. All those I saw were spotted, and I was convinced that at least one looked like a T. scyllium (having checked my guide after the visit). It would seem that others are likely to be either T. maculata or T. megalopterus but staff are unable to identify which species. Given that these sharks are uncommon in captivity (at best), if anyone visits and manages an ID, it would be interesting.
However, the standard entry price of £23.50 is ridiculous and they have also removed any concession discounts.
One of the new changes was a small number of Triakis spp. sharks in the ocean tunnel tank. All those I saw were spotted, and I was convinced that at least one looked like a T. scyllium (having checked my guide after the visit). It would seem that others are likely to be either T. maculata or T. megalopterus but staff are unable to identify which species. Given that these sharks are uncommon in captivity (at best), if anyone visits and manages an ID, it would be interesting.
Any photos of them??
Agreed: any photos and we might have a try!
I am glad that interest in sharks and rays and their captive-breeding is getting to new heights. Very timely since 100 million sharks are put away with each year for consumptive usage!
I am glad that interest in sharks and rays and their captive-breeding is getting to new heights. Very timely since 100 million sharks are put away with each year for consumptive usage!
Sea Life London has become the first aquarium in the UK to successfully culture the barrel jellyfish Rhizostoma pulmo, the largest species of British jellyfish. The news was announced in conjunction with World Jellyfish Day.
More information can be found in the link below:
UK first as aquarium breeds largest jellyfish species found in UK waters
More information can be found in the link below:
UK first as aquarium breeds largest jellyfish species found in UK waters
I believe Lion's Mane Jellyfish also occur in UK waters ? 
or is this more ocassional than anything
or is this more ocassional than anything
The lion's mane jellyfish is common off the west coast of Scotland and in the northern North Sea. It occurs off the coast northeast England in most years. Its frequency decreases further south.butI believe Lion's Mane Jellyfish also occur in UK waters ?
or is this more ocassional than anything
occur off both the Welsh coast and Yorkshire coast found in Lundy.
Spoiler alert: It also appears in a Sherlock Holmes story
About 25(!) years ago I travelled on the Stranraer to Larne ferry and the sea was packed with jellyfish for miles.
They were massive, pink and reminded me of a 1970s style nylon ladies nightie bobbing about.
No idea what species this would have been. It was August time but even so ruddy cold.
They were massive, pink and reminded me of a 1970s style nylon ladies nightie bobbing about.
No idea what species this would have been. It was August time but even so ruddy cold.
I've seen decent numbers of Lion's Manes both in northwest Wales and off the Yorkshire coast this year, after a few barren years. Lovely things.
I wouldn't worry - if anyone has heard of a Lion's Mane Jellyfish, they ain't going to need spoiling on that one... Sir Arthur relies heavily in that story on you not having heard of it!
starsinthesky
Member
Does anyone know the history of Boris and Doug the turtles, or much about them? When I Google nothing much comes up about them and the website just says about what they eat. I saw Boris is 27/28 and named after Boris Johnson when he was mayor
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I believe Boris was named/renamed when the then Mayor of London made an official visit in 2009 after the major revamp of the Aquarium and it relaunched as a SeaLife centre. As for Dougie his naming/renaming seems to coincide with the launch of (mcFly's) Dougie Poynter Plastic Sucks! book in 2019.
Bumping an old thread, but I am heading to London in a few weeks. I have SeaLife as a stop, but some of the recent reviews on Google look pretty rough. Is it worth the stop and time? I have been to the SeaLife in Orlando and enjoyed it for what it is.
London SeaLife Aquarium is entirely an indoor venue, including the Humboldt's Penguin enclosure so it can be stark and cramped in places,if you go on a crowded day,and the last time i visited,it was a one way system. However,there are decent designed exhibits,namely the tropics room and individual visitors have different views. Some love it,some hate it
I'm guessing you meant the Gentoo penguins?
Kalaw
Well-Known Member
Sea Life London is fun for a half-day out, but ultimately a bit dull and there are far more interesting things to do in London. No major rarities, or creative or large fish tanks, and its only got less interesting in recent years with notable departures such as the Cuban Crocodile, Bonnethead Shark and Honeycomb Moray. It does have its moments - a stingray touch tank featuring Mangrove Whiprays (although I am not sure whether you are still allowed to touch them), a decent tunnel tank, the very large shark tank an impressively large group of Sand Tigers, the largest live coral tank in the UK (as it is new I am yet to see it in person, although given how rare coral tanks are in this country that title really doesn't say much), and the rainforest room which has some very well-planted tanks and Dwarf Crocodiles. It is a decent half-day visit, but not worth the entrance fee of £33 for an adult in my eyes, which skyrockets to £40 if you book on the day as opposed to online in advance, and up to £50 if you don't want to limit yourself to a timed entry ticket. If you haven't already planned to do so, I would recommend instead visiting the Natural History Museum, which is a stunning building featuring the world's largest natural history collection, with several historically vital specimens - and it is free to enter!
Going to be needlessly pedantic and point out which the penguins are Gentoo, not Humboldt.
Ah,yes. Was not sure which penguin species they kept.
Sea Life London is fun for a half-day out, but ultimately a bit dull and there are far more interesting things to do in London. No major rarities, or creative or large fish tanks, and its only got less interesting in recent years with notable departures such as the Cuban Crocodile, Bonnethead Shark and Honeycomb Moray. It does have its moments - a stingray touch tank featuring Mangrove Whiprays (although I am not sure whether you are still allowed to touch them), a decent tunnel tank, the very large shark tank an impressively large group of Sand Tigers, the largest live coral tank in the UK (as it is new I am yet to see it in person, although given how rare coral tanks are in this country that title really doesn't say much), and the rainforest room which has some very well-planted tanks and Dwarf Crocodiles. It is a decent half-day visit, but not worth the entrance fee of £33 for an adult in my eyes, which skyrockets to £40 if you book on the day as opposed to online in advance, and up to £50 if you don't want to limit yourself to a timed entry ticket. If you haven't already planned to do so, I would recommend instead visiting the Natural History Museum, which is a stunning building featuring the world's largest natural history collection, with several historically vital specimens - and it is free to enter!Going to be needlessly pedantic and point out which the penguins are Gentoo, not Humboldt.
Agreed wholeheartedly. There are many better things to do in London than a generic SeaLife aquarium.
100%. The most remarkable thing about London is not the amazing collection of world class attractions, but the fact the majority of them cost practically nothing. Head to the British museum and see the Pantheon Marbles, Maoi, and the Rosetta Stone. And all it will cost you is the tube fare!