Dazzling coral reefs brimming with colorful fish, stingrays sweeping gracefully through the water and sharks showing off their magnificent teeth can all be found at London Sea Life Aquarium.

The perfect attraction for all the family, the aquarium is designed to entertain toddlers, grandparents and everybody in between. If you want to immerse yourself in the underwater world, purchase SEA LIFE London Aquarium tickets for your trip to the city.

This is your guide to visiting the SEA LIFE London Aquarium, one of the most exciting theme parks in London.

How much do SEA LIFE London Aquarium tickets cost?

Standard ticket

When purchasing standard London Aquarium tickets, you’ll find that the price differs depending on the day of the week you wish to visit and how far in advance you book.

In order to get the best rates, purchase your pass for a weekday several weeks in advance.

Adults: £26.50 - £35
Children aged 3-15: £24 - £32
Children under 3: Free

Anytime entry ticket

Those who are looking for more flexibility may choose to select an anytime entry pass. These SEA LIFE London Aquarium rates are higher, but they offer freedom to those who enjoy a looser schedule.

Adults: £43
Children aged 3-15: £40
Children under 3: Free

Standard entry plus VR experience

Alongside exploring the many wonders of the ocean from behind glass on your London Aquarium visit, you can also don a VR headset and become fully immersed in the seas. This experience is not suitable for those under the age of 6.

Adults: £41
Children aged 3-15: £37
Children under 3: Free

Standard entry plus behind-the-scenes tour

If you wish to learn more about the everyday running of the aquarium and how the sea creatures are taken care of, opt to participate in a behind-the-scenes tour while visiting. These experiences run on weekends only.

Adults: £41.50
Children aged 3-15: £38.50
Children under 3: Free

Should you book London Aquarium tickets ahead of your visit?

All visitors must purchase their SEA LIFE London Aquarium tickets in advance in order to gain access to the site. This helps keep the number of visitors manageable, making the experience more pleasant for all.

By booking your tickets online, you’ll have the flexibility of rescheduling your visit up to 1 day in advance. You’ll also save time queueing as you can simply flash your pass on your smartphone to enter the attraction.

Who is eligible for discounts?

Persons with disabilities pay the full SEA LIFE London Aquarium entry fee, however, a carer can accompany them to the attraction for free.

Students can purchase their London Aquarium tickets for a discounted rate of up to 80% through a partner program. This means that the entrance fee for students can be as low as £15 outside of peak times.

What is included in a SEA LIFE London Aquarium visit?

SEA LIFE London Aquarium ticket

With a London Sea Life Aquarium ticket, you’ll be free to roam the site at your own leisure.

From discovering starfish and sea anemones in the aquarium’s rock pool to witnessing the grandeur of a polar bear in 4D, you’ll find plenty to do at this attraction.

You can watch different species at feeding time and see each creature’s daily habits. Test your bravery as you step on the glass over Shark Walk and watch the misunderstood fish swim gracefully just inches below you.

Not only will you have the opportunity to discover rare species you wouldn’t come across by yourself in the ocean, but you’ll also educate yourself on marine preservation.

You’ll learn about how humans endanger coral reefs and what we can do as a species to maintain their health.

Are there any combined tickets or tours including SEA LIFE London Aquarium and other attractions?

Purchasing combined SEA LIFE London Aquarium tickets alongside one or more of the city’s other tourist attractions will save you time otherwise spent booking passes so that you can enjoy your vacation time more.

These combined tickets enable you to save a substantial sum on each ticket and see more sights for less while in London.

● SEA LIFE London Aquarium and Kew Gardens tickets: Discover the mysteries of the underwater world before experiencing the natural wonders of Kew Gardens, with over 25,000 species of flora.

● SEA LIFE London Aquarium plus Madame Tussauds and the London Eye tickets: Tick off your tourist bucket list by capturing pictures of the city’s skyline from above, posing next to your favorite celebrity and getting up close to a fluffy penguin on this fun combination tour.

● SEA LIFE London Aquarium and Shrek’s Adventure tickets: Get the whole family involved in meeting Shrek and Donkey at the interactive attraction before spotting unusual marine life at the London Sea Life Aquarium

What will you see inside the London Aquarium?

The London Aquarium originally opened in 1997 and is now the largest aquarium in London. Filled with over 500 species, there is something for every type of marine lover to see.

There are four types of sharks to be found in the aquarium — sand tiger sharks, nurse sharks, black tip reef sharks and lesser spotted dogfish.

You can also see a group of gentoo penguins, which originate in the Antarctic, as well as octopus and three types of rays.

The aquarium also houses three different zones — Coral Kingdom, Ocean Invaders and Rainforest Adventure. In Coral Kingdom, you’ll discover the UK’s largest reef, brimming with life.

Over 40 species of fish call this coral reef home, including cardinal fish, clownfish and four-eyed anableps.

Moving on to Ocean Invaders, you'll find yourself lost in a world of jellyfish. Learn about the 350 species of this marine creature that has been floating through the oceans for over 500 million years.

Moon jellyfish, upside-down jellyfish and Japanese sea nettles can all be seen in this immersive experience.

Travel to the Amazon at the Rainforest Adventure, where you'll find a variety of creepy crawlies waiting to meet you. Tarantulas, ants and hungry piranhas make this experience only for the brave.

How to get to SEA LIFE London Aquarium?

The SEA LIFE London Aquarium is located on the south bank of the Thames River, along with many other famous attractions. The easiest way to reach the site is to catch a train to Waterloo.

From there, follow the signs toward South Bank and look out for the London Eye. The aquarium is located directly next to this iconic wheel.

When is the best time to go to the London Aquarium?

The London Sea Life Aquarium is open from 10 AM to 6 PM from Friday to Wednesday, and 11 AM until 6 PM on Thursdays.

Like many of London’s most popular attractions, the London Sea Life Aquarium is especially busy during school holidays and weekends.

As such, it’s best to plan your trip during a weekday, when you’ll find the experience more peaceful and enjoyable.

Top tips

Make sure you visit the rockpool for the opportunity to touch a starfish.
There is limited room at SEA LIFE London Aquarium so pack lightly if you can.
Set aside 1.5 hours in total for your SEA LIFE London Aquarium experience.

Which other theme parks can be visited in London?

Sea Life Aquarium: Tickets