Name: National Marine Aquarium
Rating: 5.0

National Marine Aquarium

National Marine Aquarium, Rope Walk, Plymouth, UK

1-90 Years

Paid

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Description

The National Marine Aquarium in Plymouth is the UK’s largest aquarium, home to over 5,000 marine animals and the country’s deepest aquarium exhibit. Visitors can enjoy the UK’s largest viewing window and explore a range of fascinating marine habitats from around the world. Every ticket offers 12 months of free return visits, making it a great place to revisit throughout the year.

Key attractions include the Plymouth Sound exhibit, showcasing local marine life and a shark nursery, and Seagrass Shores, highlighting one of the ocean’s most vital habitats. The iconic Eddystone Reef features the UK’s largest single viewing panel, while other highlights include the Ocean Drifters jellyfish display, the enormous Atlantic Ocean tank, the colourful Biozone, the Seagrass Laboratory, and the spectacular Great Barrier Reef exhibit. The aquarium also hosts unique experiences such as Sleeping with Sharks, Turtle Feeding, Snorkel Safaris, and Behind the Scenes tours.

Tickets are priced at £26.00 for adults, £16.00 for children (3–15) and seniors/students, with under-3s free. Every ticket includes unlimited visits for 12 months.

A visit to the National Marine Aquarium offers an inspiring and educational experience for all ages, blending conservation awareness with fun, hands-on encounters. With its wide variety of exhibits, engaging events, and unbeatable views from the Waves Café, it’s a must-see destination for marine life lovers. Whether you’re a family, couple, or solo visitor, it’s a place where you’ll leave with a deeper appreciation for the ocean and its wonders.

Features

Paid
Host birthday parties: No

Features

Plymouth Sound: Plymouth Sound is the natural harbour found just outside the NMA’s doors. Our exhibit showcases some of the stunning and colourful animals. From what’s found in the rockpools around the coast, what lies beneath the shallow waves and we even have our very own shark nursery with eggs from our in house breeding programmes.
Seagrass Shores: Seagrass is one of the Ocean’s most important habitats, providing a nursery ground for many commercial fish stocks and acting as a haven for many marine animals including rare seahorses, stalked jellyfish, and rare seaweeds. Our seagrass shores exhibit showcases what vital underwater habitat looks like, with some of the animals that may live there.
Eddystone Reef: In the centre of our Aquarium, you’ll find our British Coasts area – and at the heart of that, you’ll find our iconic Eddystone Reef exhibit. Not only is the largest single viewing panel in the UK, but it’s also home to a stunning array of local sharks, rays and many more amazing Ocean animals!
Ocean Drifters: Some of the most mesmerising animals that live in the Ocean have got to be jellyfish! Take a look at our Ocean Drifters exhibit to learn about the lives of these strange but beautiful creatures.
Atlantic Ocean: Dive deeper into the UK’s largest tank. Our massive Atlantic Ocean exhibit is the deepest tank in the UK, holding a whopping 2.5 million litres of water! The animals that call the Atlantic Ocean home range in size, from tiny Angelfish all the way up to huge Sand Tiger Sharks. The walk around the tank means you can view all of the amazing animals from three different locations. Starting in the Moon Pool tunnel and ending up in the crowd pleasing ‘Demi Tunnel’, with stunning views of the entire tank.
Biozone: Next on your whistle stop tour of the world’s Ocean, you’ll meet some famous fish faces in our Biozone area. Home to colourful fish from warmer waters, this area showcases some of the truly unique and fascinating animals that call the Ocean home.
Seagrass Laboratory: Here at the Ocean Conservation Trust we’re part of a fantastic collaborative project looking to restore important Seagrass beds. Located here at the Aquarium we’ve installed a groundbreaking Seagrass Lab where our scientists are working hard to grow this important Ocean habitat. We’ve opened the doors so you can come in and take a look for yourself.
Great Barrier Reef: Last but no means least on your journey around the world’s Ocean is our stunning Great Barrier Reef exhibit. Our Australian inspired, 650,000 litre reef exhibit showcases some of the most colourful fish found in the Ocean.
Events: The aquarium hosts a wide array of immersive, ocean-themed experiences every month, including Fireworks at The Aquarium, Zebra Shark Experiences, Snorkel sessions, Turtle Feeding, Sleeping with Sharks, and Behind the Scenes tours. Additional opportunities include Ocean Toddler sessions, Yoga, Ocean Squad programs, Boat Trips, Snorkel Safaris, Rockpool Safaris, and Quiet Evenings, many of which are run in partnership with the Ocean Conservation Trust.

Facilities

Parking: Paid parking available at Sutton Harbour Car Park.
Food & Drinks: The Waves Café, with its unbeatable views over the Plymouth Sound, is located on the first level of the Aquarium.
Picnic areas: You’re welcome to bring a picnic with you when visiting the Aquarium.

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Price

Price: Paid

Price Details

General Admissions (With unlimited return visits for 12 months)

Adult: £26.00
Child (3-15): £16.00
Under 3: Free
Senior/Students: £16.00

Pricing URL: https://www.national-aquarium.co.uk/book-tickets/

Birthday Parties

Offer Birthday Parties: No

March – October: 10am – 5pm
November – February: 10am – 5pm

Address: National Marine Aquarium, Rope Walk, Plymouth, UK

Post Code: PL4 0LF

Council: Plymouth

County: Devon

By Bus: There are several bus routes that stop at either Royal Parade (CityBus numbers St Johns Church on Exeter Street (CityBus numbers 5, 5a, 17, 18, 21, 21a, 50, 59, 85, 806), on the Barbican, (CityBus number 25) or Sutton Road (CityBus number 48). Royal Parade and Exeter Street require a 10 minute walk, however the Barbican and Sutton Street are 5 minutes away.
By Train: Walking from Plymouth Train Station takes around 30 minutes, the full route can be found on Google Maps here. There are taxis available outside Plymouth Train Station which will take around 10 minutes, fares may vary.
By Car: The National Marine Aquarium is located in the Coxside area of Plymouth. Follow the brown and white fish signs, which can be found on all entry roads into the city. The recommended route is via the A38 to Marsh Mills (Sainsbury’s) then along the A374 Embankment Road. The route for the Aquarium and nearest available Parking is signposted from here. Sat Nav postcode: PL4 0DX