Qype User (.
Yelp
This is a great place to take the kids,of all ages,esp if interested in sealife! It is quite pricey to get into,but if you do your homework well enough for all these type places,you will be able to save money! Their website/booking online saves money as well as reducing your queuing time,and if you travel and are interested in aquatic creatures,why not think about buying an annual pass!? I know I live near to Birmingham centre,but my bf and I and my eldest son,all have passes,which we have used enough to make up on the cost of entry many times over!
If you dont want to go during really busy times and dont have kids,go during the week,in termtime and just after lunch. People are tending to start making their way home or to town by then!
If you have pushchairs with children that are capable of walking round easily,then ask if you can leave the pushchairs in a 'buggy park' type area! Due to the passages becoming difficult to pass if jammed with too many.
Also,after long conversations with members of staff,it is requested that you dont take FLASH photography,due to the damage it can cause to the creatures health,and in some cases,prolonged periods of flashes going off,can cause the loss of poss rare creatures! If you are told not to use a flash,then please,for the sake of the magnificent sea creatures,DONT use them!
With sharks,rays,seahorses,jellyfish,otters,turtles etc,this is a very pleasent and informative place to take the kids aged from 0 - 70yrs +!
I have now taken the fifth star off my rating following a more recent visit,finding there is now no cafe/food area that is open,and not even a hot drinks machine! This I find very poor,esp for visitors that have travelled more than a half hr drive away minimum,especially to visit the centre,only to find they cant even buy a cup of tea/coffee,and will have to exit the centre if they want to sit down with a hot drink! Older generations esp,dont tend to drink too much of the fizzy drinks or bottled water!