SEA LIFE Loch Lomond Aquarium

Well worth a visit but not as big as you think. We thought we would be in here exploring for hours but it’s all indoors and a relatively small aquarium. It’s over 4 floors but only the ground floor is the aquarium and shop. Floor 1 is a kids cinema, floor 2 is a cafe and floor 3 is a viewing platform over the loch. The aquarium has several areas of small tanks that show you a range of fish and crustaceans from around the world. The tanks are beautifully clean and you really get to see them in all their magnificence. There is one larger tank where you can see larger sea creatures such as manta rays and see the story of a turtle that was rescued. It’s a really nice place to visit but deceptively small when compared to the building. All staff were really nice and they advised us to book online when at the till which we did as it’s cheaper than paying at the door which we never understand. Overall a great location but we explored it all in under an hour.

What a small but mighty aquarium! My son loved it. He was a bit scared by the giant skeleton when we first entered, but I’m certain that’s just a Halloween decoration! All the tanks were lovely, clean and clear and the fish and animals all looked happy. The otters were a family favourite! All the staff were amazing, friendly and interacted with us. It really makes a difference to have staff that care. A must is a coffee break in the cafe- Costa drinks with a view! It’s not the biggest, but it’s lovely and worth a visit with little ones in tow. The quiz for them to complete as they went round made it even more interactive. Buy tickets in advance to save some money. Your visit ends in the shop, and they take your group photo which you have the option to buy, but there really is no pressure to buy and even take part. But just be warned, take little one’s pocket money!

Great wee day out with my girl who's just turned 7. She loves learning and got to touch a starfish in the rock pool and loved seeing all the sea creatures. Was just gutted otters weren't out but they are new and shy. Definitely a good wee afternoon to be had...but it isn't the cheapest. By time U buy tickets and the photos (if U like) and get some food it's easily 70 quid.

This aquarium is genuinely lovely, and a great break if you’ve got some classic Scottish weather on your day out. I am a wheelchair user and found the aquarium to be pretty accessible, although you can checkout my review on RollMobility for more info. Its got some rough terrain inside, the way some aquariums like to be cute and create textures like bridges and pebbles in the floor. That being said, none of it was very intense or dramatic and I was able to manage alright. They have spacious elevators throughout. You may encounter a wait for the disabled restroom given the number of families. Lots of stuff is easily viewable and *touchable * from a seated position so like I really genuinely recommend it.

Lovely place, but extreamly small. Prices were way to high for 30 minute of waking around. There is a cinema with octonouts playing, but I would recommend it for younger kids up to 7 years old. Cafe and viewing balcony were great, good localisation.

Had a wee father son day out here with the laddie. It was a good day, and the Sea Centre kept him amused for a good wee while. Enjoy the wee quiz they gave us, made learning fun, and was a good way to get my son reading the information points rather than just looking at the marine life on display. We went up to the viewpoint on level 4, and this is accessible as are all floors by lift. The viewpoint would be breathtaking on a beautiful day. Unfortunately, there was a lot of overcast when we were there. Cafe also has nice views, but the menu, although relatively cheap, is limited food wise. Does, however, have the benefit of Costa in it, so coffee was good. All in all, good wee day out admission is expensive in my opinion at £40 for 1 adult 1 kid but nicely laid out and gift shop isn't expensive.

This is more of a kiddies experience. But it was not dull either. The Loch sea life were beautiful to behold and my favourites were the clown fishes and tiny sea horses. A good and educative experience but a bit anticlimactic.

Lovely little aquarium in a stunning location! Visited with family and really enjoyed it. The ocean tunnel with sharks and rays was a definite highlight, and we loved seeing the otters and the rescued sea turtle. The touch pool was great for kids, and the staff were super friendly and knowledgeable. It’s not a huge place—you can see everything in about an hour—but it’s well laid out and perfect for younger kids. The views from the café and rooftop are amazing too. Book online for a better price and it’s totally worth it!

While Deep Sea World and the Scottish Sea Life Centre in Oban are miles and miles away, Balloch Aquarium is only a short train ride out from Glasgow, near Balloch. It is part of the Loch Lomond Shores area which consists of a number of businesses located in a beautiful, tranquil setting next to Loch Lomond. As far as I remember the entry prices were £7-10 for an adult, which is reasonable, but I was able to get in free from a special promotion on the back of a subway ticket, which was very good. There are also special discounts for Tesco clubcard holders for example. My favourite attraction at the aquarium is the asian short-clawed otters, which are kept in an enclosed area where you can see them swimming and playing about. It is very difficult to see these creatures in the wild, so to see them up close like this is fantastic. Another real selling point for the aquarium is the sharks. You may not meet 'Jaws' here, but there are several smaller but equally formidable looking species such as Bonnethead sharks, which one can view very closely in a large tank similar to what there is at Deep Sea World. There are countless other species of fish all over the aquarium, so many that I can't even begin to explain them, but I do know that there are a variety of rays, eels and those ugly-looking fish that lie motionless at the bottom of the sea. As well as being able to watch all the animals being fed, there are special activites such as 'touchpool encounters' and sessions where people can learn more about the fascinating marine environment. There is a gift shop and a cafeteria, although the latter is reached via a huge flight of sprial steps (*big gasp for air!*). All in all, great fun for all the family.

Having visited the other sea life centres and aquariums in scotland this was last on our tour of them and im so sad to say that I was very disappointed. We secured money off entry via work discounts and I am glad we did as I would have not liked to have paid full entry. To sum it up there is not much to see here. The otters are the star attraction and count for my 2 stars. We literally walked around in less than an hour and that was only because we stopped at the otters several times. We took the lift up to 4th floor and you get some lovely views over loch lomond. There is a well stocked gift shop and a cafe although we didnt visit that. A disappointing visit overall.

The Aquarium itself is quite expensive, over £10 each, but the location is phenomenal on the Lomond Shores. The place is smaller than hoped for but a good visit, a whole day probably could not be spent here but there is alot do do around the aquarium if the sun is out. Watch the otters play or the little jelly men drift round their tank, the tour is idea for children and some of the talks given by staff where the little ones could touch the rough slimy skin of some sea creatures were all the rage. And that wasn't something I heard, oh yes I was dipping my hand in the dark little rock pools too. I must advise that if you are going to look too keen then the man in charge may nominate you his assistant who will, in no time have an arm covered in starfish. Interesting experience! No cameras allowed in this area though, it hurts the crustaceans in some way, well that's what Jim said anyway.

What a disapointment! The aquarium is geared for very young children, and is really basic. Nothing to learn and adults need not spend the expensive entry fee for a visit that can be seen in 20 minutes. What a waste of time and money. Stay clear of this venue as boredom sets in after the first 2 minutes. A big rip off for tourists.

Far too expensive. We paid over £26 and that was with a free child place. Toys in the shop were also overpriced.