National SEA LIFE Centre, Birmingham

National SEA LIFE Centre, Birmingham Overview

The National SEA LIFE Centre is an aquarium with over sixty displays of freshwater and marine life located alongside the Birmingham Canal Navigations Main Line Canal in Brindleyplace, Birmingham. This huge facility is the UK’s only aquarium with a transparent 360-degree underwater ocean tunnel and is home to huge sea turtles, sharks, penguins, and native rays. One of Birmingham’s most visited tourist locations, this Centre is thronged by both natives and tourists looking to uncover the mysteries of the ocean.

Featured in a number of BBC documentaries - including Attenborough’s Life series - National SEA LIFE Centre was voted Aquarium of the Year and Warwickshire Family Attraction of the Year by the Good Britain Guide 2004. The Breed, Rescue and Protect project of the Centre aims to bolster conservation efforts, and is responsible for most of the rescued animals in the aquarium. The interactive Rockpool is a kids’ favourite, while the penguin exhibit’s new penguin chick is a star attraction.

Aquarium Zones

Ocean Tunnel: The most popular attraction at National SEA LIFE Centre, this Ocean Tunnel is the UK’s only transparent 360° tunnel. Walking through this marine tunnel, visitors can spot the resident giant green sea turtle, rays, sharks, reef fish, and other tropical fish.

Reef Edge: Modelled after the Great Barrier Reef, this exhibit houses stunningly coloured corals, eels, anemones, and tropical reef fish.

Rainforest: This exhibit is modelled on a gushing tropical river, and gives visitors the chance to watch poisonous frogs, tropical birds, piranhas, and other fish in their natural habitat.

Penguin Ice Adventure: This Antarctic habitat is the new home of a colony of Gentoo penguins. These endangered animals are a delight to watch - there is a new baby penguin that was born in the facility as well.

Feeding time is at 1:00 PM every day.

Penguin Ice Adventure Zone at National SEA LIFE Centre — Penguin Ice Adventure Zone (Source)

Shark Lagoon: Watch blacktip reef sharks and nurse sharks in action at Shark Lagoon, and learn about conservation efforts at the aquarium.

Feeding time is at 11:00 AM every day.

Rockpool: The Rockpool habitat emulates a seashore after high tide. Feel the ocean up close here, because are welcome to touch and feel starfish, anemones, and common shore crabs.

Clownfish Kingdom: Try your luck at finding Nemo at the Clownfish Kingdom, where these beautiful fish dart through anemones and reefs.

Feeding time is at 1:00 PM every day

Bay of Rays: Watch native thornback, blonde, and painted rays in action at the Bay of Rays, and get close with these gentle giants.

Feeding time is at 1:00 PM every day

Seahorses: Learn about the fascinating adaptations of seahorses and witness the big-bellied sea horses’ antics in person. The seahorse breeding centre makes for an interesting visit.

Octopus Hideout: Prepare to be amazed by colour-changing cuttlefish and the intelligent Giant Pacific Octopus. Watch the octopus solve puzzles and mazes!

Feeding time is at 10:30 AM every day

Jelly Invaders: Learn about the life cycle of jellyfish and watch their idyllic, hypnotic movement in the water.

Feeding time is at 4:30 PM every day

Marine Animals

The National SEA LIFE Centre houses more than two thousand marine animals from around the world. It boasts of an impressive collection of fish, birds and mammals.

The Bowmouth Guitar Shark is half-ray and half-shark, and is a must-see.
Mo, the resident green turtle, weighs a whopping 280 pounds and is a crowd favourite.
The Gentoo penguins’ calls resonate through the gallery, while the seals and otters are delightful.
The octopi, blacktip reef sharks, sea horses, and clownfish are other animals to watch out for.