Sea Life Centre Brighton, Brighton

Smaller than the other sealife centres I've been to, but better in some ways. For example, the Brighton University Students studying marine biology often have projects on the go and exhibit there. The snack area is a bit small and right in the middle of the main area, which is annoying, but if you're into fish, it's really special. Plus, if it gets you in the mood, Harry Ramsden's is just across the road for dinner.

okay…i have very fond memories of goin to these sealife centres as a kid….i took my lil sis to the brighton one a year ago (she was 12) and she kept saying the fish look very old and they dont move much and there colours seem to have worn off…her words…
i love fish in the sea, in a tank, on my plate…,its a bit pricey to get in but if you dont mind then get yourself in there coz some fish are really nice and weird and you get to touch some of them and see them from funny angles…i like it :D

Was expecting to see a lot more fishes and was not too impressed with prices of entry. Staff were quite helpful but just found it all expensive for what it was. Good place to take kids though.

i like the center we have all kinds of fun here

there lot species in 57 separate displays covering all aspects of marine life, including local species from the English Channel. One of the main draws for children is the ‘petting’ tank, where you sit on the side and stroke - yes, stroke - the inquisitive and friendly rays as they come to the surface.

As you’d expect, it’s a great place to take kids, and there’s a great shop at the end

Most of Brighton’s bus services stop within 5 minutes’ walking distance.

Admission prices (Easter 2008) are:

Adult - £12.99 (15yrs+)
Child - £8.99 (3-14yrs)
Concession - £10.99 (Senior/Student)
Family - £38.99 (2 Adults/2 Children)
Under 3’s - Free

its one for the kids taken by the uncles or grandparents. I find it to expensive and find the place dark and old. it needs a good overhaul . there are some varied attractions and there are wonders to beheld but at such a price . It may appeal more with the discount vouchers widely available

Its hard to rate this place, I dont wish to slate it too much as I have fond memories of seeing dolphins here as a child!! I think its horrendously expensive for what it is, and, only use my vouchers to attend. Can be in and out within an hour. Very victorian looking and worth a visit. It would be a shame to lose this attraction, but cant see many people in this day and age paying the prices they command…. Needs bringing into this century in a subtle way.

My daughter had her 6th birthday party at the Sealife centre and I went with the bemused and harried expression of a mother who though happy that her child is about to have fun is secretly dreading the thought of entertaining children at a birthday party. The endless smiles used to make my face ache as I tried to convince children that yes I really did just love watching them screaming round places that I’d paid a fortune for to entertain them. Well I was surprised. This place held them spell bound and I defy anyone to stand under that glass tunnel and not be bewitched by the sight of a stingray gliding above their heads. It is historic, perhaps now past its best but I think there are still parts of it touched by fairy dust. And if you are amongst the army of harrassed parents out there stuck with a child stomping their feet saying for the upteenth time “But I’m bored!!!!!” you could do far worse. Also if you are visiting pop into the tourist information centre first as they often have promotional vouchers for the Sealife centre.

To me, the Sea Life Centre is very much about children. I went with my nephew and niece; there were some things that I wasn’t terribly interested in that were fascinating to them. There were other things that we all thought were wonderful, like being able to stroke a ray with the backs of our hands, even the little nine year old felt able to do that.

My sister is a teacher, and she bought quite a few things to use in her classroom, plus pocket money toys to hand out as presents.

The cafe was good, because we were able to sit down and enjoy our tea, but the kids had the run of quite a large space. A great way to use up a couple of hours, especially in bad weather, and they still remember it very well now, quite a few months later - building up a store of memories!

A strangly depressing place to visit. Its well past its hayday, so every exhibit is just that little bit uncomfortable to watch. You can’t avoid the fact that there’s really not all that much to see, though the glass roofed tunnel is really neat. IF it weren’t so expensive, it would be a more pleasant place to visit, but at the prices they charge, its just not worth it.

I’ve been to the sea life centre at least twice since being in Brighton. It’s great fun. There’s loads to see and you don’t feel ripped off, it’s totally worth it.

Being in Brighton for an impromptu weekend, we stumbled upon the Sea Life centre and did not have great expectations (just 90 minutes of relative peace with our 2 daughters aged 5 and 2 on a very grim and rainy day). It turns out that we had a great time, and our daughters had a complete blast. The “centre” has a very long history, back to the 19th Century when actually Brighton was a real destination for holidays and weekends (ie pre Easyjet days). The place is well organised starting with small Victorian aquariums with lots of different varieties of rather small fishes, then it goes crescendo in the various other rooms with more exotic fishes (including the Amazonian section and the manta ray fishes) and the very large room hosting the beautiful sea turtle named “lulu”. That room feels a bit like a 1960s Jams Bond movie as you expect to see the bad guy ready to send his accomplice to the sharks. We did not see James Bond but saw a few sharks, which was fun from the tunnel under the acquarium. Overall it was much better than what I thought it would be but note that the Sea Life Centre is controlled by a private equity group (Blackstone) and is clearly run very efficiently (ie run to maxilise cashflow) and there are signs of limited investment (we spotted a few places with rust around mettalic protections which could be hazardous for children). So if you go make sure you find the coupons a lot of other Qypers refer to as we did not have them and found the 12.50 pounds entry price a bit steep.

A great place to take kids on sunday or rainy day. As other reviewers say look for discount vouchers as an be expensive. Small children may not like nemos tunnel. My son was terrified of the hologram at the upstairs talk but this seems to have gone now? Good if you have family down to brighton and can get a residents pass but suprisingly they dont consider that portslade is in brighton even though we pay council tax!

Brilliant for children and they always have discount vouchers online or in the newspapers so well worth keeping an eye out for. Great location in brighton.

A great day out for kids and adults alike! There’s a wealth of species to explore in this huge aquarium, with a ton of information to digest about them if you wish to. The staff are friendly and knowledgeable, which was a pleasant surprise.

It can get quite busy during peak periods (such as mid afternoon during the school holidays) so unless you mind being jostled a bit and having to wait your turn to see some of the fish it’s worthwhile turning up early in the day, or on quieter days if you can.

Depending on your (or your children’s) attention span, I’d say there’s enough to keep you occupied here for a good couple of hours.

Brighton’s aquarium is one of the city’s most popular attractions, and also one of the oldest: in fact, it is the oldest operating aquarium in the world, opened in 1872.

Not that the displays are old-fashioned: the centre blends the best of the old and the new, with the original Victorian dislays - fish tanks set amidst splendid neo-gothic architecture, vying with the huge main tank, with its underwater ‘tube’ literally allowing you to go beneath the sharks, rays and turtles for a diver’s eye view. The main aquarium hall dates from the 1872 building, and has gothic columns with capitals decorated with marine life. It is now a Grade II listed building.

Altogether, there are over 150 species in 57 separate displays covering all aspects of marine life, including local species from the English Channel. One of the main draws for children is the ‘petting’ tank, where you sit on the side and stroke - yes, stroke - the inquisitive and friendly rays as they come to the surface.

Now owned by the Sea-Life company (which owns aquaria all over the UK and Germany), the emphasis is on education and enjoyment with a strong bias towards conservation - the company also operates sea-life sanctuaries. The Sea Life Centre can organise birthday parties and other group events - prices and details on the web-site.

As you’d expect, it’s a great place to take kids, and there’s a great shop at the end of the exhibitions to capitalise on their pester power. What always amuses me in aquaria shops is how they manage to make fish, molluscs and crustacea into credible fur-covered cuddly toys, though I admit that there is something oddly fascinating about a red cuddly lobster…

Practicalities:

The centre is located close to the roundabout by the Palace Pier at the bottom of the ‘Steine’, on Brighton sea-front. Most of Brighton’s bus services stop within 5 minutes’ walking distance.

Admission prices (Easter 2008) are:

Adult - £12.99 (15yrs+)
Child - £8.99 (3-14yrs)
Concession - £10.99 (Senior/Student)
Family - £38.99 (2 Adults/2 Children)
Under 3’s - Free

I’m not going to go into too much detail because DMJ has said it all in his review below! The sealife centre is fantastic. Great for kids and really quite good value. It’s central location makes it a must for day visitors to Brighton. I spent my 11th birthday here (many moons ago). Great fun.