national sea life centre Birmingham review

Finding days out that will keep us all entertained has become harder and harder as my children get older, at 10 and 14 they are no longer occupied with a soft play centre and I also want to enjoy the trip out. So when we got the opportunity to visit the sea life centre in Birmingham to do a review we jumped at the chance.

Read our honest review and find out all the key information you’ll need below.

What’s inside the sea life centre Birmingham?

There are a variety of different aquatic areas to explore each with their own set of creatures that would inhabit that biome. Our favourites were the penguin ice adventures and the ocean tunnel. We also loved spotting the otters and the glowing jellyfish.

Each area is well laid out and easy to navigate with lots of information on the creatures you’re viewing. If your children leave you enough time to read the information before dashing to the next area! There was plenty of room to see everything, even on a busy Saturday.

How much does it cost?

You need to book in advance as that will ensure you get the best ticket prices. If you do that than prices start from £19.00 per person. You can also add an extra attraction to your ticket price, like the Lego discovery centre which is literally just around the corner and tickets for both start at £35.00.

It’s worth noting that the 4d cinema is no longer included in the price and you have to pay an additional £3.50 per person for that. Which was a little disappointing as we had enjoyed that on a previous visit.

How long does it take to go around Sea Life Centre Birmingham?

If you walk slowly and take time for photos and reading the information it could take you roughly two hours to go around the attraction. My boys were a little over enthusiastic and we raced through, in just over an hour. Which can make it seem a bit over priced.

What is the nearest station to Sea life Centre Birmingham?

Snow hill and Birmingham new street are both within walking distance and it’s really well signposted from the station. We love getting the train to visit Birmingham and it’s such a pedestrian friendly city.

Do you have to pre book sea life Centre?

It’s best to pre-book as you’ll get a cheaper ticket price and a timed slot which is essential on busy days like the weekend and school holidays.

Highlights of the sea life centre

The sharks and stingrays were very cool and we loved walking underneath as a massive turtle swam past.
The otters were the cutest creatures there and a very popular area.