National Marine Aquarium

Take a journey through the many oceans of the world from the shores of Plymouth itself, to tropical coral reefs. See marine life from hermit crabs, lobsters and starfish, to loggerhead turtles and tiger sharks.

Explore Plymouth Sound, the exhibit focused on marine life around Plymouth. Find shallow tanks filled with life from Plymouth’s rock pools, such as anemones, starfish, lobsters and even small sharks. In the deeper tanks you’ll find a range of cephalopods such as cuttlefish and octopuses, as well as a wide variety of shellfish.

Inspect the British Coasts exhibit to find creatures from the wider British oceans. Admire the life-size models of whales and dolphins and learn about the potential in the oceans for renewable energy. See the Eddystone tank, which recreates the nearby Eddystone Reef. Here you’ll find a wide variety of fish, as well as conger eels and hound sharks.

Walk through the tunnel in the Atlantic Ocean display, the biggest tank in the U.K. See many species of fish native to this ocean. A life-sized replica of the World War II seaplane The Walrus, which vanished during the war, forms an artificial reef here. The tank holds many large predators, including Sand Tiger Sharks, nurse sharks, barracuda and stingrays.

The Biozone display showcases the biodiversity of the oceans, with an emphasis on the importance of marine conservation. You’ll see cowfish, lionfish, giant Pacific octopuses, seahorses and more here. The Great Barrier Reef is the final display and the second largest in the aquarium. Be amazed by the variety of colors here with over 70 different species of fish. The star of the exhibit is a loggerhead turtle by the name of Snorkel; she washed up in Cornwall in 1990.

Walk a short distance from Plymouth’s train and bus stations to reach the National Marine Aquarium. The aquarium is open year-round, closing only on Christmas Day and Boxing Day. Ticket prices vary, with both concessions and membership available.