Bristol Aquarium
SETTING
Indoors
WHERE
Bristol
What it’s like
Forty tanks of sharks, rays and jellyfish under the city centre, with feeding talks and an old IMAX screen to finish on.
You walk through tunnels and past forty living displays, working from smaller tropical tanks toward the big shark and ray pool. Staff run talks and feeding sessions through the day, and the display line-up changes often enough that a repeat visit doesn't feel like the same trip twice. There's a Behind The Scenes bit if your child wants to see how the place actually runs, and virtual reality experiences dotted about for older kids who've had enough of just looking.
Save the Megascreen for last. It's a 300-seat former IMAX cinema, and after an hour of tanks it's a proper sit-down finish to the visit. Most people are round in an hour to an hour and a half, though with forty displays and a ticket valid all day, there's nothing stopping you doing a lap, having a snack, then going round again.
The building itself is step-free with ramps throughout, wide enough for a double pushchair, and you can leave the pushchair in the foyer if you'd rather carry a baby through the darker tunnels. One genuine faff: there's no car park of its own, so you're looking at Millennium Square Car Park or another city centre one, which adds a walk and a cost most aquarium trips don't need. Scooters, bikes and wheeled shoes are banned inside, which is fair enough given the ramps and the animals, but worth knowing if your child has just learned to love their scooter.
The C-Shed Café does focaccia toasties, pizzas and a kids' menu, with vegan and gluten-free options if that matters to you. It's open every day except Christmas Day, including bank holidays, and you don't need to book, though online flexi tickets are valid for any one day within six months if you'd rather sort it in advance.
Facilities
Need to know
- Last entry
- 1 hour before closing
- Booking
- Walk-ups welcome. Online flexi tickets valid for one day within 6 months
- Parking
- No on-site parking. Nearest is Millennium Square Care Park
- How long to allow
- Average 1 hour to 1 hour 30 minutes
- Food
- C-Shed Café serves focaccia toasties, pizzas, kids meals, hot drinks, cakes and cold drinks
- Pushchairs
- Welcome. Wide enough for double pushchairs or can be left in foyer
- Wheelchairs
- Step-free. Wheelchair-users entitled to free carer ticket
- Dogs
- Assistance dogs only. Fully trained required
- Worth knowing
- Annual membership entry for less than three standard visits
- Tickets bought online last a full day and stay valid for six months, handy if plans change
- There's no car park on site, so factor in the walk from Millennium Square or another city centre car park
- The Megascreen cinema seats 300 and is worth saving for the end of your visit
- Wheelchair hire is available with a £20 returnable deposit
- Annual membership works out cheaper than three standard visits if you'll go more than once
Plan your visit
Do we need to book ahead?
No, you can walk up and buy on arrival. Online tickets are flexible too, valid any one day within six months of buying.
How long should we expect to stay?
Most people take an hour to an hour and a half going round the forty displays. Your ticket is valid all day, so you can head out for lunch and come back in.
Is there parking on site?
The aquarium doesn't have its own car park. Millennium Square Car Park is the nearest, or there are other city centre options.
Can I bring a pushchair round?
It's fully accessible with ramps and wide enough for a double pushchair. You can also leave it in the foyer if you'd rather not push it through the darker sections.
Is it wheelchair accessible?
The main aquarium is step-free throughout. The upper floor of the Upside Down House combi-attraction isn't accessible by wheelchair, and wheelchair users get a free carer ticket.
What's the food like?
The C-Shed Café does focaccia toasties, pizzas and kids' meals, with vegan and gluten-free options.
Can we bring the dog?
Only fully trained assistance dogs are allowed in.
Are scooters or roller skates allowed inside?
Scooters, bikes and wheeled shoes are banned, mainly because the flooring and ramps aren't suited to them.
What time is last entry?
Always an hour before closing, and closing times shift through the year, later in summer than winter.
Are you open on bank holidays?
Every day except Christmas Day, including all bank holidays.
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