SEA LIFE London Aquarium is an indoor aquarium on the South Bank, inside County Hall next to the London Eye, with sharks, rays, turtles, Gentoo penguins and jellyfish across 14 themed zones. Adult tickets cost from £28 online or £39 on the day (September 2026), and most visits take one to two hours.
The aquarium is run by Merlin Entertainments, the company behind the London Eye, Madame Tussauds and the London Dungeon. That matters for two reasons. Prices change with demand, like airline tickets, so the same visit can cost very different amounts. And you will be offered combination tickets with Merlin's other attractions, which can be good value or not, depending on what you actually want to see.
It is a walk-through experience spread over several floors of County Hall, entirely indoors, with lifts throughout. It suits families with children of primary school age best, and it is one of the more reliable rainy-day options in central London.
SEA LIFE London in short
- Adult
- From £28 online; £39 on the day
- Child (2-15)
- From £25 online; £35 on the day
- Under 2
- Free
- Time needed
- One to two hours
- Opening
- Usually from 10am; closing time varies by day
- Recommended age
- 6 and over, according to the aquarium; suitable for all ages
- Address
- County Hall, Westminster Bridge Road, London SE1 7PB
- Nearest stations
- Westminster and Waterloo, both within about ten minutes' walk
The zones you walk through
The route is one-way and takes you through a series of themed areas. SEA LIFE describes more than 500 species in 14 zones, and says it has the UK's largest coral reef display. In order, the main areas are:
- Shark Walk. The visit begins on a glass floor above the Pacific display, with sharks swimming below your feet.
- Atlantic Coasts and Ray Lagoon. Coastal fish such as the Atlantic wolffish, then a shallow lagoon of rays that you can watch from above and through a window underneath.
- Open Oceans and the Ocean Tunnel. Tropical fish around a replica grey whale skeleton, followed by a glass tunnel where green sea turtles glide overhead.
- Shipwreck and Shark Reef Encounter. A sunken ship and replica Easter Island heads in the shark tank, home to a bowmouth guitarfish that SEA LIFE describes as half shark, half ray.
- Coral Kingdom. A new 40-foot tank with a living coral reef and hundreds of clownfish.
- Seahorse Kingdom. Seahorses, pipefish and sea dragons.
- Rainforest Adventure and Rockpool Explorer. Rainforest river fish, then a hands-on rockpool where staff show you shark and ray eggs.
- Polar Adventure. A colony of Gentoo penguins in a chilly Antarctic setting, for many children the high point.
- Ocean Invaders. The final zone, which SEA LIFE calls the UK's largest jellyfish experience, split into three interactive areas.
There are six shark species, including sand tiger sharks, nurse sharks, blacktip reef sharks and a zebra shark. The sand tigers look fierce, with rows of pointed teeth, but the aquarium explains that divers regularly swim with them because they are not dangerous to people.
Talks and feeding times
Staff give short talks at Ray Lagoon, the shark displays, Rainforest Adventure and the penguins. They are the best way for children to learn something beyond the name on the label, and there are also feeding sessions and diving displays. The times change from day to day, so check the boards when you arrive and plan the route around the talk your children care about most.
Ticket prices and how they change
SEA LIFE uses demand-based pricing. The online price starts at the figures below and rises on busy days and as your date gets closer. The on-the-day price at the door is fixed and higher. SEA LIFE says advance online booking saves up to 28%, that there is no booking fee, and that the attraction is cashless, so bring a card.
| Ticket | Adult online | Adult on the day | What you get |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | From £28 | £39 | Entry at a chosen time slot |
| Anytime Entry | From £33 | £44 | Arrive at any time on your chosen day |
| Standard + VR Experience | From £32 | £43 | Time slot plus a virtual reality ocean experience |
| Deluxe Package | From £38 | £49 | Anytime entry, VR experience and a mission pack or guidebook |
Children aged 2-15 pay from £25 online or £35 on the day, and under-2s go free. Children aged 15 and under must be with an adult aged 18 or over. A free carer ticket can be added to an advance booking with at least one full-price ticket, with proof of eligibility shown on the day. Students can get discounted tickets through Student Beans.
What a family pays
Two adults and two children pay at least £106 online on a quiet day, and £148 if they turn up and pay at the door. A couple pays from £56 online or £78 on the day. That gap of more than £40 for a family is the main reason to book ahead, even if only the night before. Check live prices on the official ticket page.
Tickets are non-refundable, but you can change the date and time up to three times through the online booking portal, as long as there is space. SEA LIFE says it cannot guarantee entry to people who buy at the door, particularly at peak times.
SEA LIFE's "save up to" figures compare with door prices. A SEA LIFE and London Eye combination costs from £49 online. The aquarium says that saves up to £29, which is true against the two walk-up prices of £39 each. Against the two cheapest online prices, £28 and £29, the saving is closer to £8. The combination still helps, just by less than the headline suggests.
Combination tickets with the London Eye and other Merlin attractions
Because the London Eye, Madame Tussauds and the London Dungeon are run by the same company, SEA LIFE sells tickets that bundle them together. The published "from" prices in September 2026 were:
| Combination | Adult online from |
|---|---|
| SEA LIFE + London Eye | £49 |
| SEA LIFE + Shrek's Adventure | £49 |
| SEA LIFE + London Eye + Madame Tussauds | £54 |
| SEA LIFE + London Eye + Madame Tussauds + London Dungeon + Shrek's Adventure | £59 |
How they work: you book a time slot for SEA LIFE, which you visit first, and then have seven days to visit the others, according to the ticket page. You must book a free timed entry for each extra attraction through the booking portal, and entry is subject to availability, so book those slots early in busy periods. (A separate offers page on the same website mentions 90-day validity; check the terms shown when you buy.)
A combination ticket makes sense if you already planned to visit two or more of these attractions. Four or five paid attractions in one week is a lot of indoor time and money for most families, though, and a cheap bundle is not a bargain if you skip half of it. Our analysis of whether the London Pass is worth it explains how to compare passes and bundles with the tickets you will really use.
Merlin also sells annual passes covering SEA LIFE and many other attractions in the UK, which can pay off for residents or for visitors returning within a year.
How long to allow and when to go
SEA LIFE's FAQ says the average visit takes one to one and a half hours; the aquarium's main page suggests one and a half to two. In practice, families who stop for talks and the rockpool take the longer end, and adults on their own may be through in an hour.
The aquarium usually opens at 10am, with last entry an hour before closing. Closing time varies: in mid-September 2026 it closed at 5pm on a Friday and 7pm on a Saturday. Weekends and school holidays are the busiest times and the most expensive to book. A weekday morning in term time is calmer, cheaper and easier with small children.
The first toilets come straight after the Shark Walk. SEA LIFE has toilets with baby changing at three points on the route: after the glass shark floor, after Rainforest Adventure and just before Ocean Invaders. Once you move past one, the next may be a while away, so it pays to stop when you can.
Bags, buggies and accessibility
There is no cloakroom, and SEA LIFE does not allow suitcases or large items of hand luggage. Handbags and backpacks up to about 30 litres are accepted. If you are between hotels or heading to a train, find a left luggage service first; the aquarium itself points visitors to the London Eye ticket office or Waterloo station.
Buggies are welcome, and SEA LIFE says the attraction is fully accessible, with lifts throughout. There is also a free buggy bay if you would rather leave the pushchair during busy periods. Photography is allowed, but not with flash, because it can frighten the animals, and tripods are not permitted.
Visitors in wheelchairs or with other access needs will find detailed information in the aquarium's accessibility guide, linked from the official website.
Getting to County Hall
SEA LIFE is inside County Hall, the large building by the south end of Westminster Bridge that was once the headquarters of London's government. It is on the South Bank, beside the London Eye.
- From Westminster (Jubilee, District and Circle lines): take Exit 1 onto Westminster Bridge and cross the river. SEA LIFE says the walk takes 5 to 7 minutes, and the station is step-free from street to platform. You pass Big Ben and the Elizabeth Tower on the way.
- From Waterloo (Northern, Bakerloo, Jubilee, Waterloo & City lines and National Rail): follow signs for the South Bank (Exit 6) and walk towards the London Eye, about 6 to 9 minutes.
- From Charing Cross or Embankment: cross the Thames on the Golden Jubilee footbridges and follow the river past the London Eye, about 10 to 15 minutes.
Buses on Westminster Bridge Road include the 12, 53, 59, 76, 148, 159, 211 and 341. Driving is not recommended: the aquarium is inside the Congestion Charge zone, and parking nearby is limited and expensive.
Is SEA LIFE London worth the price?
In its favour
- indoor, compact and easy with buggies
- sharks, penguins and turtles in one visit
- next to the London Eye, so easy to fit into a South Bank day
Against it
- expensive for one to two hours if you pay at the door
- crowded at weekends and in school holidays
- not as large as some of Europe's biggest aquariums
If budget matters more than sea creatures, London has excellent free alternatives for children. The Natural History Museum, with its dinosaurs and blue whale skeleton, costs nothing, and our guide to London's free museums lists more. For live animals on a larger scale, London Zoo is a full day out, at a higher price.
Making a day of it on the South Bank
The aquarium sits in one of the easiest parts of London for families. The London Eye is next door and the London Dungeon is in the same building. A river trip from the piers by the London Eye is a good way to rest tired legs; our page on Thames river cruises compares the options.
For a wet day, pair SEA LIFE with a museum from our list of ideas for rainy days in London. And if you are still planning where to base yourselves, our guide to where to stay in London with children and our wider family travel guide will help.
Frequently asked questions
How much are SEA LIFE London Aquarium tickets?
In September 2026 standard tickets cost from £28 for an adult and £25 for a child aged 2-15 when booked online, and £39 and £35 on the day at the door. Online prices vary with demand. Children under 2 go free.
How long does it take to go round SEA LIFE London?
SEA LIFE says the average visit takes one to one and a half hours, and its main page suggests up to two. Families who attend a talk and spend time at the rockpool and the penguins usually need the full two hours.
Is SEA LIFE London suitable for toddlers?
Yes. It is indoors, buggy-friendly and has lifts and baby-changing facilities. The aquarium recommends it for children aged 6 and over, because older children get more from the talks and displays, but under-2s go free.
Can I buy SEA LIFE and London Eye tickets together?
Yes. A SEA LIFE and London Eye combination cost from £49 per adult online in September 2026. You visit SEA LIFE first at your booked time and then book a free timed slot for the London Eye within the validity period.
Can I bring a suitcase to SEA LIFE London?
No. Suitcases and large bags are not allowed, and there is no cloakroom. Backpacks up to about 30 litres are accepted. Use a left luggage service, for example at Waterloo station, before your visit.
Sources
- SEA LIFE London - Tickets and prices (checked September 2026)
- SEA LIFE London - Information and FAQs (checked September 2026)
- SEA LIFE London - Aquarium zones (checked September 2026)
- SEA LIFE London - Sharks (checked September 2026)
- SEA LIFE London - Location and directions (checked September 2026)
- SEA LIFE London - Talks and feeding times (checked September 2026)
- London Eye - Tickets and prices (checked September 2026)