Have Heaps Of Fun At The Blue Planet Aquarium, Cheshire, England

Have Heaps Of Fun At The Blue Planet Aquarium, Cheshire, England
Sarah J
Sarah J 
Published
| 3 min read

Located in the Northwest of England, the amazing Blue Planet Aquarium is one of the biggest aquariums in the UK. Home to freshwater creatures as well as marine life, it offers a terrific day out for kids and adults alike. A popular tourist attraction, you should plan to spend at least a couple of hours enjoying the various fascinating displays.

Here is a little of what you can expect from a visit to the Blue Planet Aquarium:

Long underwater tunnel

have heaps of fun at the blue planet aquarium, cheshire, england | long underwater tunnel

The Blue Planet Aquarium’s Aquatunnel is one of the world’s longest underwater tunnels. A moving walkway prevents huge crowds, moving slow enough for everyone to gaze in wonder at the magnificent water creatures swimming all around. You can get an excellent view of brightly-coloured tropical fish, rays, and six species of shark. It really does offer spectacular sightings of some impressive creatures.

Watch experienced divers swimming with sharks

have heaps of fun at the blue planet aquarium, cheshire, england | watch experienced divers swimming with sharks

The Blue Planet Aquarium is home to large and ferocious-looking Sand Tiger Sharks, and other shark species include Zebra Shark, White Tip Reef Shark, Bamboo Shark, Black Tip Reef Shark, and Lemon Shark. Contained within a tank known as the Caribbean Reef, there are also several different types of fish too. Sit behind the large reinforced window in the Aquatheatre and watch as divers get up close and personal with sharks and fish. There is also an interesting talk about the tank’s inhabitants. There are at least three shows each day, and times are advertised near to the ticket counter as you enter the aquarium. Feeding times are also advertised in the same area.

Peer into interesting rock pools

have heaps of fun at the blue planet aquarium, cheshire, england | peer into interesting rock pools

There are three large rock pools within the Blue Planet Aquarium, each one providing great views of the marine life that lives around the coast of Great Britain and the British Isles. The pools are made to closely resemble the creatures’ natural environment and you can watch as fish swim in the water and crabs clamber over jagged rocks. You can also see pretty starfish.

Watch cute otters swimming and playing

have heaps of fun at the blue planet aquarium, cheshire, england | watch cute otters swimming and playing

The Blue Planet Aquarium has a large outdoor enclosure for cute otters. One of the UK’s biggest otter areas, you can admire the lovely mammals as they sit on large rocks and gracefully swim through the water. Otters are quite sociable animals and it is not uncommon to see them frolicking around with each other.

Explore other fantastic zones of the aquarium

explore other fantastic zones of the aquarium

The Blue Planet Aquarium is divided into several themed zones, each home to an array of interesting creatures. In addition to zones already mentioned, visit Northern Streams to see freshwater fish that inhabit the rivers and waterways of parts of the northern hemisphere that have a temperate climate, see creatures that usually live in mangroves at Mangrove Swamp, view the colourful tropical fish of the Amazon River in the Flooded Forest, and learn more about one of the planet’s most diverse bodies of water at Malawi Lake.

Kids are sure to love the fun Pirate Playground. Venom! is home to spiders, snakes, scorpions, and other potentially deadly critters and frog-lovers should head to Amazing Amphibians. Other zones include Reef Magic, Coral Cave, and Octopus.

Practicalities of visiting the Blue Planet Aquarium

Admission to the Blue Planet Aquarium is 17 GBP (approximately 25 USD) for adults and 12.25 GBP (approximately 18 USD) for children under the age of 12. There are often deals and discounts available for advance online ticket purchases as well as a variety of other promotions throughout the year.

On Saturdays you can enjoy a free 30-minute tour of the backstage areas, learning more about how and what the creatures are fed, care of the creatures, aquarium maintenance, and more! Tours are also available on Sundays for a cost of 3 GBP (approximately 4.50 USD) per person.

There are several experience packages that involve getting up close and personal with the aquarium’s fearsome-looking sharks. These must be booked in advance. Packages for adults start at 187 GBP (approximately 277.50 USD) and a Junior Shark Encounter is 95 GBP (approximately 141 USD).

The Blue Planet Aquarium is open every day of the week. Opening times on weekdays are between 10.00 and 17.00, and the aquarium stays open until 18.00 on Saturdays and Sundays.

There is an onsite restaurant and gift shop. Car-parking is available and the attraction is well-signposted. You can also get to the Blue Planet Aquarium by public transport; regular buses operate between the aquarium and Ellesmere Port, Chester, Liverpool, and several places within North Wales.

Located close to the popular shops of Cheshire Oaks Designer Outlet Shopping Centre, it is easy to combine a day of aquarium fun and high class shopping.

Visit the cool Blue Planet Aquarium for a fun time in Cheshire.

Disclosure: Trip101 selects the listings in our articles independently. Some of the listings in this article contain affiliate links.

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Originally from the UK, Sarah has been mostly based in her second home of Thailand for the past five years. As well as exploring new places, learning about different cultures, and sampling lots of...Read more

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