SEA LIFE Blackpool - Review

After a very successful trip out to SEA LIFE Blackpool this week, we wanted to recommend it to everyone. 

Sasha and I were there too but she was just feeling a little camera shy at this point....

As we approached the entrance, which is situated on the famous promenade very near Central Pier, we were welcomed by some friendly staff. There was almost no queue at around 11am when we arrived and we were able to move on into the attraction very quickly - no waiting is always a huge bonus for our autistic girl.

When you first walk in, your party is asked to sit against a green screen background and a photographer will ask you to do a pose or two for some 'special' themed photos which you can collect later on. I'm always a bit wary of these money making opportunities, but our photo was actually really good and not too expensive (£9 for a decent size group photo).

Then you are free to roam - one of my favourite aspects of this attraction. You can come and go as you please, take your time reading the many informative posters or skip through in super quick time (always Sasha's preferred option... I do try and get her to compromise, with mixed results).

The first area near the entrance is a 'petting area' where you are encouraged to carefully touch the sea animals if you would like to, as long as you keep them under water. Sasha wasn't overly keen to be honest, and I'll admit the sight of a fast moving crab put me off a little too! There were several open tanks though, including ones with starfish in - I'm pretty sure they don't bite...

We then wandered around, looking through big glass windows into tanks containing a variety of fish before coming to a big tank for rays. I just love these fish; so graceful, and when upside down it looks like they are laughing at you! 

We arrived there at the right time to hear a member of staff giving an informative talk on everything in this huge tank. Further on there were more rays, and an opportunity for smaller people to get their heads into a bubble and feel like they were in with the fish:

The next section had Sasha's favourites - Nemo clownfish and Dory, and mine - jellyfish and seahorses. I've always been fascinated by the way jellyfish move, ever since we saw a huge one being held by the guide in our boat when we were on honeymoon. I wouldn't fancy meeting one in the sea though to be honest!

The SEA LIFE centre is all fantastic but the highlights are probably the huge shark tank, and the tunnel just after which you can walk through whilst watching lots of fish and the sharks swimming right over your head. There's quite a large section of tunnel, so it didn't feel crowded at all. There are then more great photo opportunities towards the end, such as this one: 

All in all, a brilliant day, and many photos taken - so I've turned them all into a little slide show for you (and us):

Disclosure: we were given entrance tickets in return for an honest review of this attraction. All thoughts and words are our own.