Public Aquariums

[CruX]

We are planning a trip to the Blue Planet Aquarium in Cheshire, has anyone been here who could post a mini review of it?

We have been on occasion to the Aquarium of the Lakes at Newby Bridge and enjoyed it, I would advise buying the guide book to help you on your visit, the layout is a little small but (if I can remember correctly) takes you on a journey of life from the Streams and rivers that supply the lakes, to the life in the lakes themselves and the underwater life leading out to sea. We generally go round twice, and a highlight is the small tunnel you go through and you can see the ducks diving for food.

Its not really a tropical topic so far but postworthy I think.

The Blue planet would be a great day out I think and I am intersted in seeing the Lake Maliwi and South American sections.


We may visit the Blackpool Tower Aquarium as we have family in Blackpool but either the site doesn't reflect how good the aquarium is or it is a bit bland.

Any way, thoughts, comments etc very welcome. Tell me what you think.

 

[Arfie]

I've been to Blue Planet, to be fair I can't remember that much about it as I was too excited about diving in it

What I can remember is it's very good, the underwater tunnel is very long and gives you a great view.

I wouldn't really say it's a full day out, but with Cheshire Oaks next door, you should be able to find summat else to do

Arfie

 

[sharkbaitwoohaha]

blue planet.... class. going tomorrow for the fourth time this year. love the malawi. ive pm-ed you with more details cos its a proper rant. they also have a native fish bit which i love.
blackpool is fairly small. not been since i was a kid but my mate went last week.
also been the lakes one. thats good, but small.

 

[chardonnay1000]

Hi to a fellow cumbrian,

I have been in the blackpool one, its ok but not as big as expected but it did have an impressive centre piece of a massive tank with turtles in it, having said that its a while since i went and things change. besides, if you dont think the aquaruim is up to much, u av the rest of the tower to xplore. ( the sea life centre is a better one in my opinion, its on the front)

 

[CruX]

Thanks for the replies everyone. The Blue Planet is not far from the outlaws house so if it doesn't last the day we can turn up for tea.

We plant to visit the Blackpool Aquarium in conjunction with the Sea Life Centre and a family visit. I don't see the point of going to Newby Bridge one as we have been about a hundred times, but it is on the way to the south lakes wild animal park which we visit regularly as we are members so it is a wet day saver if the zoo is a wash out.

 

[JackoUK]

The Blue Planet is great. The tunnel is class along with all of the other aquariums. The rays are especially good. The otters outside our good as well, squeaking away as they do. I've only been once, this summer, and were planning on going again after christmas.

 

[Miss Wiggle]

the blue planet is absolutely amazing,

loads of little biotopes which are varyingly cool.

but it's the massive tank and the tunnel that will get you, there's this massive viewing screen onto it and I was stood close to tears staring at it for about 10 mins, absolutely breathtaking i quite seriously got all overcome with emotion, it was amazing.

worth it just for that!

 

[jkrekord]

the blue planet is AMZING honestly it will blow you rmind.
blackpool tower aquarium is well below average to be honest but its ok and you do get to go around the rest of the tower

 

[nixkerrigan]

Its a few years since I went to Blue Planet, but I remember thoroughly enjoying it.

The Turtles at the tower were sold over 3 years ago, I seem to remember it was something to do with tank size and they went off to a sanctuary somewhere, but I could be wrong. Its now really not worth going just to see the aquariums at the Tower, its more a side-show when visiting the rest of the tower, but that in itself is a nice day out, specially if you take the kids to see Mooky in the circus. The Blackpool Sealife Centre is good though, specially if you catch one of the shark feedings from inside the tunnel.

 

[CruX]

Great replies everyone. Are there any other public Aquariums or similar in the north that may be worth a visit. I am on a few days off in December and would like to take the family on some nice days out. And by that I mean drag them round places while I hold the guide book and demand people see nature at work.

 

[Arfie]

Only other one I've been to is The Deep over in Hull which is OK too. Not as good as Blue Planet, but worth a visit if you are over that way.

Arfie

 

[icy]

Hi form an 'EX' fellow cumbrian, i cant comment on the blue planet as i have never been, however i would recomend the Deep at Hull very easy to find too, come down the M6 Then follow the M62 towards Leeds, keep going all the way to the end of the M62 and you will come across the signs.

Really must get to Blue Planet though sometime.

 

[andyt_uk]

blue planet is v.v. good, check out feeding time when you get there and make suyou are at the viewing area in good time - i found you cant photo the screen they lower to show the video of feeding, but you can keep going round and round the tunnel to get some photos

who said they went diving there? i'd love to do that, is it worth the cash then? how long are you in the main tank for (if at all?)

 

[Arfie]

who said they went diving there? i'd love to do that, is it worth the cash then? how long are you in the main tank for (if at all?)

Me

Worth every penny in my book and I may well do it again and try to remember to take some film for the underwater camera next time

I have absolutely no idea how long I was in for, all I can remember is how XXXXing big the sharks are when they swim over your head withought 1" of plastic seperating you from all the teeth . Probably only in for something like 20mins, half an hour tops, but your heart doesn't half beat when you're in there

Arfie

 

[Miss Wiggle]

yeah the deep in hull is pretty cool too if your over that way