Oceanarium
Oceanarium things to do, attractions, restaurants, events info and trip planning
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Weâve visited the Oceanarium today on our way back to the Isle of Wight from staying at a caravan park near pool. So we thought since we are passing through Bournemouth anyway, why not explore the area a little bit and see the exotic fishes đĄ and turtles đą. They currently have a special discounted price from today until the 3rd next month. My daughter is a part time wheelchair âżïž user due to her disability and we found this place very accessible. Weâve used the near by car park, but have to say it is very expensive (ÂŁ7) for 2 hours and blue badge holders are not exempt of the fees. Thought Iâll mention that incase you are planning to use your blue badge. Carers go in free of charge. Disabled adults and children have a discounted price too, which is lovely to see. There is a lift to get you to the first floor and back down if you are a wheelchair user or pushing a buggy/stroller. This places may be smaller than the sea life aquarium we are used to in London, but it is still a very nice place to visit if you are in the Bournemouth area. Staff are super friendly and helpful there. The place is clean. There is a little cafe on the first floor where the penguins đ§ are with a lovely view of the pier and sea đ. There are some interactive bits for the kids too, which is nice as kids always love the interactive things. There is a gift shop on the ground floor witr lots of different options as souvenir. I recommend this place especially if you have kids đ§đ»
Lei Hang
00
I hadnât been to the oceanarium in a while so I thought Iâd go there, it took us a while to even be served to get tickets because the girls were more interested in chatting. A man finished serving in the gift shop and came to serve us instead. Staff stood around either chatting or just stood there rather than educating or even just being helpful. I understand that staff obviously want to chat to each other catch up ect ect but when youâve got customers waiting the customers are the priority. Overall not too much has changed since the last time I visited which was probably over 6 years ago, few new additions. Bournemouth oceanarium is definitely on the smaller side and understandably the price is steep for what it is but when you factor in wages,animal care, maintenance ect it makes sense. The only bad thing was the service other than that it was decent, doesnât take up the whole day so if youâre in Bournemouth you might as well go to the oceanarium. Enclosures seemed well maintained, some glass was dirty and hard to see through but thatâs to be expected and wasnât a huge issue. Animals seemed well looked after. The turtle seemed a bit bored as he was doing the same lap to and from the ladder but Iâd also be bored if I was a turtle Shop is a bit on the pricy side but again to be expected as most zoos/aquariums are like that. Overall a 3/5, would I go again within the next few years? Probably not but I can see how it appeals to some especially with children.
Chelsea Sherwood
00
The array of sea life in the actual aquarium was great, however they donât seem to have any limit on the number of guests that can be inside at any one time and if they do those limits are way too high. We visited the cafe first as we wanted to eat before going in and since it was fairly early for lunch (11:45) we managed to get a table but by the time we were leaving the place was packed, there were literally people just standing around the outside waiting for a table and as soon as you stood up youâd get asked if you were leaving. Then when you go in, thereâs crowds around some of the more popular attractions like the otters, we just skipped them in the end as we couldnât see anyway and didnât want to push through crowds especially during these times to get a quick glimpse. There was a queue to get through the tunnel which was about half way round because the guy manning the station just let people stand and look for ages. Donât get me wrong, itâs a good aquarium and maybe we just went at a super busy time (not school holidays but was a Sunday). However, there needs to be more of a limit on the number of people that can go in, it would be annoying even before Covid and now itâs just annoying and stupid.
Ricky Dawn
00
If you're in Bournemouth and the weather turns sour, the Oceanarium offers a modest indoor escape. Situated conveniently by the pier, it's easy to find and provides a brief respite from the rain. Pros: Indoor Activity: Ideal for those looking to stay dry during inclement weather. Location: Proximity to the beach and town center makes it an easy addition to your itinerary. Family-Friendly: Suitable for families with young children seeking a short indoor activity. Cons: Size: The facility is relatively small, and the tanks reflect this, limiting the variety of marine life on display. Variety: While there are some interesting species, the overall diversity is lacking compared to larger aquariums. Value: Given the size and offerings, some may find the admission price a bit steep for the experience provided. In summary, the Oceanarium isn't a must-see attraction but serves its purpose as a decent option when outdoor activities are off the table. It's a quick visit that can fill an hour or so, especially for families with young children. Just set your expectations accordingly, and it can be a pleasant, if unremarkable, part of your day.
Ana N
00
Firstly, covid secure: this place has done a lot to make the place accessible and clean for visitors. There are a large number of sanitation stations around the place, most of which situated around doorways. Adults must keep their facemasks on at all times but kids under 11 dont need to. I feel like they have outdone themselves with making this a safe environment so that's a good thing! However, that's also adds some negative points, as there were a number of elements to the oceanarium which appeared to be out of order or not accessible, and covid was being used as an excuse. I.e. signs would say along the lines of "due to covid this is turned off or not available" however I almost feel like that was a bit extreme, and it was like they were using covid as an excuse to provide less of an experience...which is a shame. Overall the exhibits were good, and the kids enjoyed it, but for the time spent there, and the number of things restricted because of covid, then the price paid to enter was definitely not worth it. I'm giving 3 stars because it was ok...but I won't be returning in a hurry thats for sure.
Chris Lowes
00
Booked the Penguin Keeper Experience for myself and my friend for her birthday. I had questions prior to booking which were answered by email and over the phone by the marketing team. The team even contacted us the day before as the weather wasnât good asking if we wanted to rearrange as the penguins might not have been cooperative, which I was grateful for the option of. Luckily the weather died down for the day of our experience and the penguins were so interactive! Amber, the keeper, made the experience. Her knowledge and passion shone through every conversation and interaction, with us and the penguins, and we learnt so much. Even cutting up the fish was enjoyable! Not only that but Amber also took so many pictures on my phone so weâve got all the memories to look back on. We also have some lovely close ups of some of the penguins, namely Santi, Private and Dragon. The experience was well worth the price, 3.5 hours of full keeper experience, plus then we had a chance to explore the rest of the Oceanarium. Lunch in the cafe was delicious, the gift shop was fab, and overall it was so enjoyable.
Erin Y
00
Nearby Attractions Of Oceanarium
Bournemouth Pier
Bournemouth International Centre
Bournemouth Parks - Lower Gardens
Russell Cotes Art Gallery & Museum
Bournemouth Pavilion Theatre
Mr Mulligans, Bournemouth
Durley Chine Beach
HAUS. - Barbershop
RockReef - Indoor Climbing Attraction
True Gents Barbers & Tattoos

Bournemouth Pier
4.4
(5.3K)
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Bournemouth International Centre
4.4
(2.5K)
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Bournemouth Parks - Lower Gardens
4.6
(2.5K)
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Russell Cotes Art Gallery & Museum
4.7
(1.1K)
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Nearby Restaurants Of Oceanarium
The Moon in the Square - JD Wetherspoon
Turtle Bay Bournemouth
Harvester Durley Inn Bournemouth
The Mary Shelley - JD Wetherspoon
Miller & Carter Bournemouth
Aruba Restaurant and Bar
7Bone Burger Co. Bournemouth
Brass Haus
O'Neill's Bournemouth
Slug & Lettuce - The Square Bournemouth

The Moon in the Square - JD Wetherspoon
4.2
(3.3K)
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Turtle Bay Bournemouth
4.6
(2.4K)
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Harvester Durley Inn Bournemouth
4.1
(2.3K)
Click for details

The Mary Shelley - JD Wetherspoon
4.1
(2K)
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Basic Info
Address
Oceanarium, Bournemouth BH2 5AA, United Kingdom
Map
Phone
+44 1202 311993
Call
Website
oceanarium.co.uk
Visit
Reviews
Overview
4.2
(2.7K reviews)
Ratings & Description
cultural
entertainment
family friendly
accessibility
Description
An oceanarium can be either a marine mammal park, such as Marineland of Canada, or a large-scale aquarium, such as the Lisbon Oceanarium, presenting an ocean habitat with marine animals, especially large ocean dwellers such as sharks.
attractions: Bournemouth Pier, Bournemouth International Centre, Bournemouth Parks - Lower Gardens, Russell Cotes Art Gallery & Museum, Bournemouth Pavilion Theatre, Mr Mulligans, Bournemouth, Durley Chine Beach, HAUS. - Barbershop, RockReef - Indoor Climbing Attraction, True Gents Barbers & Tattoos, restaurants: The Moon in the Square - JD Wetherspoon, Turtle Bay Bournemouth, Harvester Durley Inn Bournemouth, The Mary Shelley - JD Wetherspoon, Miller & Carter Bournemouth, Aruba Restaurant and Bar, 7Bone Burger Co. Bournemouth, Brass Haus, O'Neill's Bournemouth, Slug & Lettuce - The Square Bournemouth

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