Exploris Aquarium — Attraction in Ballyphilip

Really poor visit with TERRIBLE customer service...

Really disappointed first visit to Exploris. After hearing mostly good things, we booked for two kids and two adults. I actually had to change the date that we had originally booked, I emailed to try and change the date and received no response (still waiting). I had to phone on two occasions to change the date and both times received awful customer service. The woman I spoke with was very matter of fact and not helpful at all, explaining that we had to "forfeit" the online rate and pay extra to change the date. This was with over a weeks notice. I just paid the extra and changed the date.

Today we arrived at Exploris after a long drive to get there. The woman on reception was just so unhelpful and very unwelcoming, didn't crack a smile and it just felt very awkward. She then explained that the on site restaurant was closed but also that we weren't able to leave the premises for food and come back, if we left we wouldn't get back in. With a no picnic policy and me standing with 2 young children I was aghast. We had intended to stay all day and make the most of it, especially when it was so far away. It was bad enough what she was saying but it was how she said it - so matter of fact and it was just "policy". Thankfully the manager came along at that time who was a bit more helpful and explained that on this occasion we would be allowed back in and provided a recommendation of where to go for lunch. The woman just stood there and offered no help whatsoever. Some training in customer service would go a long way.

Exploris itself is just okay - quite expensive for all it is. The site is very small, there isn't that much to see, the indoor bit that has been renovated is nice but the outdoor bit is so grubby and rundown. The toilets were disgusting and the smell coming from them was even worse. The place was freezing, it felt like the heating hadn't been put on in weeks, especially in the soft play bit. It is quite a far drive away from us and on this occasion it wasn't worth the drive and we wouldn't return...

This might be alot to read but worth the read if your unsure if it's worth the trip Me and my six year old travelled here today after many years ago since I last went (I was kid😂). We enjoyed every bit of it we took our time going round it all as it not a massive place but it's lovely when you do spend time looking and reading. The fish/starfish/seahorses and sharks etc are very lively and plenty of windows to see them. The wee turtles are beautiful. The sealions are happy and well looked after we couldn't see them when we first came to that enclosure but near the end there's a wee window and luckily we made it for feeding time which was great to see them up close. There's an inside part with a crocodile and a huge open tank with fish and starfish in it and the fish were friendly like coming up to the top. The penguins were so funny it's like they had a wee game going on which was entertaining. We also packed a picnic (money saver!) Even though there is a restaurant but it was packed out and probably expensive as a small redbull was £2.50. So wee sat on the wee benches near the penguins. Overall the place its self is clean and there's bins everywhere the animals are looked after and that's what really matters.

I do want to comment on the staff at the gift shop weren't overall helpful as we were sent the wrong way when we first went in to be honest I got the vibe she didn't want to work today🥱. The second time in the gift shop a different girl was being abit off too didn't tell me the price of stuff I was buying just kinda took money and set the change down and left... I don't expect staff or anyone to be overly excited or anything but maybe a nicer attitude I guess. (The staff at feeding time or even when you seen them around were lovely). Overall we enjoyed ourselves and definitely planning to go back...

We went today with 2 kids &very disappointed on many points. Poor displays/no maintenance/ poor accessibility/dirty.

Quality of displays: many tanks empty, or 1 to 2 fish. E.g. first big circle tank just as you go in used to be abundant with many creatures, now, I think 5. Signs that said crocs but no crocs. Empty tanks that where stinking. Broken tanks sitting with bits of plastic etc floating in water. Also one half of outside areas was empty. Maintenance is terrible, water stinking, full of algae over growth and no evidence of up keep in open & empty areas.

Soft play: the smell of it made me feel physically sick, smelt of baby poo nappies, dirty and leaking sections. Not good!!

Also upstairs part you have to pay £1 per sheet to get kids to colour to go on screen, 1) for admission price this should be included 2) none of the markers worked and a small tub of broken crayons. If your making people pay, atleast have proper markers available. Kids couldn't even make out their fish on screen as the markers where so faded.

Accessibility : they claim to be fully accessible but it really is not, the 2 lifts are tiny, so much so we struggled to get 1 adult in with a 7 year old child in an adapted pram, lift to get out had to tilt and lift the pram to get in.. also the exit of the lift onto top floor is partially blocked by an exemergency evacuation stair kit, no turning...