The Ilfracombe Aquarium — Attraction in North Devon

My brother took us to Ilfracombe Aquarium on Tuesday, it was just perfect! All the fish were local species! The guide was very friendly, helpful and informative! The staff were all lovely! So approachable, polite and helpful! The tanks were all nicely set up for the fish 🐟 All the fish and crustaceans looked so healthy and content as they were! All the information on the fish was very educational & I really do adore that they're all found locally 💗 Also, THEY HAVE SHARKS!!!! I absolutely adore sharks, they also have a squid, an octopus, rays, CRABS AND LOBSTERS!!!! Everything was just so beautiful, I could've stared at them all day 🐟🐠🦈🐙🦀🦞🦐🦑🐚 & the location was so gorgeous! We drove about 1hr & a half to get there and it was SO worth it! I definitely recommend paying a visit! & I will 100% be going again some day!

(p.s. the gift shop is so so lovely, the pottery is absolutely stunning, I wanted one of everything, there's plenty of toys & things that kids will love & oh my god the food we had at the café was gorgeous! I also got a seagull dog toy for my sister's dog & he adores it =) + i got a shark pencil which is awesome, a beautiful bracelet & a gorgeous starfish dish!)

I took SO many photos, I want to draw them all, they are all STUNNING! I didn't want to say goodbye! The rays kept waving at us 🥰 so cute!

Thank you Ilfracombe Aquarium, for...

This place is a hit for my family and over the years we've visited several times. We just recently visited for the first time since covid and the aquarium is definitely bigger than before. This aquarium is all about the local freshwater and marine ecology from Exmoor moorland to the coast. There's lots of information on clear to read displays around the exhibits. The children aged 9 & 10 were able to lead themselves around the exhibits and learn kids by participating in the quiz for a sticker at the end... I think there's 3 age related quizzes for children aged EYFS - KS2. All of the staff in the centre are on hand to answer questions, and I was particularly impressed with how the young chap with the dark hair patiently listened to one of the children's questions and made sure his answer was at a level the child could understand. The setting is small and friendly, this is not the national sea life centre. Parking is nearby at the car park near the church at the end of the harbour, we went the week after May half term 2023 so it was well quiet.

Toilets are the ones on the harbor. It's a large building next door. Hold your breath and...

We visited Ilfracombe Aquarium on a Sunday afternoon during the Christmas break. Parking was easy and reasonably priced, though I imagine it could be more challenging in the summer. There are no toilets inside the aquarium, but public restrooms are located right next door. Unfortunately, they weren’t very clean.

The aquarium itself is quite small, and I felt the entry price was a bit high for the size. We walked through in about 15 minutes, even after encouraging my daughter to take a second look at the informative signs. That said, a friendly staff member added to the experience by feeding some of the fish for visitors to watch, which my daughter really enjoyed.

The exhibits mainly feature local marine life, such as crabs and fish found in the nearby harbour. It’s a nice educational experience but not a place for a long visit. Also, it’s not dog-friendly.

To help extend the visit for children, I recommend trying the trail they provide. It adds a bit more engagement and makes the experience last longer.

Overall, it was an enjoyable but brief visit. It's worth considering if you’re in the area, but be mindful of the size...