National Lobster Hatchery — Attraction in Padstow

Thoroughly impressive and terrific attraction situated in the beautifully picturesque harbour town of Padstow, Cornwall and is dedicated to the Conservation efforts of the European Lobster. The admission for adults is £8 which is more than reasonable and is valid for 12 months so you can visit the attraction as many times as you like during that period. The Centre does a fantastic and diligent job of its conservation of the European Lobster and their efforts to protect. On entry into the attraction there is a wonderful informative introductory exhibition about the European Lobster it's biology, it's habitat and it's breeding cycle and also the demand that there is for the European Lobster as food and how the Centre looks after Lobster Hatchlings rescued from the wild and then releases them back into the wild. The introductory exhibition also covers the sustainability of the European Lobster, which is an interesting read but also a great way to introduce to the attraction and what does for the conservation side of things. There are a couple of tanks you can view where you can see some of the Lobster up close and personal where if you get too close you can see their renowned aggressive nature and in a couple of other tanks you can see some other fish and also crabs. In one of the other tanks you can see the maternity ward housing all of the pregnant lobsters that have been rescued from the wild and there is some information about the centre extracts the egg from them giving you a clear and full picture of the processes involved. There is some information about how the equipment looks after the young hatchlings and also the pregnant lobsters. You can also see a tank of the young lobsters hatchlings which is an awesome and rare sight and for people who have never seen lobster hatchlings is very intriguing and enlightening. There are a couple of rooms upstairs going into the biological history of the Lobster and also there are a couple more lobsters to see in the tanks which is again very interesting and also some interesting fossils to see as well. The other exhibition upstairs talks about the conservation of the European Lobster and sustainability of it for the future and how people can live responsibly alongside it. There is a small gift shop in the entrance area which has a decent array of souvenirs at affordable decent prices. Overall this is a fantastic and fabulous attraction to visit and learn about an unusual and unique creature in the European Lobster and learn about the fantastic work the centre in the conservation efforts to look after them and release the hatchlings back...

Great place to see how lobsters 🦞 are being helped in not being over fished in the Southwest area by giving younglings a good start in life and then re-released into the sea. Small but intresting area, where you can sponsor a lobster, a couple or a family of four, name them all and if you sponsor more then one they are released together. Helpful friendly staff and dogs are welcome. The downside is (nothing to do with the Hatchery) the car park, dreadful to get a parking space, so arrive very early to get one. So I wouldn't pre-book any tickets to the Hatchery online just in case you can't get parking, which happened to me during the school holidays . Going back again soon to take my friend as paying once gives you all year entry to the Hatchery. We'll done to everyone involved in The National ...

Does what it says on the tin! Very informative. Interesting to find out how lobsters have changed and evolved over the many decades. Cool to see so many of the lobsters. If you go at the right time of year you can see all the baby lobsters from first hatching to nearly ready for release, if you’re either to early or late don’t worry as they have some older lobsters on show as-well. The good thing is by going you’re helping to conserve the lobster along the English coast and give Them an even more secure future. A little expensive (keeping in mind they only sell annual passes) but what you’d expect from a small charity who need the money. Not a day trip you would only spend a maximum of half an hour here.

Nice but a little pricey for the time it takes to walk around. 4 stars...