Days Out...

Sealife Centre at the Trafford Centre

Yesterday I took Aum and his friend Joshua to the new Sealife Centre at the Trafford Centre. We pre-booked tickets so they were only £12 each, and chose the 1-2pm allotted time (entry is staggered to prevent excessive queuing).

The first part of the experience is a talk whilst stood on 'Turtle Beach', an area computerised so it looks like you are on sand next to the sea. Here one of the crew tells the story of how baby turtles struggle to hatch from their eggs and make it into the sea. It is made more interactive through the use of 3D sculptures on the floor that move in time with the story, a good little addition to keep the kids entertained.

We were then ushered into the main aquarium centre, which has tanks for different species, including lion fish, anemones, eels, crabs which you can touch, and an octopus! 

Then there is the biggest tank, which has numerous sharks, sting rays, and the resident green turtle Ernie, who is almost as big as me and definitely weighs more! It is one that surrounds a transparent tunnel that can be walked through, so it really immerses you in the feel of the ocean.

The kids were given a little book which they had to stamp at various points around the centre, and there was a soft play area half way through, perfect for if they are getting a little restless with all the reading of signs and need to run riot for a while!

Overall I thought this was a good day out, and a welcome addition to the Barton Square section of the Trafford centre, which seems to be gearing itself for kids entertainment as well as home stores (the purpose of the expansion). The only thing I would say is that there isn't any kind of cafe or restaurant to provide lunch etc, and it is a fair walk from the Orient restaurants. There is an ice cream parlour, and the M&S cafe nearby though, so it is not completely at a loss. Still an ideal place if you want to send the kids there with Dad while you do a spot of shopping!