Summer at SEA LIFE London

On every holiday since our young girls were born we’ve made a beeline for the local aquarium in the city or town we are visiting.

As babies they would stare mesmerised from their pushchairs at the colourful tropical fish and coral. Now aged 5 and 3 our daughters are just as captivated but also inquisitive and full of questions.

Last week I took our eldest to SEA LIFE London. For those who have never been (and this was my second ever trip) it’s literally in the heart of London - tucked next to the London Eye and across the bridge from the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben.

We spent just under 2 hours following the path, exploring the different zones and getting up close to the captivating underwater life. It was fascinating to watch my daughter interacting with an inquisitive stingray who stayed watching her for some time.

In Coral Kingdom we took the opportunity to take a closer look at colourful fish, incredible coral and dainty seahorses accompanied by relaxing background music and warm, inviting lighting. It’s the kind of place you could spend hours just watching and taking in these beautiful sea creatures.

We instantly could feel the humidity as we headed into the Rainforest Adventure zone serenaded by the sound of noisy crickets. Here we were invited to bravely inspect the spiders and tropical bugs. As you reach the Polar Adventure the temperature drops down to a climate suitable for the penguins. We were there in time for feeding time so watched the penguins eagerly queuing for their fish snacks.  SEA LIFE London also houses sea turtles, stingrays, jellyfish and of course sharks with razor sharp teeth!

As I expected it was busy when we were there at 2pm but at no point were we queuing for longer than 10 minutes. The busiest section was the tunnel which you walk through surrounded by marine life. 

SEA LIFE London may not be the most spacious aquarium we have visited  but it’s well designed with lighting and details to suit the mood of the various different zones. The largest tank housing bigger fish and sharks has several viewing areas on lower and upper levels, so there’s plenty of opportunity to catch the action.

After several hours together exploring, my five year old daughter was full of stories to tell her sister and schoolfriends and of course ready to hit the gift shop at the end to check out the toys! 

If you’re visiting the capital or if you live in London, this should definitely be on your list to visit. It ticks the boxes for children of all ages and will give them a day out to remember. 

Thinking of heading to SEA LIFE London? Here are some things you may want to know:

• It’s worth looking out for 2 for 1 offers, often on the back of cereal boxes. Under 3s go free to this attraction

• There is no cafe inside but it’s possible to buy treats at Polar Point Refreshments and from vending machines

• There are lifts making it easy to accommodate buggies and wheelchairs between the floors

• There are toilets dotted around the venue and very easy to find

• We visited for just under 2 hours which gave us plenty of time to take in the attraction at the leisurely pace

• Photography without flash is allowed. Photographs are also taken at several points along the way and you’ll be given the opportunity to buy these at the end

• Westminster and Waterloo are the closest stations

• Be sure not to miss the selfie wall (below) - take a photo beside your favourite Sea Life London bestie, post to Instagram tagging @Sea_Life_London and #SeaLifeLondonBestie and you’ll be in with a chance of winning a VIP experience

We were invited to SEA LIFE London in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and views are my own personal opinion.

Shrek's Adventure - A London day trip for kids

It’s hard to believe it was 18 years ago when the original Shrek movie premiered here in the UK.

I remember the buzz around the film when it launched and how brilliantly it tapped into the cheeky sense of humour of both adults and children.

Almost two decades may have passed but fans of the green ogre himself, donkey, Princess Fiona and more can relive the magic as part of Shrek’s Adventure on London’s Southbank.

We were kindly given the opportunity to check Shrek’s Adventure out for ourselves so took our two young children (aged 3 and 5) along for the ride.

The attraction is melting pot of 3D illusion and acting role play. There’s a magical bus tour, the chance to decide the fate of Pinocchio on a spinning wheel of torture and to find your way out of a mind-bending maze of mirrors.

We were in a group of around 30 other adults and children which never made the tour seem too busy.

By far our favourite part of Shrek’s Adventure was the bus ride at the beginning. I won’t give too much away but this completely captivated our two little girls. After disembarking the bus we moved from room to room, meeting the weird and wonderful characters familiar and inspired by the Shrek films. I felt some of the jokes were a little lost on our small children but interactive tricks and games kept them intrigued.

It’s definitely worth keeping an eye out for Merlin 2-for-1 passes (on cereal boxes) as this makes it a much cheaper day out.

If you’re a big fan of Shrek and the other DreamWorks movies, you’ll have a great time meeting and having fun with some of your favourite characters.

Thinking of visiting? Here are some tips/extra info

Can I take my young child? Our youngest is 3 and she didn’t find the experience scary or overwhelming in any way.

What if I have a buggy or wheelchair with me? There is a buggy park at the entrance to the attraction. When we visited a wheelchair user was in our tour group.

What if I/my child needs the toilet during the tour? I did notice a couple of people ducking out to the toilet during the room to room tour and they were able to rejoin when they were ready.

Are photos allowed? You won’t be able to take pictures or use your camera phone during the experience but you will have photos taken as you go along and these will be available to buy at the end.

When is a good time to go? We had pre-booked tickets for 10am on a Sunday when Shrek’s Adventure opened - this worked well for us. There was very little queuing. Once your tour begins there is a maximum number of people allowed per group so it’s never super busy.

Will I meet Shrek? There’s certainly an opportunity to meet and have photos during the tour.

How long does Shrek’s Adventure last? We were there for a little over an hour, allowing time for a little browse in the gift shop at the end.

We were invited to Shrek’s Adventure in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and views are my own personal opinion.