SEA LIFE Brighton

A Victorian undersea cathedral

Birch's aquarium was built with a long vaulted corridor leading to a main hall whose tank was the largest in the world when it opened. Columns of serpentine marble, granite and Bath stone hold up the vaults, and writers at the time compared the interior to an undersea cathedral. The seafront exterior was rebuilt in the 1920s, but the Victorian halls survive, so take a moment to look up as well as into the tanks.

Visiting today

The SEA LIFE company took over the site in 1991, and it is now operated by Merlin Entertainments. More than 2,000 animals are on display. As an indoor attraction it is a dependable choice for families when the weather turns on the beach, and it fits easily into a morning or afternoon. Younger children tend to enjoy it most, but adults with an interest in Victorian architecture will find plenty to look at too.

Nearby

Brighton Beach is right outside, Brighton Palace Pier is about 170 metres away and Old Steine Gardens is a short walk inland. Pair it with a walk on the pier for a full seafront outing.

Highlights

• Opened in 1872, designed by Eugenius Birch
• Described as the world's oldest continuously operating aquarium
• Grade II listed Victorian vaulted halls
• More than 2,000 animals

Good to know

• Mostly indoors, so a good wet-weather option on the seafront.
• It is on Marine Parade, beside Brighton Palace Pier.

Frequently asked questions