Last weekend we visited the National Marine Aquarium at Plymouth harbour. It was our third visit - you can return for free throughout the year after buying your first ticket. To do this you need to bring a passport photo for each person so check out the terms and conditions on their website before going (http://www.national-aquarium.co.uk). You also get 10% off by booking online, plus much faster entry.
As you can see from the pictures it was a rainy day, and I would highly recommend it as an all weather activity. For each visit we've spent about half a day in the aquarium and then also had a walk around the harbour, by the famous Mayflower steps.
Inside the aquarium is set over several levels with some fantastic deep tanks where you can sit and watch sharks swim past. There are endless educational displays and it is a fascinating day out for all ages. I really have nothing to say on the marine life, so clearly I learned very little :-)
There are lots of activities aimed at small children, and helpful stools for them to climb on to get a better look. Although virtually every family in the place had a pushchair, there are a few parts which are less pushchair friendly as you have to take a lift up and down. The majority of the place is accessed via a sloping walkway making it much easier to get around.
There is a playcentre in the cafe which is immediately in front of you when you arrive. It's a great idea, but can be a bit stressful as it is overcrowded with not enough cafe space for all of the waiting parents. If you can possibly avoid eating at the aquarium I would. There isnt an obvious indoor picnic space and the cafe is too small and fairly expensive. There are loads of lovely cafes in the nearby harbour.
All in all a great experience. Like most family day trips, it could be expensive if you go once, but if you live in Devon and can repeat the visit then it is great value for money.
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