Blue Reef Aquarium Portsmouth - Southsea

Blue Reef Aquarium Portsmouth: A Comprehensive Guide

The Blue Reef Aquarium Portsmouth offers an engaging and educational experience for visitors of all ages. Located in the heart of Southsea, Portsmouth, this renowned aquarium provides a captivating glimpse into the diverse world of marine life. It’s a popular destination for families, tourists, and anyone with an interest in the ocean’s inhabitants. The aquarium’s central location at Clarence Esplanade, Southsea, Portsmouth, Southsea PO5 3PB, United Kingdom., coupled with its accessibility features, contributes significantly to its appeal.

Key Features and Offerings

The Blue Reef Aquarium boasts a collection of over 200 different marine species, carefully housed within a series of interconnected tanks and tunnels. Visitors can explore a variety of habitats, from the rocky shorelines to the deeper waters of the open ocean. A key highlight is the tunnel, which allows guests to walk beneath a large tank teeming with sharks, rays, and other fascinating creatures. This provides an immersive and unforgettable experience, particularly for children.

• Aquarium Exhibits: A wide array of marine animals, including colorful fish, crustaceans, and invertebrates.
• Children’s Party Service: The aquarium regularly hosts children’s birthday parties, offering a unique and memorable celebration.
• Education Center: Dedicated educational programs and displays that promote marine conservation and awareness.
• Tourist Attraction: The aquarium is a well-established tourist attraction, drawing visitors from both domestic and international locations.

Location and Contact Information

The aquarium’s address is Clarence Esplanade, Southsea, Portsmouth, Southsea PO5 3PB, United Kingdom.. For inquiries or further information, prospective visitors can contact the aquarium via telephone at 2392875222. A detailed website, accessible at bluereefaquarium.co.uk, provides comprehensive details about opening hours, ticket prices, upcoming events, and educational resources.

Additional Points of Interest

Beyond the aquarium itself, several amenities contribute to a pleasant visit. On-site services include accessible parking, ensuring convenience for visitors with mobility requirements. The aquarium is fully wheelchair-accessible, boasting a wheelchair-accessible entrance and car park. Modern payment methods are also available, with NFC mobile payment options catering to contemporary preferences. The area surrounding the aquarium offers a range of family-friendly activities, including a dedicated playground, providing ample opportunities for children to enjoy themselves. This creates a well-rounded experience, encouraging visitors to spend the entire day exploring the area. The aquarium also offers a ‘return ticket’ option, allowing visitors to revisit the attraction multiple times throughout the year.

Visitor Feedback and Reputation

The Blue Reef Aquarium Portsmouth has garnered considerable positive feedback from its visitors. As evidenced by its substantial presence on Google My Business, with over 2601 reviews, the aquarium consistently receives high marks for its engaging exhibits and friendly staff. While some reviews mention minor considerations, such as the potential addition of refreshments, the overall sentiment is overwhelmingly positive. The aquarium’s commitment to providing an informative and enjoyable experience appears to be resonating with the public. The staff are noted for their knowledge and willingness to engage with visitors, enhancing the educational value of the visit. The well-maintained exhibits and the variety of marine life contribute significantly to the aquarium’s appeal, creating a memorable experience for all who visit. The average opinion is 3.7/5, reflecting a generally positive assessment of the aquarium’s offerings.

Recommended Visit Duration & Activities

A visit to the Blue Reef Aquarium Portsmouth typically takes between 2-3 hours to fully explore the exhibits and participate in any available educational programs. Families with young children may wish to allocate more time, allowing for extended playtime in the playground. Photography enthusiasts will appreciate the opportunity to capture stunning images of the marine life. The aquarium’s interactive displays and knowledgeable staff provide ample opportunities for learning and discovery.

👍 Reviews of Blue Reef Aquarium Portsmouth

Ashleigh

5/5

Really had a great time! Go in with an open mind as most of these reviews are negative but myself, partner, 7 year old and 8 month old had so much fun! They would of course benefit from selling ice lollies and drinks on hot days. The lady who done the 11am talk and feed in the tunnel was brilliant very informative and knew what she was talking about.

John D.

5/5

Superb, if you're in the area a visit is a must. You get a stamp so you can go in and out all day! A good play area out the back and a great selection of well presented marine life awaits.. fabulous.

Emma W.

5/5

It had a lot of exotic and beautiful fish and other creatures! The rays and dog fish were really cool! J age 9

ARTFULL D.

1/5

TOO BE HONEST it's looking a bit drab and dreary..tired and unkempt..EVEN WORSE ON THE INSIDE..Needs overhauling throughout...it's a shame as the AZTEC theme is cool...needs updating.. pretty colours and souveniers don't Fool NO ONE..AND THE ADMISSION FEE IS SCANDALOUS " complete waste of your MONEY 🫣..

Taylor R.

5/5

FIN-tastic visit to the aquarium! Great location on the seafront with a nice cafe and chippy. Great displays that are clearly well thought out. Very friendly, knowledgeable staff who are clearly passionate about what they do. There is effort going in to updating the displays and bringing new exhibits to the centre!

James B.

5/5

5* Party for my son's birthday!
My son and his friends had an incredible time at his 5th birthday party today. The staff at the aquarium were faultless, they had thought of every detail and made sure we had everything we needed. The party room was prepared before we arrived with bunting, confetti as well as plates and cups ready for the birthday tea. We particularly loved the whiteboard coloured in with sea creatures and a birthday message for the birthday boy. We were also allowed to decorate and bring in our cake ready before guests arrived, there were several members of staff on hand to ask if we needed anything else, from a cake knife to matches, which was extremely helpful and much appreciated. A big shout out to Rob, our aquarium tour guide, who was very entertaining and taught the children lots as we went around the aquarium. After that, the children had a great time playing in the outside park which was perfect for a hot, sunny day. The party food was prepared and set up by the time we came back to the party room, as well as music and party bags which I hadn't realised was part of the party cost, win! To end it all, my son was allowed to feed the sting rays, fish and sharks as his friends watched on which he will remember forever, I am sure! A fantastic party which was fantastic value for money. Thank you to everyone involved today, you were all brilliant and we will recommend this party as a top pick, a truly fantastic morning!

Stuart A.

3/5

Disappointing if I'm honest especially for the price charged. The enclosures were underwhelming. One of the larger exhibits was closed. The outdoor section is well past its prime. The price really should reflect the state that it's in. They certainly dont spare any expense in keeping the gift shop fully functional and well lit!! Giving 3 stars because there are some nice fish in there.

Michaela

2/5

Sadly this place is getting worse and worse.

There’s not much to see anymore; you can comfortably get round the whole place (including reading the signs) within 30-60 minutes, which is not really worth the prices charged.

Luckily it was a sunny day so I was able to take the kids into the outdoor splash park. It’s very small, so wouldn’t be great on busy days but we were lucky and they were the only kids for most of the time. So they happily played in the water and the sand for a long while.

But realistically, I had spent £30+ for them to play in a splash park across the road from a free one and see few fish more than they could see at a decent fish shop.