Scarborough Sea Life Centre

Scarborough Sea Life Centre is one of the main attractions in Scarborough for the young and old. TheScarborough Sea Life Centre is located on the North Bay past the chalets, well it isn’t hard to miss…just look for the white pyramids and enjoy the lovely view along the way.

You can either walk along the chalets and right round, which can take 30 minutes or you can walk to the miniature railway which will drop you off at the hill just above the Sea Life Centre.

The Miniature Railway only runs till the 3rd November and will cost £2.10 for a child single and £2.60 for an Adults single or you could purchase a return ticket for £2.70 per child and £3.30 per adult. All children under 3 travel for FREE.

The walk to the Sea Life Centre is lovely, especially when it is nice and sunny. These Pictures were taken at the beginning of October 2013, when I decided to take our boys to the Sea Life Centre after a very successful swimming lesson.

We walked along the North Bay, with the boys running along and playing on the sand as the tide was out. It is truly a joy to look out at the North Bay, looking at all the dogs with their owners enjoying a warm sunny autumn morning.

As a resident of Scarborough, we are able to buy a reduced annual pass for £10 per person with unlimited access to the Sea Life Centre.

However if you aren’t fortunate enough to have these annual passes then there is a number of half price or reduced price vouchers around the town centre or in the local Scarborough Weekly paper. If you book online, you will get 40% off your tickets.

When we got to the Sea Life Centre it was just after 10.30am so wasn’t particularly busy so there were no queues, we showed our passes and walked on through.

In high season and school holidays there can be long queues to get into the Sea Life Centre, be rest assured it is worth the wait.

Once you are in you can explore all types of marine life and watch your children’s eyes light up when you pass the Rays, The Great Barrier Reef, Jellyfish (which are slightly hypnotic when you look at them gliding around) and the Crab Kingdom.

New for 2013 is the Octopus Garden which my children loved. If your little ones have watched ‘Finding Nemo’ then they will love finding ‘Nemo’

Once you have made your way round inside, then it is time to head on outside (if you are visiting in Autumn and Winter, then please wrap up extra warm, as there can be a cold breeze round this side of the Sea Life Centre).

Outside you will see Penguins, Otters, The Rock Pool, The Seal Hospital and the Seals. If you check the boards you will be able to see when the Otters and Seals have their breakfast and dinner and you will be able to watch them being fed.

My boys really enjoyed watching the Seals being fed their breakfast and also listening to one of the team members talking about the Seals, it was very educational for both the children and myself.

As you make your way round outside, you will find the Pirate Mini Golf, which is £3 per person (under 3’s are free). My boys love a game of mini golf and it is good that there are plenty to choose from in Scarborough, the Sea Life Centre one is one of the better ones.

The mini golf is well thought out and offers gorgeous views looking out to the North Bay.

It is a 12-hole course; each hole offers an easy or hard option.

After all that fun outside it was definitely time for a cup of tea but first we walked under the ocean tunnel, where the fish swim all around you and come very close to the glass. My boys do love this part but they also know that they are getting closer to the small soft play area, so they tend to rush through this bit.

The boys like the soft play area even though it is small, but you didn’t come to the Sea Life Centre for the soft play area did you? The soft play area keeps them entertained long enough for you to have a relaxing hot drink or long enough for their dinner to be cooked.

The prices at the cafe are higher than say your local cafe, however the hot drinks on offer taste good and the food always looks great. The children’s menu is a good mix and the meals for adults are excellent.

I really like the Sea Life Centre, maybe more so because I have the annual passes, I wouldn’t go as often if I didn’t have them.

The Sea Life Centre is well run and very clean, and the staff are always friendly and happy to help and make a real fuss of all the children.

Scarborough Sea Life Centre Opening Times

10am – 5pm Everyday

(Last Admission is 4pm)

Scarborough Sea Life Centre Admission Prices

Individual on the door £16.20 or book online £9.72 saving 40%

Family Saver £13.20 on the door (2-6 people) or book online £7.92 per person.

Children are free under 3 years of age.