Ian Waller and his family enjoy a visit to one of Bristol’s best family-friendly attractions
Can you tickle a seahorse?
What is a starfish thinking?
Do thick lipped grey mullets have best friends?
It’s fantastic to hear the questions that the kids around is came up with during our recent visit to Bristol Aquarium – and there were loads more to come.
Do axolotl have a bedtime?
Just in case you haven’t been yet, Bristol Aquarium is amazing! We’ve been coming for occasional family visits for years now and we always love it.
Right from the start, the twisting, turning pathways lead visitors from one glass fronted tank to another. Right up close to the glass, you can see the amazing undersea worlds of the fish, crustaceans and other worldly animals that are just guaranteed to amaze visitors of all ages.
As the little ones charge from one display to another, there are plenty of well written and concise information panels dotted around to provide just enough information on each exhibit without getting too bogged down in detail.
Turn the next corner and the tanks only get bigger, and if you time it just right (check out the website for details), you will hear of the family-orientated talks from the friendly experts, including the chance to ask any fishy question you can think of.
And it’s not just looking, oohing and reading. There are plenty of chances to get involved – crawling into a bubble inside a tank full of seahorses, having a go at some aquatic art and even posing indeed the massive mouth of a prehistoric megalodon!
Along the way, the helpful staff were full of information and answers, while the regular school parties show the popularity of the place for local learners.
There are also chances to find out about ways to encourage the conservation of the oceans and waterways around us, as well as the work carried out by affiliated organisations.
And still the questions kept coming… Do starfish get bored? Was that ray talking to us?
Apparently you can run birthday parties here as well, while the onsite cafe offers snacks and pizzas.
By the time we reached the final massive tank – complete with two small benches to chill out and soak in the amazing scene – we were underwater explorers in need of our own fish tanks. Now while that final tank is stunning, the undisputed queen – or is that king – has to be Shiela the giant grouper who, we were told, is in the process of turning into a male, soon to be renamed Hela.
All in all, a hugely enjoyable return visit to one of Bristol’s best attractions.