While in Birmingham recently, I visited the National SEA LIFE Centre as a kind of follow-up to visiting the SEA LIFE London Aquarium in July. As you’ll see throughout this review, despite the best efforts of SEA LIFE, I do not feel that the Birmingham aquarium deserve the title of National SEA LIFE Centre, as it pales in comparison to the London branch. However, walking into SEA LIFE Birmingham the visitor experience is polished. The layout funnels people through a series of themed habitats, with high-production-value signage, immersive lighting, an impressive 360° Ocean Tunnel and theatrical highlights such as the Penguin Ice Adventure and the sea otter enclosure. For families and casual visitors, the centre delivers, there’s tactile engagement (rockpools), scheduled talks/feeds, and clear messaging designed to foster wonder. The attraction is upfront that it sees itself as both leisure venue and an organisation doing conservation and public education. Those strengths matter: well-designed exhibits and good interpretive content can create empathy and motivate behavioural change (less litter, less single-use plastic, etc.). The centre clearly invests in this side of the visitor experience. Given how far Birmingham is from the North Sea, is this really the right place for such an aquarium?
The first exhibit visitors come to on their tour of the National SEA LIFE Centre Birmingham is Penguin Ice Adventure, which transports visitors into a chilly, Antarctic-style habitat where a colony of Gentoo penguins (Pygoscelis papua) live, swim, and waddle in conditions designed to approximate their natural icy home. Inside the exhibit, the air is kept cold (around 8 °C) and guests can observe the penguins both above and below the water through multiple vantage points, including underwater viewing areas. The penguins often dive continuously during feeding sessions, or to playfully poke around their environment, and engage in natural behaviours such as swimming, preening, and interacting socially within the colony. While this has the advantage of giving visitors a vivid sense of Antarctic wildlife right in the heart of Birmingham, I am not entirely convinced. Beyond just watching, the exhibit often offers deeper engagement: there are enrichment and educational aspects that highlight the penguins’ personalities, care routines, and their conservation status. This exhibit gives guests a chance to appreciate how these Antarctic birds live and to reflect on broader issues like species conservation and human impact on polar environments. However, you may end up pondering their welfare like me, kept in an chilled box without any natural sunlight or other essentials. Given the fact that they’re listed as Least Concern by the IUCN Red List, do they really need to be in captivity here?
The Red Sea Wreck is the next themed zone, a section designed to evoke the feeling of exploring a sunken or wreck-like habitat under the sea, rather than a typical reef or open-ocean tank. Inside this area, the building infrastructure seems to reflect an immersive aesthetic: entry is via a ramp or sloped access, and the tank-viewing area sits behind stone-style flooring and subtle ambient lighting rather than bright, reef-style displays. The more subdued lighting and ‘wreck-style’ décor aim to recreate the atmosphere of an underwater shipwreck or old submerged structure, a contrast to the bright coral-reef tanks elsewhere in the centre. The aquarium even uses some of the remains of its old tanks/exhibits to help sell this, with twisted and rusted metal used to sell the idea of a wreck. For many visitors, this adds variety to the visit. There are tall column tanks here displaying fish that may live alongside wrecks in the Red Sea (such as that photographed below). Alongside the theatrical presentation, this section highlights how shipwrecks can become artificial reefs, supporting a surprising diversity of marine species. By showing fish and invertebrates navigating this recreated habitat, the exhibit encourages visitors to appreciate the resilience of marine life and the ways in which ocean organisms adapt to changing environments.
The Shark Lagoon is one of the aquarium’s most dramatic zones, drawing visitors into a dim, atmospheric environment where several shark species glide through the water with effortless precision. This exhibit highlights creatures such as blacktip reef sharks (Carcharhinus melanopterus) and nurse sharks (Ginglymostoma cirratum), giving guests the chance to observe their sleek forms, subtle behaviours, and social interactions up close. Soft lighting and panoramic viewing windows create a sense of immersion, offering a rare perspective on animals that are often misunderstood. For many visitors, the Shark Lagoon provides a captivating mix of excitement and calm, the thrill of seeing sharks paired with the soothing rhythm of their perpetual motion. Beyond its visual appeal, the Shark Lagoon also aims to challenge misconceptions about sharks as ‘dangerous villains’ of the sea. Interpretive signage emphasise their ecological importance as apex predators and the crucial role they play in maintaining healthy marine ecosystems. By presenting sharks in a peaceful and respectful context, the lagoon encourages visitors to rethink these animals not as objects of fear but as vulnerable species in urgent need of protection.
The Rockpool section of the aquarium invites visitors to get closer to marine life through an interactive, tactile experience modelled on real British coastal rockpools, with informative tanks exploring the lives of other rockpool species globally. Staff often provide supervised opportunities for guests (especially children) to gently touch certain animals while learning about their adaptations, like how starfish use tube feet to move or how anemones use stinging cells to catch prey. This hands-on element makes the Rockpool one of the most engaging and memorable stops, helping visitors connect with species they might otherwise overlook in deeper tanks. Beyond its interactive appeal, the Rockpool section carries an important educational message about the fragility of coastal ecosystems. Signage and staff-led talks highlight how rockpools are dynamic environments affected by tides, storms, and human pressures such as pollution and shoreline disturbance. By showing how creatures survive in these fluctuating habitats (and how easily they can be harmed by careless behaviour), the exhibit encourages visitors to treat real-world coastlines with greater care. It’s a small-scale environment, but one that effectively sparks curiosity and fosters appreciation for the resilience and vulnerability of Britain’s native marine life.
Clownfish Kingdom is a small but vibrant reef-themed exhibit filled with colour and movement, designed to immerse visitors in the warm, bustling world of tropical coral habitats. Brightly lit tanks showcase lively clownfish darting among waving sea anemones and kelp, offering a close-up look at one of the ocean’s most iconic symbiotic relationships. The exhibit highlights the fascinating behaviours of these small fish, from their energetic swimming patterns to the way they shelter within anemone tentacles for protection. Clownfish Kingdom is especially captivating for younger visitors and anyone seeing these ‘famous’ fish (courtesy of Finding Nemo) for the first time, with children being able to enter a tunnel underneath one of the tanks and be immersed in this iconic fish.. Beyond its visual appeal, the exhibit aims to teach visitors about the delicate ecosystems clownfish depend on and the pressures those ecosystems currently face.
The Coral Reef section of the aquarium (like the previous one) bursts with colour and movement, offering a vibrant window into one of the most diverse ecosystems on Earth. Illuminated tanks recreate the warm, shallow waters where coral reefs thrive, showcasing an array of bright fish, living corals, and intricate reef structures. Visitors can watch species like butterflyfish, tangs, clownfish, and wrasse weaving through coral branches, each playing a role in maintaining the delicate balance of reef life. The exhibit’s immersive lighting and variety of shapes and colours capture the visual richness that makes coral reefs both stunning and scientifically fascinating. Beyond their beauty, the Coral Reef displays also highlight the fragility of these ecosystems and the growing threats they face. Interpretive signs typically explain how rising sea temperatures, ocean acidification, pollution, and destructive fishing practices are contributing to widespread coral decline. By showing healthy reef habitats up close, the aquarium encourages visitors to understand what is at stake, not just the loss of vibrant scenery, but the collapse of vital marine nurseries that support roughly a quarter of all ocean species.
Bay of Rays at the National SEA LIFE Centre Birmingham is a bright, open exhibit that allows visitors to watch various species of rays glide gracefully through shallow, spacious waters. The design of the habitat highlights the elegant, almost bird-like movement of rays as they sweep their wide fins in smooth, fluid motions. Soft lighting and clear viewing windows make it easy to appreciate their unique shapes, from the rounded bodies of native rays. Guests can observe how these animals search along the sandy bottom for food, interact with one another, and occasionally rise toward the surface, offering an up-close look at their gentle behaviour and expressive ‘smiling’ faces. Beyond the visual appeal, the Bay of Rays also introduces visitors to the ecological importance of rays and the challenges they face in the wild. Educational panels often explain how rays play a vital role in maintaining healthy ocean ecosystems by feeding on shellfish and small invertebrates, helping to balance populations on the seafloor. The exhibit also touches on conservation issues such as overfishing, habitat loss, and the vulnerability these species. If you’re lucky, you may even see a mermaid’s purse or two (their eggs) left safely in the sand. By showcasing these graceful animals in a calm, immersive setting, it encourages visitors to appreciate rays not only for their beauty but also to recognise that we have some really pretty species living in our waters.
The Kingdom of the Seahorses is one of the more delicate and enchanting exhibits, showcasing a variety of seahorse species in thoughtfully lit, slow-flowing tanks that mirror the calm habitats these animals prefer. Visitors can observe the intricate details of their bodies, from the curled tails and elongated snouts to their gentle, fluttering movements as they navigate the water. The exhibit highlights the uniqueness of seahorses as a group: their upright swimming posture, their tendency to anchor themselves to seagrass or coral with their tails, and of course, the fascinating reversal of reproductive roles in which the males carry the developing young. The tranquil, almost meditative atmosphere of this zone encourages slower viewing, inviting guests to notice behaviours and features they might otherwise miss. Beyond showcasing their beauty, this exhibit also emphasises the conservation challenges facing these fragile species. Many seahorse populations are threatened by habitat loss, overfishing, and the curio and traditional-medicine trades. The exhibit frames seahorses as ambassadors for vulnerable coastal ecosystems such as seagrass meadows and mangroves, prompting visitors to think about the wider environmental pressures facing these habitats.
Jelly Invaders is a dark, atmospheric exhibit designed to immerse visitors in the drifting, other-worldly beauty of jellyfish. Lit with colour-changing LEDs, the tanks highlight the mesmerising movement of different jelly species as they pulsate, float, and glide through the water. The exhibit emphasises how ancient and resilient these creatures are (having existed for millions of years) and introduces visitors to their unique biology, such as their simple body structure, stinging cells, and remarkable ability to thrive in a wide range of ocean environments. The shifting lights and slow, rhythmic motion create an almost hypnotic effect. Despite its charm, Jelly Invaders also subtly addresses the ecological challenges surrounding jellyfish and the oceans they inhabit. However, during my visit a number of the tanks were empty and after seeing the Medusarium in Paris, this seemed like a cheap imitation by comparison. The exhibit did a good job of providing an insight into how jellyfish fit into the broader marine ecosystem, not just as beautiful drifters, but as predators, prey, and indicators of environmental change.
The Mangrove Swamp exhibit immerses visitors in a warm, root-tangled world inspired by the rich and often overlooked ecosystems found along tropical coastlines. Mangroves act as natural nurseries for countless marine species, and the exhibit reflects this by showcasing animals that rely on these environments for shelter and food. Visitors can observe creatures such as archerfish and other mangrove-adapted species moving among twisting roots and shallow waters. The exhibit also serves an important educational purpose, highlighting the ecological value of mangroves and the threats they face globally. Through signage and interactive displays, the Mangrove Swamp explains how mangrove forests protect coastlines from storms, store large quantities of carbon, and provide critical habitat for young fish and invertebrates. It also draws attention to the impacts of coastal development, pollution, and climate change, which have led to rapid declines in mangrove coverage worldwide. By placing visitors face-to-face with the animals that depend on these forests, the exhibit encourages a deeper appreciation of mangroves as vital yet vulnerable ecosystems, and reinforces the need to conserve and restore them before more of their biodiversity is lost.
The Otter Sanctuary featuring sea otters (Enhydra lutris) presents an environment designed to capture the dynamic, coastal world these animals naturally inhabit. Sea otters are highly aquatic mammals, and the sanctuary reflects that with deep pools, flowing water, and rocky platforms where they can dive, roll, and groom their dense fur. Visitors can watch them forage, crack shellfish on their chests, and perform the constant grooming that keeps their famously thick coats waterproof (if they are in the display area). Their playful nature and expressive behaviour make them endlessly engaging to observe, offering guests an intimate look at one of the most charismatic marine mammals during their feeds. Beyond their charm, the exhibit also highlights the wider ecological story of sea otters. These animals are a keystone species, essential to maintaining healthy kelp forests by controlling sea urchin populations. Their decline in many parts of the world due to hunting, pollution, entanglement, and habitat degradation has had ripple effects across coastal ecosystems. The two animals in display in Birmingham were orphans that were rescued from the wild. Like the penguins we met earlier, they are in a temperature and light controlled environment to mimic Alaska (where they are from). The species is listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List so I can get behind the need for captive breeding projects for this species. However, is this really the right place as these two sea otters are the only ones in Great Britain – perhaps that is for a very good reason.
The Rainforest section immerses visitors in the humid, vibrant atmosphere of a tropical ecosystem, offering a sharp contrast to the colder marine habitats elsewhere in the aquarium. Lush greenery, warm lighting, and carefully designed enclosures help convey the sense of stepping into a dense jungle alive with movement. Here, guests encounter species such as piranhas (Pygocentrus nattereri), poison dart frogs, freshwater turtles, and other creatures adapted to the unique challenges of rainforest life. The displays highlight how these animals rely on the rich but delicate web of resources found in tropical rivers and forests, showcasing everything from predatory behaviours to camouflage and symbiotic relationships. Beyond the impressive visual setup, the Rainforest section also aims to educate visitors about the environmental pressures facing these habitats. Signage and interactive features emphasise the threats posed by deforestation, pollution, illegal wildlife trade, and climate change, all of which are rapidly destabilising rainforest ecosystems worldwide. By presenting a mix of fascinating species and engaging storytelling, the exhibit encourages visitors to consider the broader ecological importance of rainforests, including their role in global oxygen production, carbon storage, and biodiversity. It’s a space that not only captivates with its exotic wildlife but also prompts reflection on the urgent need to protect one of the planet’s most vital and endangered environments.
The Ocean Tunnel at the National SEA LIFE Centre Birmingham is the attraction’s signature experience, giving visitors the sensation of walking directly through the heart of an underwater world. Surrounded on all sides by shimmering blue water, guests can watch blacktip reef sharks, rays, and a variety of tropical fish glide effortlessly overhead and alongside them. The curved, 360-degree design offers perspectives normally impossible to experience, such as the subtle movements of larger predators as they patrol the reef. Soft lighting and the gentle hum of water circulation add to the immersive atmosphere, making the tunnel both calming and awe-inspiring. Beyond its spectacle, the Ocean Tunnel also plays a role in educating visitors about marine ecosystems and the threats they face. Interpretive displays encourage guests to think about the fragility of coral reefs, the pressures of overfishing, and the importance of ocean conservation. Seeing these animals up close (often just inches away) helps create an emotional connection that can inspire curiosity and concern for marine life. At its best, the tunnel blends the excitement of close encounters with the broader purpose of raising awareness about the oceans that sustain these creatures, making it one of the most memorable and meaningful parts of the SEA LIFE Birmingham experience.
A major theme in independent reporting is that Sea Life (the chain, owned by Merlin Entertainments) has limited public transparency about animal records, mortality rates, and the detailed outcomes of its conservation projects. This is not a Birmingham-only issue, it’s a chain-level transparency problem that affects how we interpret the Birmingham Centre’s claims. Many marine species (e.g. large sharks, pelagic fish) evolved to roam vast ranges. Contemporary animal welfare science emphasises providing enclosures that allow species-specific behaviours and enrichment. While SEA LIFE Birmingham has large tanks and appears to provide enrichment, public-facing information rarely quantifies space relative to modern welfare benchmarks or describes behavioural studies showing animals exhibit naturalistic behaviours. Without that data we cannot confirm that exhibited animals have optimal welfare. The chain highlights successful captive-breeding (seahorses, for example). Breeding is valuable when it supports endangered populations, facilitates reintroduction, or reduces wild-capture pressure. But breeding that simply creates more display animals without verifiable release programs or population-level benefits is conservation theatre. Public documentation of release rates, survival post-release monitoring, and peer-reviewed conservation outcomes is limited in the public domain. Looking at this through the lens of the bowmouth guitarfish, a species that is listed as Critically Endangered, why do they only have a single individual when they could potentially establish a captive breeding program?
The National SEA LIFE Centre Birmingham is an impressive, visitor-friendly aquarium with strong exhibit design, notable attractions (penguins, otters, a large ocean tunnel) and visible educational programming. However, significant and unresolved concerns surround the Sea Life brand’s transparency, how welfare and conservation claims are framed, and whether some practices truly meet independent standards for modern aquatic animal husbandry and conservation. SEA LIFE could publish annual, site-specific welfare and conservation reports, include mortality figures by species group, cause-of-death breakdowns, veterinary interventions, and improvements planned, commission regular welfare audits by independent, recognised zoo/aquarium animal welfare bodies and publish summaries and remediation plans. If you don’t have access to the sister aquarium in London then this one is worth visiting, but in comparison it seems a bit sad and empty. While I admire the drive to have a flagship outside of London, SEA LIFE needs to keep investing in this site to ensure that it is not overshadowed and lives up to its name.
If you liked this post and enjoy reading this blog, please consider supporting me on Patreon where you will also gain access to exclusive content. If you enjoy reading my blog, why not subscribe using the form below?
