I explored the £1.4m transformation of Blackpool Sea Life, we are so lucky to have this on our doorstep
As a mum-of-three little ones under six and busy half term week to fill, I was excited to explore what the Sea Life had to offer.
Living in a bustling visitor resort like Blackpool, it’s easy to forget our amazing attractions are not just a place for holidaymakers.
This week as Blackpool Sea Life welcomed visitors to check out the £1.4 million transformation of its iconic ocean tank for the first time, I was reminded how lucky we are to have amazing attractions like this on our doorstep.
The team at Blackpool Sea Life have reimaged the space as an immersive Jurassic seascape that connects modern marine life with their ancient ancestors.
Visitors are now able to step into the ocean tunnel and come face-to-fin with species whose origins stretch back hundreds of millions of years.
As a mum-of-three little ones under six and busy half term week to fill, I was excited to explore what the Sea Life had to offer.
My six-year-old little boy is dinosaur mad and my two little girls aged five and four love the idea of mermaids living under the sea.
If you’ve never been to Sea Life and you have children its a perfect place for an afternoon trip.
It’s immersive, interactive and you get up close and personal with many wonderful creatures.
A surprising favourite were the stingwrays who almost seemed to be smiling as they curiously came to see who was peering at them.
As a family we were super excited to check out the new ocean tank.
To quote my little boy “It’s like walking across the sea bed” as sharks, stingrays and 19-stone turtle swim above you.
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The whole trip was really calm and serene. There is something majestic about seeing a shark glide over your head.
The new jurassic features were definitely a winner with the children. The dramatic mosasaurus skeleton is a nod to sharks, who are often described as “living fossils”, have existed for more than 400 million years, long before dinosaurs roamed the Earth.
Another star for us was Phoenix the 19-stone green sea turtle, part of a lineage that dates back over 200 million years to the age of dinosaurs.
Just walking beneath the towering four-metre viewing window takes your breath away.
The impressive 500,000-litre tank is home to more than 50 sea creatures, including blacktip reef sharks, nurse sharks and stingrays. The habitat was been carefully designed with caves, sandy areas and flowing currents to reflect natural ocean environments and support the needs of each species.
The exhibit has been filled using seawater pumped directly from the Blackpool coast, with the process taking 14 tidal cycles over the course of a week to complete.
The reopening marks the return of a key area of the attraction, which has been closed since November 2025.
To buy tickets, which start at £15 per adult in advance, visit Blackpool Sea Life website here.