Now that exams are out of the way and there’s a lull in your studious activities, a trip to Brighton SeaLife centre is a must. It’s the perfect afternoon addition to all the raucous celebrations of the week – soothing music plays as you wander past the huge Ocean Tanks, spotting Nemo and Dory amongst SeaLife’s 1500 sea creatures.
The interactive rock pool area is open all day, so you can even handle some of the creatures for yourself. Having not been back since the refurbishment, I’m not sure if the creepy ‘hall of mirrors’ section is still there – if it is, I warn the fatigued and hungover that it is quite a head spinner. The brand new ‘Jellyfish Discovery’ area looks mesmerising – cylindrical tanks fill the room with different colours and offer a spectacular display of these ethereal creatures.
The best part of the visit – by far – is meeting the SeaLife turtles. A glass tunnel runs underneath the huge tank, and now you can get a glass-bottomed boat across the water as well. Lulu, the resident green turtle, is lovely to watch. If you visit in term time to avoid the crowds, you can stay watching her glide around the pool as long as you like.
SeaLife offer discounts if you book online, or you can buy student tickets at the door with an NUS card. An adult ticket is £16.20 on the door, but if you book online to go after 3pm, it’ll be just over a tenner. Brighton SeaLife is also on the National Rail’s 2for1 deal, so if you’ve got friends coming to visit from London, get them to keep their train tickets!
It’s time to wind down after a stressful term, and this is one of the most chilled out attractions Brighton has to offer.
