This magical underwater adventure is perfect for any age. My baby loved looking at the lights at The Deep and he found the water mesmerising. I saw kids, teenagers and adults all enjoying the sea life centre just as much. Located near the museum quarter of Hull in the East Riding of Yorkshire, there is plenty to keep everyone entertained for a couple of hours.
Opening Times and Tickets:
The Deep is open nearly every day of the year, excepting the 24th and 25th December. It is open from 10am till 6pm, with last entry at 5pm. Tickets are quite expensive, but every general admission ticket is also an annual pass for the whole year! Click here for more information on booking tickets.
Travelling/ Parking:
If travelling by car, there is an on site pay and display car park with plenty of overflow parking. There are other local car parks that are cheaper to use, particularly the Fruit Market. Click here for more information on nearby car parks.
The Deep is a 15 minute walk from the train station. Hull Trains are offering a return ticket for £10 or less from a variety of stations , including Doncaster and London St Pancreas Interchange. Click here for more information.
If catching a bus, a few services run from Hull Interchange. There is also a Park and Ride at Priory Park, Hessle, which drops you off at Tower Street. This is a 2 minute walk from The Deep.
Prams and Accessibility:
This is a fully accessible and pram friendly area. There are plenty of lifts, disabled toilets and baby changing facilities. The only thing I would mention is that on busy days, there tends to be a queue both to gain entry and to use the glass elevator through the endless ocean towards the end.
Things to do at The Deep:
1. Explore the Kingdom of Ice. Our 12 month old loved watching the penguins splash around, and I loved listening to the staff talk about them! There is also a tunnel of ice to walk through and touch parts of, and lots of interactive displays that talk about global warming.
2. Investigate the Cool Seas exhibit. This was my favourite part for children as there was plenty of space for our little one to run around without getting in anyone’s way. There is a sandpit, a floor to ceiling immersive coastline of Flamborough beach, and most mesmerising of all is the jellyfish that swirl peacefully around to ambient music.
3. Watch the Endless Ocean. You can walk through the underwater tunnel or take the Bubble Lift or Scenic Stairs to see the magnificent sea creatures up close. It really feels like you could reach out and touch the turtles, sharks and sting rays.
Things to do nearby:
1. Head to the museum quarter of Hull, where you can find the Wilberforce House Museum, Streetlife Museum of Transport and the Hull and East Riding Museum of Archaeology.
2. East Park – a green space with a playground and small zoo.