We really enjoyed our visit here. We went on a Saturday afternoon and had the place almost to ourselves. It was nice to see the aquatic species local to the area and the man working there (I think his name was Steve) was incredibly knowledgeable and gave us lots of insights and information - he even showed us how the Starfish and Crabs feed! Definitely worth a littl visit!

One of the best aquariums I've been to. Its only small but it's full of only native fish and crustaceans and follows from fresh to salt water as you walk through. It's lovely to see how beautiful our country can be. The staff are lovely and very knowledgeable.

The Ilfracombe Aquarium Tues 23 Sept 2025 Gem of a local aquarium. Parking was directly outside (reasonable price for the day). Great location - right by the harbour. Has a café and shop near the entrance. Staff were really helpful and informative - thanks Dan! As it was a weekday afternoon, no need to queue. Yes, it's a small aquarium compared to other businesses but this one is local, has the full story of each environment. We were in there for over two hours mesmerised. We could have easily sat and watched the fish, rays, octopus etc for longer but it was coming close to closing time. There is an overhead tank too which was cool. Dan was on hand to answer any questions and we were able to observe the feeding frenzy. Thank you for looking after us. Thoroughly enjoyable.

Charming, interesting, and well designed! I loved how the layout went from the river mouth to deep sea with every species being native to the UK. Even though it’s on the smaller side, there really was so much to see. The staff were super friendly and well informed which made the whole experience even more enjoyable. Definitely recommend as a relaxing & educational activity.

We visited Ilfracombe Aquarium on a Sunday afternoon during the Christmas break. Parking was easy and reasonably priced, though I imagine it could be more challenging in the summer. There are no toilets inside the aquarium, but public restrooms are located right next door. Unfortunately, they weren’t very clean. The aquarium itself is quite small, and I felt the entry price was a bit high for the size. We walked through in about 15 minutes, even after encouraging my daughter to take a second look at the informative signs. That said, a friendly staff member added to the experience by feeding some of the fish for visitors to watch, which my daughter really enjoyed. The exhibits mainly feature local marine life, such as crabs and fish found in the nearby harbour. It’s a nice educational experience but not a place for a long visit. Also, it’s not dog-friendly. To help extend the visit for children, I recommend trying the trail they provide. It adds a bit more engagement and makes the experience last longer. Overall, it was an enjoyable but brief visit. It's worth considering if you’re in the area, but be mindful of the size and entry fee.