Aquariums in South East

Three aquariums cover this stretch of coast, one each in Brighton, Hastings and Southsea, and they split fairly cleanly by age. SEA LIFE Brighton is the one for babies and younger children, up to around eight: reviewers keep mentioning how pram and baby friendly it is, and the interactive rockpools, feeding talks and glass-bottom boat trip hold short attention spans. It is also the busiest of the three by review count, and several visitors note the background sound levels.

Hastings Aquarium suits school-age children who like hands-on marine education and keeper interaction. It is compact, a single pass takes under an hour, but the all-day ticket lets you leave for lunch in the Old Town and come back. Visit South East England describes an underwater tunnel, a refurbished 133,000 litre ocean tank with South Pacific stingrays, and a Jungle Room with snakes and bearded dragons that runs three reptile encounters a day. Parking is free, which neither of the others can offer.

Blue Reef Aquarium Portsmouth in Southsea is pitched at curious 5 to 12 year olds with a real interest in marine life and conservation. Reviewers praise the enthusiastic, knowledgeable staff and the animal variety beyond fish, and the VIP behind-the-scenes experience is popular for birthdays. The recurring complaint is that the visit feels short for the admission cost, and there is no on-site parking, so you will be using the seafront pay-and-display.

Whichever you pick, check the daily feeding and talk schedule at the desk when you arrive: at all three, reviewers say the keeper sessions are the highlight, and timing your walk round them makes the difference between a quick loop and a proper outing.