The aquarium is open from 10am- 5pm in the winter and 10am – 6pm in the summer. You are welcome to arrive at whatever time suits you between these times. If you have booked a two-hour in-depth or three-hour in-depth session we recommend you come as close to 10am as possible. A two-hour in-depth session can also be conducted in the afternoon although we recommend starting no later than 3pm.
What time should we book our coach to leave?
This depends on the type of session you wish to conduct. If you are coming for a three-hour in-depth session and hope to arrive for 10am, we recommend your coach comes to pick you up at around 2.30pm. This will allow enough time to conduct the two-hour tour, have a break for lunch, carry out the hour-long workshop and allow extra time to revisit your favourite exhibit or spend time in the shop. If you are coming for a two-hour in-depth you may wish to book your coach for an earlier time although we do recommend you stay as long as possible to allow pupils time to visit all areas.
Can we have a risk assessment?
Unfortunately, we can’t provide risk assessments for your visit. Devon LEA has stated that all institutes should write their own assessment to suit individual needs. To help you write a risk assessment we provide a list of safety notes in your confirmation pack when you book. These should help guide your assessments. We also offer a free teacher pre-visit to write your assessment. Please call us in advance if you wish to take up this offer on 01752 275 233.
How do we pay?
We ask for payment on the day. We take cash, cards or cheques. Cheques should be made payable to NMA Operations Limited. In special circumstances we can invoice after your visit but we have a £10 administration charge for this service. If you require this please ensure it is arranged prior to your visit.
Where can we park?
The National Marine Aquarium doesn’t have its own car park. There is a coach drop off point at the back of the building. Coaches should only use this space for dropping and picking up. Bretonside bus station can organise parking for coaches. We have three disabled parking spaces at the rear of the Aquarium that can accommodate minibuses. These are available on a first come first served basis but users must display a valid disabled badge. The nearest car parks are the Lockyers Quay pub car park or the Barbican (Coxside) multi story car park both of which operate a pay and display system. Both are directly behind the National Marine Aquarium with a short walk to the entrance.
Can we have some worksheets for our visit?
If you require worksheets for your visit you can download them free of charge from our Distance Learning Programme. We have a wide range of topics for all key stages with a corresponding teacher pack to guide you and your group around the aquarium. There are also other resources that can help prepare or follow-up your visit.
Click
here to download worksheets »
Will there be anywhere to eat lunch or leave bags?
Only groups booked for an in-depth visit will be allocated space for lunch and bags in our Discovery Zone. For independent groups we can offer the Maritime Garden which has several picnic tables and great views of Plymouth Sound. Unfortunately, there is no undercover shelter in the garden and this must be taken into consideration before you book your visit.
Can we take photos of our group in the aquarium?
This is absolutely fine and we encourage you to bring cameras, however, there is a strict no flash policy in front of the exhibits. Children should be reminded that disposable cameras often flash even when they think it is switched off. Flash can be used in areas such as the garden and the Discovery Zone where they will not affect the animals.
Will we be able to touch the animals?
No. we have a no touch policy here at the National Marine Aquarium. Studies have shown that the life expectancy of animals in touch pools is greatly reduced compared with those in hands-off pools. The National Marine Aquarium is a charity dedicated to raising awareness of the oceans and the welfare of the animals must remain our top priority.
Do we have to book in advance?
Yes. If you wish to get the educational entry rate then you must book in advance. Schools that do not book will be charged full entrance price, this applies to both independent and in-depth visits.
We take bookings up to a year in advance; if you are planning an in-depth visit, we recommend that you book as early as possible to avoid disappointment. It is a good idea to have several dates in mind when you call, especially in the summer term.
