Visitor Information
We recommend all visitors pre-book whether or not you are paying or using your complimentary annual return pass. We cannot guarantee entry without a booking, especially in peak periods such as holidays and weekends. Walk-ins will only be available if we have not reached full capacity of the building. Thank you!
Opening Hours
We’re open every day except for Christmas Day and Boxing Day (25th and 26th December).
Standard Season Opening Times (March – October)
10am – 5pm daily*
Last entry to the Aquarium is at 4pm
Winter Season Season Opening Times (November – February)
10am – 5pm
Last entry to the Aquarium is at 4pm* Except for 24th December where we will be open 10am – 2pm [Last entry: 1pm].
During specified School Holidays only our opening time is 9:30am – 5pm, with last entry to the Aquarium is at 4pm. These periods will be highlighted in our booking calendar.
Soft Play is temporarily CLOSED due to maintenance for the foreseeable future.
Arrival Times
To ensure all visitors have a stress-free welcome, we operate a half hour arrival window system. When booking your ticket please select the time slot within which you want to arrive. Once you’re in the Aquarium you can stay as long as you like up until closing. The earlier exhibits will start to be closed so that visitors will be encouraged to move towards the exit as the site closes in full by 5pm.
Booking Tickets
Visitors are required to book an online ticket regardless of being a new paying customer, or any form of free entry customer. Please check that your return pass is still valid. Online bookings are available up to 1-hour before the entry time. When you arrive during your time slot a member of our team will be on site to welcome you and your party. Please have your digital ticket ready on entering the Aquarium.
Accessibility Guide
For information on our accessible features please click below. Please also check our ‘Book Tickets‘ page to see any key notices regarding Lift access or out-of-service issues across our site.
Accessible GuideOur Location
National Marine Aquarium
Rope Walk
Coxside
Plymouth
PL4 0LF
Travelling by foot or bike
Walking and cycling are good for your health and a great way to socialise or meet people in your neighbourhood. We are listed as key number 9 (on the bottom map). This map can help you find local green spaces, cycle parking (listed as P) and cycle lockers (listed as L)
Travelling by electric vehicle
The closest EV chargers are located at: Elphinstone Road, Regent Street (Public Car Park), Vickery Holman, Theatre Royal (Public Car Park), Plymouth Coach Station
Travelling by bus
There are several bus routes that stop at either Royal Parade (CityBus numbers St Johns Church on Exeter Street (CityBus numbers 5, 5a, 17, 18, 21, 21a, 50, 59, 85, 806), on the Barbican, (CityBus number 25) or Sutton Road (CityBus number 48).
Royal Parade and Exeter Street require a 10 minute walk, however the Barbican and Sutton Street are 5 minutes away.
Full directions and buses can be found here: Plymouth CityBus Journey Planner.
Travelling by coach
If your group is travelling to the Aquarium by coach, there is a drop-off and pick-up point at the rear of the building.
Travelling by train.
Walking from Plymouth Train Station takes around 30 minutes, the full route can be found on Google Maps here. There are taxis available outside Plymouth Train Station which will take around 10 minutes, fares may vary.
For up-to-date train information, we recommend visiting one of the following websites: thetrainline.com.
Travelling By Car
The National Marine Aquarium is located in the Coxside area of Plymouth. Follow the brown and white fish signs, which can be found on all entry roads into the city.
The recommended route is via the A38 to Marsh Mills (Sainsbury’s) then along the A374 Embankment Road. The route for the Aquarium and nearest available Parking is signposted from here. Sat Nav postcode: PL4 0DX
Parking
You can park on the Aquarium side of the bridge in the Sutton Harbour Car Park, there is a 2m height restriction on entry, or there are car parks on the Barbican side of the footbridge.
Please note: the Harbour car park is a privately-owned pay & display, operated by Britannia Car Parks. We recommend that visitors plan to spend 3 hours at the Aquarium. The car park has payment by phone.
We advise Sutton Harbour carpark users to ensure they understand and fully adhere to the requirements laid-out by the carpark operators – Britannia Parking. https://www.britannia-parking.co.uk/
Food and Drink
Our Waves Café, with its unbeatable views over the Plymouth Sound, is located on the first level of the Aquarium
VIEW OUR 2025 MENUOpen daily between 10am – 4pm, with hot food served until 2pm. Our delicious pasties and sausage rolls are available all day. All items are subject to availability. You can eat picnics in our Blue Mind Garden – please dispose on your rubbish.
We are proud to be part of Langage Farm’s initiative of utilising food waste from local businesses as feedstock for the Anaerobic Digestion plant they run. Read more about it here!
Onsite Filming & Photography
We would like to inform you that on occasion, we may be filming or taking photographs on site for marketing purposes. If you do not wish to be included in any recordings, please notify a member of our team on arrival. Thank you for your cooperation.
The National Marine Aquarium (NMA) is the UK’s National Aquarium, located in Britain’s Ocean City, Plymouth. We are proudly the home of the Ocean Conservation Trust, a charity dedicated to connecting people with the Ocean.
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