South West Sea Life Centre
South West Sea Life Centre
South West Sea Life Centre
3.5
Aquariums
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This location was reported permanently closed
About
Come to South West Sea Life Centre (formerly Porlock Weir Marine Aquarium)and wonder at the variety of marine life to be found in and along the shores of the Bristol Channel.Most of the exhibits in the tanks are native to the Bristol Channel, although there are some unusual visitors to the Channel waters which we hope to have on display.You can watch flounder, bass, blennies and various kinds of wrasse in the numerous tanks and spot turbot and rays and many other species in the large open pool.There is a comprehensive display of handmade painted models of species from the Bristol Channel and also a selection of marine fossils to see.
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
3.5
7 reviews
Excellent
4
Very good
1
Average
0
Poor
0
Terrible
2
Don B
Sydney, Australia4,906 contributions
Apr 2015 • Friends
Can you imagine 19th Century fisherman leaving this harbour under sail in all weathers with only two timber poasts to guide them in or out? Geniuses! Award them the gold Baden-Powell navigation medal. Amazing! Seriously, examine my photos....hoew on earth did they do it? They must have been heroes. mararet Drabble thought so as she bought a house at the southern end of the harbour.
Down to earth again, the pub at the southern end of the harbour does magnificent ham and pickle sandwiches that just need to be washed down with a local ale.
Down to earth again, the pub at the southern end of the harbour does magnificent ham and pickle sandwiches that just need to be washed down with a local ale.
Written September 25, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mark C
4 contributions
Staying in porlock this looked close by with good reviews. However despite driving down to the weir and around surrounding roads we saw no sign of it nor any signposts to offer any clues. Also the website dead, so I can only assume this attraction is now closed.
Written May 10, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Netwiz
Slough, UK83 contributions
A visit to this aquarium is strongly recommended.
The aquarium itself is small - everything would fit in the entrance lobby of many of the major establishments around the world. For your three pounds adult entrance fee, you will find about 15 small tanks, and one larger one. The focus is on sea life found in the local area, apparently covering species not well represented elsewhere.
The aquarium has been established by a retired fisherman. The door money helps towards the costs, but he has to contribute personally to keep it going. If you can get him to give you the tour for, I would suggest, and additional voluntary donation, then you will have an extraordinary experience.
The owner talks of the fish and other creatures in the way that others talk about people they know. He described personalities, who was likely to eat who, and how the mud skippers liked to take a mouth full of water and climb out of the tanks for a few hours. He described one fish he had that liked having its head scratched, after which it would turn away, look back, and surf the surface of the water.
Unlike large impersonal institutions, what makes the difference here is the personal touch. If you are lucky enough to benefit from the owner's insights, you'll leave feeling that these few fish and other marine organisms are far more interesting than you'd ever thought, and the next time you visit one of those big showcases, you'll look at their exhibits in quite a different light.
The aquarium itself is small - everything would fit in the entrance lobby of many of the major establishments around the world. For your three pounds adult entrance fee, you will find about 15 small tanks, and one larger one. The focus is on sea life found in the local area, apparently covering species not well represented elsewhere.
The aquarium has been established by a retired fisherman. The door money helps towards the costs, but he has to contribute personally to keep it going. If you can get him to give you the tour for, I would suggest, and additional voluntary donation, then you will have an extraordinary experience.
The owner talks of the fish and other creatures in the way that others talk about people they know. He described personalities, who was likely to eat who, and how the mud skippers liked to take a mouth full of water and climb out of the tanks for a few hours. He described one fish he had that liked having its head scratched, after which it would turn away, look back, and surf the surface of the water.
Unlike large impersonal institutions, what makes the difference here is the personal touch. If you are lucky enough to benefit from the owner's insights, you'll leave feeling that these few fish and other marine organisms are far more interesting than you'd ever thought, and the next time you visit one of those big showcases, you'll look at their exhibits in quite a different light.
Written July 24, 2010
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jessica R
Southampton Parish, Bermuda19 contributions
Aug 2011 • Friends
Two of us visited this aquarium after spending a few lovely hours on Porlock Weir. From the outside, the aquarium does not look like much but as it was so cheap to enter - only 3 pounds per person, and as we are very interested in marine life, we thought 'why not?'. Despite only being a very small aquarium, we spent over an hour there and were very impressed with what we saw. The tanks are very clean, interesting facts were provided for every species found in the aquarium - but what made the visit really worth it was tour given by the gentleman who I believe owns the aquarium (sadly I can not remember his name). His knowledge was astounding! He knew every single fish, crab, shark, shrimp - every organism that lived in the tanks - he knew every thing about them! His stories were incredible and watching each fish and learning all about each animal was a real treat. All of the animals living in the aquarium are released after a period of time, and then new ones are collected. We left the aquarium with a far greater understanding of Porlock's marine life. I wish the owners of this attraction the best of luck and I hope everyone who visits Porlock Weir will pay a visit to this aquarium.
Written August 15, 2011
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
boogaloodoo
Rochester, UK2 contributions
This is a wonderfully well run place, reflecting a warm enthusiasm which is rare, yet not in your face. What these people do not know about local fish aint worth knowing... and get this - We saw fish get called over, up they swim, turn onto their side and let their keeper tickle them. The place is quality, and quite eye opening as to the rich diversity of life out there in the channel. Can do it in about half an hour, but there is so much to do locally that it could be done in conjunction with something else. Go
Written August 21, 2010
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
GLA87
3 contributions
Dec 2014
Disappointed my partner done his research before we left and as far as we could tell it was open but when we got there we couldn't find it. My partner was really looking forward to visiting, when we asked a local business owner we were told it was closed down.
Written December 18, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
124StephenT
Birmingham, UK1 contribution
Aug 2011
This place is fantastic and extraordinary. The owner, family and assistants are enthusiastic, knowledgeable, and welcoming to visitors. The tanks of healthy local fish swimming so close in front of youare breathtaking. This has to be one of the great serious tourist attarctions in this country. It is simply wonderful. My five year old boy learned so much about fish life in the Bristol Channel, and so did I! If you are anywhwhere near Porlock you must visit. Brilliant.
Written March 19, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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