Name: Lakes Aquarium
Rating: 5.0

Lakes Aquarium

Lakes Aquarium, Lakeside, Newby Bridge, Ulverston, UK

1-90 Years

Paid

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Description

Lakes Aquarium in Cumbria is a family-friendly attraction showcasing both local Lake District wildlife and exotic species from around the world. Visitors can journey below Lake Windermere, meet diving ducks in action, and explore fascinating displays across global aquatic habitats. It’s a fun and educational destination for families, schools, and nature lovers.

Highlights include clownfish, leafcutter ants, Oriental small-clawed otters, poison dart frogs, piranhas, axolotls, and elephantnose fish. The aquarium features themed zones such as Asia, the Americas, Rainforest, Africa, and a Seashore area with rays and starfish from Morecambe Bay. The Under Lake Windermere Tunnel provides an immersive view of native fish and diving birds.

Admission prices starts from –Adults £9.99, Children £6.99, Seniors/Students £8.99, Family (2A+2C) £27.99, under-3s free. Advanced online – Adults £8.99, Children £5.99, Seniors/Students £7.99, Family £23.99.

Overall, Lakes Aquarium offers an engaging mix of wildlife discovery, hands-on learning, and family fun. With its wide variety of creatures, unique exhibits, and beautiful Lake District setting, it’s an ideal day out for all ages.

Features

Paid
Host birthday parties: Yes

Features

Creatures around the world: Stars of the silver screen; Clownfish are instantly recognisable by their orange and white striped pattern. They’re native to the warmer waters of the Indian and Pacific oceans and live in shallow lagoons and sheltered reefs. Head into the Rainforest and you’ll find our spectacular display of leafcutter ants. These tiny creatures are found in the tropics of South and Central America and can carry up to 20 times their own body weight.
Mammals: The Lakes Aquarium is home to a pair of Oriental small clawed otters, the smallest of the world’s 13 otter species. They naturally inhabit mangrove swamps and freshwater wetlands in South and Southeast Asia, where they live in extended family groups. Due to ongoing habitat loss, pollution and hunting in some areas, these otters are listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List.
Reptiles & Amphibians: The world’s rainforests are home to more than 4,000 different species of frog, of all different shapes, sizes and colours. Here in the Aquarium you’ll find frogs a plenty in our Rainforest area, including blue poison dart frogs, dyeing dart frogs and strawberry dart frog. All tropical rainforest frogs are meat eaters, eating almost anything that will fit in their mouths.
Displays: Lakes Aquarium takes visitors on a global aquatic journey—from the Lake District’s native freshwater species like perch, stickleback, frogs, toads, terrapins, and koi carp, to international zones such as Asia (featuring Asian short-clawed otters), the Americas (home to angelfish, blind cave fish, red-bellied piranha, and axolotl), Rainforest displays with dart frogs, clownfish, geckos, snakes, and leafcutter ants, and Africa with species like elephantnose fish and tortoises. Under Lake Windermere, an underwater tunnel showcases native fish and diving ducks, while the Seashore exhibit brings in rays, catsharks, wrasse, starfish, and anemones from Morecambe Bay.

Facilities

Parking: There is a large pay and display car park adjacent to the Aquarium.
Food & Drinks: Cafes available.
Baby changing: Baby changing facilities are located in the admissions area and in the accessible toilet outside the Aquarium.

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Price

Price: Paid

Price Details

Standard Prices

Adult: £9.99
Child (3-15): £6.99
Under 3: Free
Family (2+2): £27.99
Senior/Students: £8.99

Advanced prices 1+ day

Adult: £8.99
Child (3-15): £5.99
Under 3: Free
Family (2+2): £23.99
Senior/Students: £7.99

Pricing URL: https://lakesaquarium.co.uk/admission-prices/

Birthday Parties

Offer Birthday Parties: Yes

Birthday Party Details

Are you looking for a unique room to hire for a one off event, craft workshop, birthday party, toddler group or a weekly club activity?
Don’t miss out, once our Lake View cafe closes for the season the room will be available for your special event.
If this space might work for you, then give a call or email info@lakesaquarium.co.uk and we can discuss it further.

Open daily from 10.00am & close at 5.30pm.
Last admission at 4.30pm & close only on Christmas Day.

Address: Lakes Aquarium, Lakeside, Newby Bridge, Ulverston, UK

Post Code: LA12 8AS

Council: Westmorland and Furn

County: Cumbria

The Aquarium is situated on the southern shore of Lake Windermere at Lakeside, Newby Bridge, Cumbria. We are clearly signposted from M6 junction 36. Follow the fish symbols along the A590 to Newby Bridge. Take first right after the roundabout, over the bridge and follow the road to Hawkshead for approximately 1 mile to Lakeside.

By Bus: The nearest bus stop is at Newby Bridge (1 mile from the Aquarium).
By Boat: Lake Cruisers and Steamers provide regular sailings from the popular towns of Bowness and Ambleside to the Aquarium at Lakeside.
By Train: On the Lakeside & Haverthwaite Railway. From the station at Haverthwaite (situated on the main A590) traditional steam engines transport you along the river Leven to the Aquarium at Lakeside. Trains run Easter to end of October.