About Exploris Aquarium
Dive into marine discovery at this family-friendly aquarium featuring fascinating sea creatures, accessible facilities throughout, and onsite refreshments to keep everyone energised during your underwater adventure.
What's nearby
- The Portaferry Hotel next door
- Fiddlers Green next door
- Portaferry Ferry Terminal next door
- Narrows Guesthouse 200m away
- Captain Jack's / Jack's Bistro 200m away
Distances as the crow flies, via Google
Good to know
Parking
- ✓Free car park
- ✓Paid car park
- ✓Free street
Accessibility
- ✓Accessible parking
- ✓Accessible entrance
- ✓Accessible toilet
- ✓Accessible seating
Payment
- ✓Credit cards
- ✓Debit cards
- ✓Contactless
Details via Google — worth confirming with the attraction before you travel, especially for access needs.
Photos
Photos via Google
Opening hours
- Monday
- 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Tuesday
- 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Wednesday
- 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Thursday
- 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Friday
- 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Saturday
- 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Sunday
- 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Current hours may differ from the usual schedule above (e.g. holidays) — check Google Maps for today's hours.
What visitors say
Visited on Sunday 26th July. Waste of just over £40 for family ticket. The place is so run down. From the outside entrance the expectations were set. Arriving at set times and huddled through the stages makes it difficult and cramped if youre in a large group with other families. Some sections seem so badly kept! The otters living space in particular was a disgrace! A trickle of a stream for them and just overall run down (as was the theme throughout) The kids soft play area was stinking as well. The smell of the toilets circulating made it memorable alongside the kids whack-a-mole game stealing 2 quid which i didnt mind as exploris already stolen over 40 for this shambles at the door. Saving grace was seeing seals up close- that was cool but as for the rest - avoid! You get the sense that at one time it probably was great. And it definitely has the potential to be great again. A revamp and new management would be a start. Looking for a good family day out - look elsewhere.
· via Google
My family attended here on Easter Monday. The car park was full with lots more cars trying to park so be prepared to park elsewhere + walk. There was no queue so very quick to enter. Lots of tanks and information all around. They have it as a 1 way system so you see everything they have without missing anything but staff do talks at certain tanks / places so you may need to backtrack if you are trying to keep kids entertained in the mean time. The only downside is, you have to go through the restaurant + gift shop to exit which as many parents know, kids will want food + gifts so be prepared! We got food and for main meals + a drink, for the 4 of us, the bill was just over £60.
· via Google
Lovely few hours spent here with the children, everything was clean and lots to see and do. Informative talks and nice food. Good selection in the gift shop. Also a great soft play area.
· via Google
We had a nice family day out. The aquarium is good when you go to all the different animals feeding times so make sure you set your watch. We brought food with us (picnic) and sat beside the capibaras for company. Everyone's fav where the penguins and during feeding the keeper was very informative and took time to answer everyones questions.
· via Google
Visitors say this aquarium offers a great variety of marine life, including seals, otters, and penguins, with many exhibits suitable for all ages. They also highlight the friendly and knowledgeable staff, as well as the delicious food and reasonable prices in the cafe.
Some reviews mention the animal enclosures can be poorly maintained.
Summary via Google
At a glance
- Address
- 1 The RopeWalk, Castle Street, Portaferry, Newtownards, BT22 1NZ Get directions
- Category
- Aquariums & Sea Life Centres
- Guest rating
- 4.3 / 5 (3,235 reviews)
- Suitable for
- All Ages
- Suggested visit
- 1-2 hours
- Setting
- Indoor
- Good for children
- Yes
- Destination
- Newtownards