Point of interest
SEA LIFE Brighton
in Brighton, United Kingdom
The world's oldest continuously operating aquarium, set beneath atmospheric Victorian arches on the seafront.
Where it is
The aquarium is on Marine Parade near the Palace Pier, at the eastern edge of the city centre right on the promenade.
Address: Marine Parade, BN2 1TB Brighton
What it is
Today SEA LIFE Brighton houses thousands of marine creatures, from turtles and rays to sharks viewed through an underwater tunnel. The mix of historic architecture and modern tanks makes it especially popular with families.
History
Designed by Eugenius Birch, the architect of the West Pier, the Brighton Aquarium opened in 1872. It is regarded as the oldest continuously operating aquarium in the world. Its Victorian architecture, with colonnades and vaulted arches, survives to this day.