Sea Life

Looking for a Sea Life military discount? The quickest place to start is the list of offers at the top of this page. We keep every current Sea Life deal there in one place and update it as offers change, so whenever you read this, you're looking at what's live now and not an old list.

The deals are open to the whole forces community: serving personnel, veterans, reservists and military families. Below you'll find what Sea Life is, how forces discounts there tend to work, and a few simple ways to make a family day out cost less.

What is Sea Life?

Sea Life is a chain of aquariums run by Merlin Entertainments, the same group behind Legoland and Warwick Castle. There are centres all over the UK, from city aquariums in London, Birmingham and Manchester to seaside sites in Brighton, Blackpool, Scarborough, Great Yarmouth and Weymouth, plus Loch Lomond in Scotland.

Each centre is different, but you can usually expect walk-through ocean tunnels, sharks, rays, turtles, penguins at some sites, and rock pools where kids can get hands-on. Several Sea Life sites also rescue and look after injured seals and other marine animals, and the money from visits helps pay for that work.

For forces families, the main draw is that it's indoors and doesn't take long. It's a dependable plan for a wet weekend, a short visit while the other parent is away, or a first trip out after a move when you're still finding your way round a new area.

Is There a Sea Life Military Discount?

Forces rates have been available at some Sea Life centres, usually when you book online ahead of your visit and not at the door. The details aren't the same at every centre, and they change over time, so we don't print a fixed figure here that could be out of date by the time you book.

That's what the offers on this page are for. They're the current Sea Life deals we can confirm, and they're updated as Sea Life changes its prices and promotions. If you want to ask about a forces rate at one particular centre, the help pages on its own website are the place to check.

Who Can Use These Offers?

Everyone in the armed forces community. That covers regular serving personnel in the Royal Navy, Royal Marines, Army and RAF, reservists, veterans and service leavers, and spouses, partners and children. A visit to the aquarium is a family thing, so it makes sense that the whole household can use the deals.

Some offers come with their own conditions, such as booking a set number of days ahead or visiting on certain dates. Read the details on each offer before you click through.

How Forces Families Can Save at Sea Life

The biggest saving is usually just booking ahead. Sea Life tends to charge the most for tickets bought at the door on the day, and booking online also secures your entry time, which matters during school holidays when centres can fill up.

When you go makes a difference too. Term-time weekdays are usually cheaper and much quieter than Saturdays and half term. If your leave falls outside the school holidays, that's a good time to go.

If you plan to visit more than once, have a look at Merlin's annual pass. It covers repeat visits to Sea Life and other Merlin attractions, and for a family posted within reach of a few of them it can soon work out cheaper than paying for each trip separately.

How to Get a Sea Life Deal

1. Look through the Sea Life offers at the top of this page and pick the one that suits your plans.
2. Click Get Offer to go straight to the deal on the Sea Life website.
3. Choose your centre, your date and your entry time.
4. Add everyone in your party, and check whether very young children go free at that centre.
5. Check the final price and any booking conditions at checkout, then pay.
6. Save your e-tickets to your phone so you can walk straight in on the day.

Planning a Sea Life Day Around Forces Life

With so many centres around the country, there's a good chance one is within reach of where you're posted, whether that's on the south coast, in the Midlands or up north. It's also a handy stop when you're visiting family on leave, because most centres are in town centres or on the seafront with other things to do nearby.

A typical visit takes a couple of hours, so you can fit something else into the same day. Feeding times and keeper talks are listed at each centre and are worth planning around, especially with younger children. If you're putting together a longer list of family days out, our days out and attractions deals for the armed forces collect the offers we have for zoos, theme parks and other attractions in one place.

Some Sea Life centres are near other Merlin attractions, and combined tickets have sometimes been offered. If you'd like to do more than one in a weekend, the Legoland Windsor military discount page is a good place to start.

Is Sea Life Worth It?

For families with younger children, yes. It's indoors, easy to get round with a pushchair, and short enough that little legs don't give up halfway. Older kids and adults tend to enjoy the shark tunnels and the conservation side more than they expect.

The thing to watch is value for time. Paying full price at the door for a couple of hours can feel steep, which is why it pays to book through an offer and go off-peak. If your family likes animals and wants a full day out, the Chester Zoo military discount is worth comparing for a bigger trip.

Tips to Keep Costs Down

• Check the offers on this page before you book. They change, and we update them as they do.
• Book online ahead of time instead of buying at the door.
• Go on a term-time weekday if your leave allows it.
• Check the age rules for free child entry at your chosen centre before you add little ones to the booking.
• If you have a disability, or you care for someone who does, look at the centre's accessibility guide. Most UK Sea Life centres let a carer in free with a paying guest.
• Take your own snacks and drinks for the car or the walk afterwards, and save the gift shop for a treat rather than a habit.
• Think about an annual pass if you're likely to go back, or to visit other Merlin attractions in the same year.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Sea Life offer a military discount?

Some Sea Life centres have offered forces rates, usually on tickets booked online in advance, but the terms vary between centres and change over time. The easiest way to save is through the current Sea Life offers listed on this page, which we update regularly for the armed forces community.

Can veterans and military families use these Sea Life offers?

Yes. The offers on this page are open to serving personnel, veterans, reservists, service leavers and their families. Just check each offer's own conditions before booking.

Is it cheaper to book Sea Life tickets online?

Usually, yes. Tickets bought at the door on the day tend to cost the most. Booking online in advance is normally cheaper and also secures your entry time, which helps during busy school holidays.

Can I visit more than one Sea Life centre on the same ticket?

A standard day ticket is for one centre on one day. If you want to visit several centres, or other Merlin attractions, during the year, Merlin's annual pass is the option to look at.

Do carers go free at Sea Life?

Most UK Sea Life centres admit one carer free with a paying guest who has a disability. Proof of eligibility may be needed, and how you book the carer ticket differs between centres, so check the accessibility guide for the centre you're visiting.

How long does a visit to Sea Life take?

Most families spend around two hours there, a bit longer if you stay for feeding times and talks. That leaves plenty of the day free for something else nearby.

Have a look at the Sea Life offers at the top of this page before you book. It only takes a minute and could save you a fair bit on your family's tickets.

More Forces Deals You Might Like

If your family loves animals, the London Zoo military discount page pairs well with a trip to Sea Life London. For something with more history, see the Warwick Castle military discount, and if the kids are ready for bigger rides, the Thorpe Park deals for the forces are worth a look. You'll find the rest in our days out and attractions section.