Sea Life Chessington World of Adventures Resort

The aquarium sits right inside Chessington World of Adventures Resort, so you're looking at a full day out rather than a quick pop-in. The tanks are decent enough - you get the usual suspects like seahorses, jellyfish, and tropical fish, plus a proper underwater tunnel where sharks glide overhead. Kids absolutely lose their minds at that bit. It's the kind of place where under-eights will spend a solid hour, older kids maybe forty minutes before they're eyeing up the theme park rides instead.

Timing-wise, go early if you can. Late morning the school groups roll in and it gets rammed. Admission comes as part of the resort entry fee, which isn't cheap, but if you're staying over at Chessington World of Adventures Resort itself (just 0.2 miles away) then you might as well make an afternoon of it. The tunnel's the highlight - worth the walk through.

If you're camping nearby at Polyapes Scout Campsite or the Walton on Thames Camping and Caravanning Club Site, both within easy driving distance, this works as a rainy-day alternative to the outdoor attractions. Be honest though - you could cover the aquarium properly in two hours, which means you're really paying for the theme park experience alongside it. The fish tanks aren't elaborate enough to justify a standalone visit, but combined with the rides and other resort facilities, it's a solid component of a longer week here.