Name: The Deep Aquarium
Rating: 5.0

The Deep Aquarium

The Deep Hull, Tower St, Hull HU1 4DP, United Kingdom

1-99 Years

Paid

Description

Looking for the best things to do with kids in Hull? The Deep is one of the UK’s most famous aquariums, housed in a striking glass building on the Humber Estuary. It is home to over 5,000 ocean creatures, including sharks, rays, and gentoo penguins.

Standard online ticket prices start from £15.75 for children and £21.50 for adults, with children under 3 entering for free. Every standard entry ticket includes a free 12-month pass for unlimited return visits.

If you are looking for the best place for an educational day out with family and kids, this indoor attraction offers hands-on marine learning in any weather.

Features

Paid
Host birthday parties: Yes

Features

What makes The Deep unique?

Interactive exhibits that teach children about ocean conservation and deep-sea environments.
Sensory play spaces with soft flooring, dark lighting tunnels, and soothing bubble walls.
Europe’s deepest viewing tunnel, giving you a view of sharks and sawfish swimming overhead.
Educational day out programming with daily talk schedules, touch pools, and feeding sessions.

What are the top 5 highlights to see?

How does the Endless Oceans tank work? This giant 2.5-million-litre tank forms the core of the aquarium. You can walk through Europe's deepest underwater tunnel while sleek zebra sharks and loggerhead sea turtles swim directly over your head.
Where can you see the Gentoo Penguins? Head to the Kingdom of Ice zone to see the energetic gentoo penguin colony. Kids love watching them waddle across the ice platforms and plunge underwater at high speeds.
What is inside the Lagoon of Light? This warm tropical exhibit features colourful coral reefs and hundreds of exotic fish. The shallow waters make it easy for toddlers to spot clownfish, blue tangs, and baby rays up close.
What is the Glass Lift Experience? At the end of your visit, you ride a glass elevator straight up through the middle of the main ocean tank. It gives your family an immersive, 360-degree view of deep-sea life.
What can kids discover in the Cool Seas gallery? This tranquil section features glowing jellyfish, native UK sea life, and mysterious deep-water species. The soft lighting and pulsing tanks create a calming atmosphere for younger visitors.

Facilities

What facilities are available for families?

Buggy Storage: Dedicated buggy parking is available near the main entrance lobby.
Lockers: Key-operated lockers are located on the ground floor to store bags and coats.
Toilets & Baby Changing: Accessible toilets and baby changing facilities are situated on every floor level.
Food Options: The Two Rivers Restaurant offers sit-down meals with tank views, while Castaways Cafe serves quick lunches, hot drinks, and children's snack boxes.

Pro-Tips for visiting parents

Best Time to Arrive: Visit after 1:30 PM on weekends or school holidays to avoid early morning school groups.
Quiet Hours: Tranquil Tuesdays run monthly with lower lighting and turned-off audio effects for sensitive visitors.
Check-in Logic: Pre-book your arrival timeslot online to guarantee fast-track entry during peak dates.
Height Restrictions: There are no height restrictions anywhere in the venue, making every zone accessible to toddlers.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is The Deep worth it for toddlers? Direct Answer: Yes, The Deep is ideal for toddlers thanks to its gentle ramps, giant glass tanks, low-level viewing windows, soft lighting, and interactive soft play elements designed for small children.
How long does a visit to The Deep take? Direct Answer: A typical family visit lasts between 2.5 and 3.5 hours, which gives you enough time to view all exhibits, watch a penguin feed, ride the glass elevator, and stop for lunch.
Where is the best place to park at The Deep? Direct Answer: The best place to park is the official on-site Tower Street car park directly outside the main entrance, which costs £3.70 for up to four hours of parking.
Are there cheap indoor activities in Hull for families? Direct Answer: Yes, The Deep offers great budget value because every standard admission ticket includes a free 12-month pass for unlimited return visits to the aquarium over the coming year.

What to see

What is new for 2026?

The Deep has expanded its interactive digital learning layout across the main floor, introducing several modern additions for families and children:
Interactive Plastic Pollution Missions: Hands-on digital touch screens that allow children to track waste and learn about marine conservation in real time.
Sea Turtle Protection Games: Gamified exhibits designed to teach younger visitors how endangered sea turtles navigate ocean hazards and nesting threats.
Expanded School Holiday Trails: Newly integrated seasonal activity guides focusing on coastal wildlife and biodiversity tracking.
Enhanced Digital Audio Stations: Mobile-accessible multimedia tools providing deeper scientific facts about the aquarium's main inhabitants, including the gentoo penguins and green sawfish.

What Visitors Love

12-Month Free Return: The Dayticket upgrade makes return visits completely free for a whole year.
Excellent Accessibility: Wide ramps, lift access, and spacious corridors handle buggies with ease.
Engaging Staff: Tour guides and tank explainers are friendly, knowledgeable, and great with children.
Indoor Friendly: A ideal activity for rainy days in East Yorkshire.

What Visitors Don't Like

Parking Queue: The on-site car park can fill up quickly on rainy weekend mornings.
Peak Hour Crowds: The viewing tunnel can get congested around mid-morning.
Cafe Wait Times: Food queues in the main cafe can grow long during lunchtime hours.

Key Exhibits and Species

Endless Oceans Tank: Features zebra sharks, loggerhead sea turtles, and giant groupers.
The UK's Only Green Sawfish: A rare aquatic species located in the main display.
Kingdom of Ice: Home to the resident gentoo penguin colony and interactive ice walls.
Slime Exhibit: Dedicated to hagfish, frogfish, and clownfish.
Prehistoric Seas: An interactive zone detailing ancient marine predators like the Megalodon.
Lagoon of Light: Tropical marine ecosystem packed with live corals and reef fish.
Cool Seas Gallery: Displays moon jellyfish, native UK rays, and deep-water crabs.
Touch Pool Station: Staff-guided sessions where kids can touch starfish and sea anemones.
The Glass Elevator: A vertical journey through 10 metres of ocean water.

What is new for 2026?

The Deep has updated its interactive digital displays across the main floor, giving kids new hands-on games that focus on plastic pollution and sea turtle protection.
What is near The Deep for secondary activities? Hull Marina: A 5-minute walk away, perfect for a waterfront walk and ice cream.
Fruit Market Cultural Quarter: Located next to the marina with independent cafes, art galleries, and bakeries.
Streetlife Museum of Transport: Located a 10-minute walk away in the Old Town, offering free entry for families.

Website

Contact

Video

Price

Price: Paid

Price Details

Adult – Summer Saver: £21.50
Child (3–15) – Summer Saver: £15.75 (must be accompanied by an adult)
Child Under 3: Free (no booking required)
Student – Summer Saver: £17.50 (valid NUS, university card or proof of age required)
Senior (65+) – Summer Saver: £17.50
Essential Carer: Free (no booking required)

Pricing URL: https://www.thedeep.co.uk/visit/book-tickets

Birthday Parties

Offer Birthday Parties: Yes

Birthday Party Details

The Deep does not currently offer dedicated hosted birthday party packages with private party rooms during normal opening hours. Families are welcome to visit as a group on standard tickets, and private evening venue hire can be requested directly via the The Deep Events Page.

Every day 10am – 6pm (last entry 5pm), excluding 24th & 25th December.

Address: The Deep Hull, Tower St, Hull HU1 4DP, United Kingdom

Post Code: HU1 4DP

Council: Kingston upon Hull

County: East Riding of Yorks

By Train: Arrive at Hull Paragon Interchange. The venue is a flat 15-minute walk through the city center or a 5-minute taxi ride.
By Bus: Local buses run regularly from the central bus station to Tower Street.
By Car: Follow the A63 towards Hull city center and look for the brown tourist signs for "The Deep".
Parking: Overspill parking is available at the nearby Fruit Market multi-storey car park or Blackfriargate car park (5-minute walk).