Lake District Coast Aquarium, Maryport Reviews Summary

Staff and Service

Pros:

• "The staff were brilliant and looked after us me my wife and kids till an ambulance came."
• "Staff very friendly & informative, felt experience was well worth the entrance fee."
• "The staff are a credit and really friendly and polite."
• "The Staff are very friendly and helpful."
• "The staff were incredibly helpful and super friendly."
• "All other staff that day was brilliant."
• "The staff could not have been more friendly or helpful."

Cons:

• "Only down side 1 member of staff as me and my 2 boys was in the tackle shop he told my eldest (14) to keep his hands in his pockets."
• "Old man at the door is rude and obnoxious."
• "Only marked down to 4 stars for the attitude of one of the cafe employees which just meant we went elsewhere for refreshments."

Facilities and Activities

Pros:

• "Crazy golf is included free and there is an adventure play park too."
• "Great little hidden gem. And larger than you would think from looking at it on the outside."
• "Visited today with our 3 little ones, they absolutely loved it! Mini golf was included and also a great little park."
• "Small but mighty. The fish nursery was a unique experience that was great to see."
• "They lent me a wheelchair and were very kind."
• "Great place for all family. Very smartly done as it focuses on showing local fauna."
• "Fabulous day out. So much to see. Very good value."

Cons:

• "Though people tend to crowd together very close in some areas such as the ray tank."
• "Managed to get through the whole place in less than half an hour."
• "However, some viewing areas were too high up for young children and could do with a step for them."
• "It's quite a small place so it can be done in 10 minutes flat, this also means that when it's busy it is cramped and hot."
• "Social distancing impossible with 1 door for entrance and exit."
• "You have to walk up steep bank so no good for people that can't walk too far or anyone with buggies unless you're really fit."
• "Some steep steps in places and the elderly and those with disabilities might need extra time to get about."

Value and Pricing

Pros:

• "For a fairly inexpensive price you get a good fun couple of hours or so."
• "It’s nice to see that they focus on conservation and the main purpose of the aquarium is to show you what you can find in the seas and rivers around the UK."
• "The cafe has delicous food and cooked to order."
• "The little shop that's placed at the exit has some nice things for surprisingly small prices."
• "Reasonably priced, good value for money, children under 3 are free."
• "Very good value for money too."
• "A great no frills aquarium that is very good value."

Cons:

• "It is quite small and cramped, and very overpriced (£12.50!) compare to the other aquarium in Lake District."
• "The food in the cafe was nice but for all of us being students, it was pricey and not worth the money paid - £1.50 for a can of pop was steep."
• "The cafe is expensive and £1.65 for a small supermarket type doughnut is way over priced."
• "The gift shop is far too expensive however."
• "The food in the cafe was good although a little expensive."
• "For my money £35 an hour for this type of attraction is too much."
• "A bit expensive on the entrance fee but we did get a discount on a group booking."

Exhibits and Education

Pros:

• "Fantastic aquarium, really great selection of fish and sea creatures."
• "Lovely to take the children to something like this - it was fun and educational - fish, lobster and their babies, starfish and seahorses - they could touch and look."
• "Very good aquarium, loads of different and interesting fish and exhibits."
• "We really enjoyed the conservation room showing the breeding of the Spiney Blue Lobsters and Jelly Fish and the shark and ray tank especially."
• "Great selection of aquatic life and the birthing area was interesting to see the young creatures throughout different stages of their growth to adults."
• "All british fish, we got to touch sea anemone, starfish, watch octopus hunt and feed."
• "Had fish that I’d never seen in any other aquarium such as lumpfish, octopus, lionfish and a giant tank of inquisitive cuttlefish."

Cons:

• "The signs telling you what fish were inside the tanks were need updating. The have become very old, the signage what was once white is now a horrid yellow and some are hard to read."
• "Most of the information boards either water damaged or covered by boarders, some fish were not in the tanks they had the information with."
• "The other displays all feel a bit dated & a bit underwhelming."
• "Fairly small, a bit dingy and missing the wow factor when it comes to exhibits."
• "While I did feel some of the exhibitions looked a bit dilapidated."
• "It is so rundown I'm sure I could make a better one myself and I don't have much DIY experience."
• "Lots to see only problem both decoration and safety doesn't seem to be a priority here."