Ilfracombe Aquarium

05/09/2026

Our revised Opening Times throughout September are Saturday - Thursday = Open from 10am daily and Fridays = Closed

03/09/2026

🌊🐚 SEA ILFRACOMBE IS BACK! 🐚🌊

Join us for Sea Ilfracombe, taking place across the weekend of 5th–6th September! 💙

We’re excited to be getting involved and even more excited to be hosting Ecotribo.com here at Ilfracombe Aquarium on Saturday 5th September for their Ocean Plastic Workshops! ♻️🌊

📅 Saturday 5th September
⏰ 11:30am - 2:00pm
📍 Ilfracombe Aquarium

Come along, get creative and discover more about ocean plastic, recycling and how we can all play a part in protecting our seas and coastline 🐟♻️

There’ll be plenty happening around Ilfracombe throughout the weekend, so make sure you come down and enjoy everything Sea Ilfracombe 2026 has to offer! 🌊☀️

26/08/2026

We were delighted to be contacted by Kayleigh who after a recent visit to the Aquarium, was so taken by Odette, our Common Octopus, decided to have one tattooed soon after leaving. We think the Tattoo looks great and appreciate you sharing this with the team here at the Aquarium 🐙😊

21/08/2026

06/08/2026

🌊♻️ Introducing the Ilfracombe Pier Beach Toy Library! 🏖️

Next time you’re visiting, you’ll find our Beach Toy Library just outside Ilfracombe Aquarium on the pier!

Borrow everything you need for a day of seaside fun, including 🦀 crab lines, 🪣 buckets, 🕸️ drop nets, 🏖️ spades and more. It’s completely free to use - just borrow, enjoy, and return when you’re finished!

This fantastic project has been made possible thanks to the generous support of North Devon National Landscape (AONB), alongside the National Trust, Devon County Council Employment & Skills Hub, and Earth Action!

By reusing beach toys instead of buying new ones, we’re helping to reduce waste, protect our coastline, and make beach adventures accessible for everyone 🌍💙

Have any spare buckets, spades, hand nets or beach toys at home? We’d love for you to donate them and help keep the library stocked for future visitors!

Please remember to follow the Seashore Code while exploring our coastline. Small actions; returning animals to where you found them, taking your litter home, and treating wildlife with care - make a huge difference in protecting our amazing marine life 🌊🦀💙

Let’s work together to keep our beaches clean, share the fun, and care for our coast 🌊♻️

01/08/2026

Did you know - The common prawn (Palaemon serratus) starts life as a male, but as it grows larger and matures over its 3-to-5-year lifespan, it transforms into a female - a process known as protandric hermaphroditism

11/07/2026

Escape the heat and come and chill out in the aquarium, fully cooled and you get to see some of our amazing marine life. We're now open 7 days a week from 10am daily ☀️

24/06/2026

It’s not just hot drinks we serve! Come down and try our iced versions of your favourite hot drinks! 🥤
Seating available both in our shaded downstairs or enjoy the sun on our deck overlooking the Harbour! ☀️🌊

☀️

30/05/2026

Celebrate Ilfracombe’s spectacular harbour, coastline and coastal community with a packed week of sea views, boat trips, guided walks, water activities, wildlife, workshops, local history, food, art and family-friendly fun. […]