Quick answer
SEA LIFE Scarborough is an aquarium on the North Bay with seals, otters, sharks, seahorses and a rainforest zone. SEA LIFE calls it an indoor and outdoor attraction, with Penguin Island and Otter River outside. On 13 November 2026 the opening hours calendar showed 11am to 3pm, last entry 1.50pm, every day from 13 November to 23 December. One ticket description gives later hours, so check your booking. Pre-booking is essential. Advance tickets started at £16 for adults and £14 for children aged 2 to 14. Under 2s go free but must be booked. The penguin walk-through was closed because of bird flu restrictions.
Is it right for my child?
- Ages: SEA LIFE welcomes all age groups. Children aged 15 and under must be with an adult aged 18 or over.
- Animals to spot: thornback rays and bull huss sharks in the Bay of Rays, black-tip sharks in the Ocean Tunnel, seahorses, jellyfish and coral reef fish.
- Seals: the Seal Pool has four resident seals, and the Seal Hospital cares for rescued seal pups.
- Otters: two Asian short-clawed otters live outside in Otter River.
- Creepy crawlies: the Rainforest Adventure has green tree pythons, poison dart frogs and lizards.
- Penguins, as of 13 November 2026: the Penguin Island page said the walk-through and viewing area were closed under avian influenza restrictions. The Humboldt penguins could still be seen through the underwater viewing window.
Plan your visit: a parent’s checklist
- Book online before you go. SEA LIFE says booking is essential to guarantee entry, and weekends and holidays may have limited capacity.
- Book under 2s too. They are free but need a ticket.
- Do not arrive more than 15 minutes before your time slot, or you will not be let in.
- Bring a card. SEA LIFE is cashless and takes card or contactless only.
- Leave ride-on scooters at home. Scooters, skateboards, rollerblades, glass bottles and alcohol are on the banned list. The terms allow wheelchairs, pushchairs and mobility scooters.
Prices and tickets
We read these prices on the official tickets page and ticket shop on 13 November 2026. The shop says pricing can change.
- Adult (15 plus): from £16 when booked in advance. The tickets page gives £22 per adult on the day.
- Child (2 to 14): from £14 in advance.
- Under 2s: free, but they must be booked in with a ticket.
- Carer: free, one per guest needing support. The ticket shop says proof is needed on arrival.
- Prices vary by date and slot. For 1 adult and 1 child on 21 November, most slots cost £30, and the 11am, 12pm and 1pm slots £32 to £36. Same-day tickets on 13 November started at £20 for adults and £18 for children.
- Extras: the shop offered a Ranger Mission Pack of activities for £4.50. Pirate Adventure Mini Golf, next door, does not include aquarium entry and must be booked online.
Changing your date: the terms say there are no refunds if you cancel, though refunds can apply if SEA LIFE cancels or makes a significant change. The booking guarantee lets you move a standard booking to a like-for-like date within 7 days of the original date. You can do this up to 3 times, until 24 hours before your arrival time.
Pushchairs, babies and toilets
- Toilets: the ladies, gents and disabled toilets are in the shop as you enter.
- Baby changing: in both the disabled and ladies toilets.
- Pushchairs: allowed, but SEA LIFE asks guests to leave them in the car when possible, as they cause congestion in peak season.
- Upstairs: the turtles and the restaurant are on the upper floor. The access lift is in the shop.
- Breastfeeding: the official pages we checked do not mention a feeding room.
Food and drink
The Adventurers Café sells hot and cold food for adults and children. The access page puts the restaurant on the upper floor.
Picnics: SEA LIFE says you can bring your own. There are picnic benches outside at the Beach Bites Kiosk and beside the seal pool. The kiosk sells hot drinks and snacks, but its opening times vary.
Getting there and parking
- Address: SEA LIFE Scarborough, Scalby Mills Road, Scarborough YO12 6RP. It sits on the North Bay, off Burniston Road.
- Car park: the council’s Scalby Mills car park is directly outside, with 186 spaces and 11 disabled spaces. The council says charges apply only from 1 March to 31 October. SEA LIFE also says parking there is free from November to February.
- Blue Badge: the two pages conflict. The council’s own record for this car park says Blue Badge holders park free when displaying a valid badge. SEA LIFE’s page says charges still apply to disabled parking.
- Other parking: SEA LIFE says Scalby Mills Road, a short walk away, is free all day. There are no parent and toddler spaces.
- By train and bus: from Scarborough station, take a taxi or bus. SEA LIFE names the hourly number 11 from the town centre.
When to visit
- Hours seen on 13 November 2026: 11am to 3pm, last entry 1.50pm, daily from 13 November to 23 December. On 13 and 21 November and 12 December, timed slots ran from 11am to 1.50pm.
- A conflicting line: on 13 November the shop also offered a flexible any-time ticket for 2 and 12 December. Its description said last admission 3pm and closing 4pm, unlike the calendar.
- Christmas: the opening hours calendar showed SEA LIFE closed from 24 to 31 December. The ticket shop greyed out 24 to 26 December but had 27 December to 3 January on sale. Check before you book that week.
- Busy times: SEA LIFE says weekends and holidays are busiest.
- Animal Crossing: New Horizons runs from 28 November to 3 January, included with admission, with character stamps and meet and greets with Tom Nook or Isabelle.
Additional needs and disability support
SEA LIFE offers the support below. The official pages we checked do not mention a Changing Places toilet.
- Free carer: one free carer admission for each guest who needs support. The access page lists a DLA letter, PIP letter or Blue Badge as proof, and the ticket shop says proof is required on arrival.
- Access route: SEA LIFE calls the attraction fully accessible. Because of the building’s age and design, some points need an alternative route, and a route map is given on arrival.
- Lift and toilet: a lift in the shop goes up to the restaurant and turtles. A large disabled toilet is on the ground floor.
- Penguin Island: the access page says it can take one wheelchair at a time when open.
- Quiet at the Aquarium: monthly quiet sessions turned off music, hand driers and televisions in the first hour. On 13 November the page listed 2026 dates only up to 1 November.
- Also: you can contact SEA LIFE through a free BSL interpreter via SignLive. An AccessAble access guide is linked from the access page.
Frequently asked questions
How much is SEA LIFE Scarborough for a family?
On 13 November 2026, advance tickets started at £16 for adults and £14 for children aged 2 to 14. Under 2s go free but must be booked. Prices change by date and time slot.
Do you need to book SEA LIFE Scarborough in advance?
Yes. SEA LIFE says pre-booking is essential to guarantee entry.
Can you see the penguins at SEA LIFE Scarborough?
On 13 November 2026, the Penguin Island walk-through was closed because of avian influenza restrictions. The penguins could still be seen through the underwater viewing window.
Is SEA LIFE Scarborough good for autistic children?
It offers a free carer ticket and has run monthly Quiet at the Aquarium sessions. On 13 November no session after 1 November 2026 was listed. The Rainforest Adventure has snakes and creepy crawlies.
Is parking free at SEA LIFE Scarborough?
The council car park outside charges only from 1 March to 31 October, so it is free in November and December.
Checked on 13 November 2026 against the official SEA LIFE Scarborough tickets, opening hours, access, directions and parking and help centre pages, and the North Yorkshire Council Scalby Mills car park page. Prices and times can change, so check before you travel.
