Tuesday 16 February 2016

Hunting The Octopus at Sealife, Manchester

Last weekend we were treated to an exclusive early morning visit to Sealife at the Trafford Centre in Manchester to have a look at their new visitors, the Octopi! Annoyingly they like to lie in and are more active later in the day, so weren't really in the mood for photos. Sealife are well aware of how temperamental they can be, and the Octopus area is somewhat wittily called Octopus Hideout.

Hunting The Octopus at Sealife, Trafford Centre, Manchester

We've been to Sealife several times as we've been Ambassadors for the last year and had an annual pass. It's always really handy to promise the young lads a trip to Sealife 'just after we've done this shopping...' Incentive always helps little legs from getting too tired. It's also calming after a visit to the more hectic LEGOLAND Discovery Centre next door.

Fish Eye Lens Sealife Manchester

Our favourite part of Sealife is the Ocean Tunnel. There is always plenty to watch, we usually see Ernie the Turtle, and we always spot the sharks...

Discovery tunnel underwater sealife manchester

As well as welcoming their new guests, Sealife are promoting their links to the Jurassic era, and Sealife Manchester have an area where children can dig into the sand and find fossils. We found a huge Ammonite, and we learnt that there are many sea creatures alive today who existed when dinosaurs walked the land, including Green Sea Turtles.

Ammonite fossil sealife manchester

We were able to see another 'living fossil' in the Nautilus, around since at least the Paleozoic era some 500 million years ago. He really was happy to take the limelight and was amazing to watch.


Giant statue underwater sealife manchester

The Octopus Hideout was obviously very busy, and the Octopi were not keen on showing off at all. Apparently they'd been posing for cameras all the previous afternoon, so next time we visit it's definitely going to be later in the day.

The Octopus Hideout sealife manchester

It was possible to see the largest Octopus, Hank the Giant Pacific Octopus, but he was only peeping at everyone. The others were nowhere in sight...


We may have only caught a sideways look at Hank, but we did get one clear photo of an octopus at least before we left...


We couldn't visit the Trafford Centre without going into the LEGOLAND Discovery Centre to race some cars....and for our youngest to get his first ever 'Ninja' level at Ninjago Training Camp!

Speed racers Legoland Discovery Centre Manchester

Ninjago Training Camp Manchester Legoland Discovery Centre

Sealife Manchester is open every day except Christmas Day and entry is £16.95 on the door, or only £9.95 if you order online via the Sealife Manchester Website, where you can also find more information to plan your visit. A joint ticket with LEGOLAND Discovery Centre costs £20 per person (under 3's are free to both attractions, and adults must be accompanied by a child under 17 to visit LEGOLAND Discovery Centre).

Like Hank the Giant Pacific Octopus, and the other octopi at Sealife, Mancunians generally like to have a later start at weekends, so if you are visiting you will find your trip is generally quieter before noon.



We have free passes to Sealife and LEGOLAND Discovery Centre as part of our role as Ambassadors.

14 comments:

  1. Octopi... such an awesome word! Looks like you all had lots of fun and took some amazing pictures! Do love the Sea Life centre... always such a shame when you get to the end of it :( Sim xx

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    1. It is always a shame, although our runner does make it a bit of a relief too because he stops running when he can see an exit :D

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  2. We love our sealife centre down here too, we will have to visit the Manchester one when we're up there some time I have been meaning to try out the LDC too. The octopuses sound like a great addition!

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    1. It makes a great day to visit both, and obviously if you don't want to eat in the LDC then you can go into The Trafford Centre and eat pretty much whatever you want, do a bit of shopping, drink many coffees :D

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  3. Wow, looks like an amazing place - so much colour and wonderfulness!

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    1. It is really colourful! That was what struck me the first time we went, it's incredibly bright and 'pretty' :)

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  4. Looks like an amazing day out. I love Sea Life as do the children and it's always an enjoyable and relaxing day out.
    Looks like they've made some lovely changes.

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    1. It is a lovely place to go. My youngest doesn't run off quite so much now, so we are beginning to find it more enjoyable! :)

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  5. It looks like you had a great day, we were lucky in that the Octopus at Birmingham was more than happy to pop out to say hello early in the morning. I was fascinated by the Chambered Nautilus, such an awesome creature I can't believe I'd never heard of it before and yet it's been around for so long!

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    1. I'd heard of them, but I never expected to find one in the Sealife at all - it was something that I just never thought I'd see in person :)

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  6. Looks like a great way to spend the morning, and we loved this sea life centre when we visited.

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    1. I'd forgotten you went to all of those Merlin places! It must be a good one if an expert thought it was nice :)

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  7. What a great place. I'm loving all these photos and it looks like a great place to visit. Such cute images x

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    1. Thanks Susan - my camera really loves Sealife - or at least my style of photography suits it, one or the other! :) x

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