Days Out NI
Aquarium · Seal Sanctuary Portaferry, Ards Peninsula

Exploris Aquarium

Northern Ireland's only public aquarium and seal sanctuary, on the shore of Strangford Lough — touch the rays, walk the underwater tunnel and meet the rescued seals.

5 photos
Open daily 10am–5pmLast admission 3:45pm · check the day
From around £15.95Family tickets · under-2s free
PortaferryStrangford Lough, Co. Down
Get directionsOfficial website
Half dayHow long
All agesBest for
Mostly indoorRain or shine
NearbyParking
From £15.95Price

Northern Ireland's only public aquarium and a working seal sanctuary, right on the shore of Strangford Lough — touch the rays and starfish, walk the underwater tunnel and meet the rescued seals, then loose the little ones in the soft play.

  • What you'll see — the marine life of Strangford Lough and beyond: sharks, rays, jellyfish, otters, turtles, tropical fish and a crocodile, an underwater walkthrough tunnel, and touch tanks where you can meet dogfish and stingrays up close.
  • The seals — Exploris runs a seal rescue and rehabilitation sanctuary, nursing sick and orphaned pups back to health before release. You can usually see the resident and recovering seals in the outdoor pools.
  • For the kids — as well as the tanks there's an indoor soft-play area and an outdoor adventure playground, so there's plenty of running-about between the exhibits.
  • How long — allow a half-day; most families spend two to three hours going round, longer with lunch and the play areas.
  • Cost & food — from around £15.95 per person, family tickets in the region of £42, and under-2s go free in the daytime — confirm the current rate when you book. The Kraken Bar & Grill on site is open from 11am daily (last hot food 4pm).
  • A brilliant rain-or-shine day. The aquarium is mostly indoors, so it's just as good in the wet — and if the sun's out, the seal pools, the playground and the Strangford shore make a lovely afternoon either way.
  • Book online to guarantee entry. Exploris advises pre-booking on explorisni.com — the 10–11am slot is a quieter session if you'd rather beat the crowds.
Plan your visit

Book ahead to guarantee your spot

Exploris is open every day, from 10am to 5pm, with last admission at 3:45pm. There's a quieter session from 10am to 11am if you'd like a calmer start. Entry is from around £15.95 per person, with family tickets in the region of £42 and under-2s free in the daytime — prices vary by day and season, so check and pre-book on explorisni.com to guarantee entry. It's a good few hours out of the weather: the tanks, the touch pools and the underwater tunnel are all indoors, while the seal pools and the outdoor playground give you fresh air when you want it. There's a dedicated line for seal-rescue enquiries, and the Kraken Bar & Grill on site covers lunch and hot drinks.

Kraken Bar & Grill on site Indoor soft play Outdoor adventure playground Seal rescue & rehab sanctuary Under-2s free in the daytime
Worth knowing:

Prices and daily times can change, and busy days can sell out — book online on explorisni.com to guarantee entry, and go for the 10–11am quiet session if you'd like a gentler visit. If you ever find an injured or stranded seal on the coast, Exploris runs a seal-rescue line on 028 4272 8062 (option 2).

Before you set off

What to wear & bring

  • 🧥A light coat or layerMost of the day is comfortably indoors, but the seal pools, playground and the Strangford shore are outside — a layer keeps everyone happy either way.
  • 👟Comfy shoesThere's plenty of walking round the exhibits and out to the seals and the playground, so easy footwear beats fancy.
  • 📷Camera or phoneThe underwater tunnel, the jellyfish and the seals are all worth a photo — the touch tanks are the children's favourite shot.
  • 💧A water bottleHandy for the little ones between the tanks and the soft play; the Kraken Bar & Grill covers lunch and hot drinks on site.
Good to know

Everything before you go

Opening hours
Open every day, 10am to 5pm, with last admission at 3:45pm. A quieter session runs from 10am to 11am. Hours can vary on event days and public holidays — check the day before you travel.
Cost
From around £15.95 per person, with family tickets in the region of £42, and under-2s free in the daytime. Prices vary by day and season, so confirm the current rate and pre-book on explorisni.com.
Booking
Online booking is advised to guarantee entry, as busy days can reach capacity. The 10–11am quiet session is worth booking if you'd prefer a calmer visit.
What you'll see & do
Sharks, rays, jellyfish, otters, turtles, tropical fish, reptiles and a crocodile; an underwater walkthrough tunnel; touch tanks with dogfish and stingrays; and the seal rescue and rehabilitation sanctuary with its outdoor pools. There's an indoor soft-play area and an outdoor adventure playground too.
Seal sanctuary
Exploris rescues, rehabilitates and releases sick and orphaned seals. You can usually see the resident and recovering seals in the outdoor pools. Found an injured or stranded seal? Call the rescue line on 028 4272 8062 (option 2).
Food
The Kraken Bar & Grill on site is open from 11am daily, with last hot food at 4pm.
Ages
Suits all ages — the touch tanks, the tunnel and the seals land well with younger children, while the soft play and outdoor playground burn off the energy in between.
Weather
A great rain-or-shine day out — the aquarium is mostly indoors, so wet weather is no problem, and the seal pools, playground and Strangford shore give you the outdoors when it's fine.
Accessibility
The aquarium is largely single-level and indoors. For specific accessibility needs, call ahead on 028 4272 8062 to check the current layout and facilities.
Parking
Street and public parking is available nearby in Portaferry, a short walk from the entrance on Castle Street.
How long
Allow a half-day — most families spend two to three hours going round, longer with lunch and the play areas.
Questions

Before you go

Do I need to book?
Booking online is advised to guarantee entry, as busy days can reach capacity. Head to explorisni.com to book and to check the current prices and times. The 10–11am quiet session is a gentler option if you'd prefer.
Can the children touch the animals?
Yes — the touch tanks let you meet dogfish and stingrays up close, alongside starfish and other rock-pool life. It's the highlight for most young visitors.
Is it good in the rain?
It's ideal — the tanks, the touch pools and the underwater tunnel are all indoors, so a wet day is no problem at all. When it's dry, the seal pools and the outdoor playground add the fresh air.
Will we see the seals?
Usually, yes — Exploris runs a seal rescue and rehabilitation sanctuary, and you can normally see the resident and recovering seals in the outdoor pools. If you ever find an injured or stranded seal on the coast, call the rescue line on 028 4272 8062 (option 2).
Is there food?
Yes — the Kraken Bar & Grill on site is open from 11am daily, with last hot food at 4pm.
What ages is it best for?
All ages enjoy it — the touch tanks, the tunnel and the seals suit younger children especially, and the indoor soft play and outdoor playground keep them busy between the exhibits.
Getting there

The Rope Walk, Castle Street, Portaferry, Co. Down, BT22 1NZ — at the tip of the Ards Peninsula on the shore of Strangford Lough, with street and public parking nearby. The Portaferry–Strangford car ferry links the two sides of the lough if you're coming from the Lecale side.

Directions on Google MapsOfficial website

Book or check ahead: 028 4272 8062

See it on our map
Nearby

Make more of the day

Mount StewartArds Peninsula · up the peninsula The Ark Open FarmNewtownards · Ards Peninsula Scrabo TowerNewtownards · Ards Peninsula PortaferryStrangford Lough & the ferry
The story

The aquarium on the edge of Strangford Lough

Exploris sits right at the foot of the Ards Peninsula in Portaferry, on the shore of Strangford Lough — one of the richest marine sites in these islands, where the tide pours in and out through the Narrows twice a day and carries an extraordinary spread of sea life with it. That setting is the whole point of the place: rather than an ocean-tank spectacle from somewhere far away, Exploris is built around the creatures that live on your own doorstep, from the dogfish and rays of the lough to the crabs, starfish and anemones of the rock pools.

It grew into Northern Ireland's only public aquarium, and over the years added the tropical tanks, the jellyfish, the reptiles and the underwater walkthrough tunnel that draw families back. But the part that gives it its heart is the seal sanctuary. Exploris rescues sick, injured and orphaned seal pups from around the coast, nurses them back to strength in its rehabilitation pools, and returns them to the wild once they're ready — and you can see the residents and the current patients while you're there.

Add the indoor soft play and the outdoor adventure playground, the Kraken Bar & Grill for lunch, and the little town of Portaferry with its harbour and its ferry across the lough, and you've the makings of a proper, full day out — the kind that works whatever the sky is doing, and that you'll be glad you gave the whole day to.