Events and Experiences

What’s On

Here at Bristol Aquarium we pride ourselves on providing conservation education through our talks, feeding shows and special activities.

Every school holidays we run special themed events with daytime activities all included in admission.

Make the most of your ticket by joining us at our 5 daily talks & feeds to discover more about the wonderful creatures of the deep and ask us anything about your favourite animals! 🐟

Find out more about our upcoming events below at the Aquarium and also in our Auditorium (additional charges may apply for auditorium or evening events where stated).

Deep Discoveries!

Want to dive deeper into the mysteries of the ocean?

From the 14th – 22nd February get hands on with marine science at Bristol Aquarium in Deep Discoveries!

– What makes up the biology of a squid? –
– Why does shark skin feel like sandpaper? –
– How does a sting ray inject its venom? –

Take a peep at marine life through a microscope and get hands on with some fascinating artefacts to uncover the secrets of the seas.

Learn about the anatomy of a cephalopod at our daily squid dissection!

Did you know a single drop of water contains millions of organisms? Follow our tiny trail to see what some of these creatures look like and more this half term!

Activities

The Tiny Trail

All day. Millions of tiny creatures float around in our world’s oceans, known as plankton. Some of the creatures that make up this plankton are the babies of some very big sea creatures! Grab an activity sheet and follow our tiny trail to see if you can work out what animal they could grow into?

Squid Dissection

11am – Learning Lab. Join us every day as we explore the biology of a cephalopod through a squid dissection. This one is not for the squeamish but budding biologists will be sure to find this study into animal anatomy fascinating.

These squid are the favourite food of some of our animals here at the aquarium. As well as their fascinating biology, learn about how we look after some of these other animals that live at the aquarium.

All squid used in the demonstration will be fed to our animals shortly afterwards.

Micro Marvels Workshop

4pm – Learning Lab. Get hands on with some animal artefacts like shark skin and sting ray barbs, and explore them up close with a magnifying glass and microscope.

Part of our Season of Science which aims to introduce marine science activities and information to our guests throughout the start of 2026. Look out for more Season of Science activities throughout the year!

Love at Bristol Aquarium

14th February | 6pm-9pm

Spend your Valentine’s Day immersed in a tranquil world beneath the waves with the one you love.

This exclusive Valentine’s event is open only to ages 18+ to give you the chance to discover Bristol Aquarium after hours, in all its glory, from 6pm – 9pm, last entry 8pm.

The bar will be open so you can treat yourself to some fizz as you stroll among the exhibits, and enjoy some fun facts, too rude to show the kids!

For an extra £5 you can send your loved one a special ‘Message in a Bottle’ which they will receive on the evening. Simply send your message to bristoladmin@bristolaquarium.co.uk after you have booked! Messages must be sent in by end of day 10th February.

This event is free for adult aquarium members! You don’t need to book but will need to show your proof of membership when you arrive.

This event has sold out very quickly in previous years, so book now to avoid disappointment!

Once purchased, tickets are valid for one day of your choice within 6 months from the date of purchase.
You do not need to book a time slot or a day. We endeavour to admit all visitors and will prioritise online tickets and members on days we are at capacity but due to the nature of the attraction’s one way system this is a very rare occurrence.

Daily Talks & Feeds Schedule:

Talks and feeds subject to change.

Bristol Aquarium – Even Calmer Days

Our dedicated Even Calmer days create a more relaxing sensory experience for any customers who may need it. We will be turning off our music, and children’s rides to reduce any unexpected noises. We also increase our lighting in some of our darker areas throughout the day to create a more consistent sensory experience throughout the aquarium.

Our upcoming Even Calmer days are:

2026

8th January

1st February

5th March

22nd April

7th May

7th June

2nd July

6th September

1st October

8th November

3rd December

Once purchased, tickets are valid for one day of your choice within 6 months from the date of purchase.
You do not need to book a time slot or a day. We endeavour to admit all visitors and will prioritise online tickets and members on days we are at capacity but due to the nature of the attraction’s one way system this is a very rare occurrence.