SEA LIFE Brighton is an
aquarium attraction in the English city of
Brighton. Opened as Brighton Aquarium in 1872, it is the oldest operating aquarium in the world. The attraction was bought by
Sea Life
Sea Life is a chain of commercial sea life-themed aquarium attractions. there are 53 Sea Life attractions (including standalone Sea Life centres, mini Sea Life features within resort theme parks, and Legoland submarine rides) around the world. ...
in 1991.
History
Designed by
Eugenius Birch
Eugenius Birch (20 June 1818 – 8 January 1884) was a 19th-century English seaside architect, civil engineer and noted builder of promenade-piers.
Biography
Both Eugenius and his elder brother, John Brannis (born 1813), were born in Gloucester ...
, the site opened as an independent aquarium in 1872 after construction began in 1869. The construction cost was £133,000 at the time (equal to about £5.5 million). The Aquarium was bombed during the First World War and was reconstructed afterwards.
Brighton Aquarium is the oldest aquarium still operating in the world,
the only older aquarium being at
Arcachon
Arcachon ( ; ) is a commune in the southwestern French department of Gironde. It is a popular seaside resort on the Atlantic coast southwest of Bordeaux, in the Landes forest. It has a sandy beach and a mild climate said to be favourable for i ...
in France, which opened in 1867.
Conservation and education
To keep in line with Sea Life's "Breed, Rescue, Protect" message, the aquarium has breeding schemes and "The Big Fish" program which helps educate
home aquarium owners where to buy fish ethically.
Attractions
Sealife Brighton features over 5,000 sea creatures and over 100 different species.
£2.7 million was spent on an attraction that focuses on an artificial coral reef’s changes through day and night. The site of the project was originally the Aquarium’s dolphinarium.
Location
SEA LIFE Brighton is located next to
Brighton Palace Pier.
Transport
It is served by regular buses including: Route 12, 27, 13X, 14, 27 and CityBuzz 37.
Gallery
Brighton Aquarium - Sea Life Centre - geograph.org.uk - 844067.jpg, The Entrance to the aquarium in 2008.
Vaulted ceiling of Brighton Sea Life Centre - geograph.org.uk - 444774.jpg, The Original Ceiling in the Victorian Arcade.
References
Sea Life Centres
Brighton and Hove
Aquaria in the United Kingdom
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