Accessibility Guide

Accessibility Guide

The Ocean Conservation Trust is committed to making the National Marine Aquarium accessible and enjoyable for all. The aquarium is fully accessible via ramps, lifts, and disabled toilets, with clear wayfinding signage. All exhibits are designed so guests using wheelchairs or mobility aids can enjoy clear, comfortable viewing. There are seating opportunities at regular intervals throughout the visit, and staff are always happy to help onsite or in advance of your visit by calling or emailing our enquiries team at the bottom of this page.

Our Location

National Marine Aquarium
Rope Walk
Coxside
Plymouth
PL4 0LF

General Accessibility Information

Please check our website for opening times, prices and our Facebook page for any news about local travel issues. We have 3 allocated parking spaces for disabled drivers. These are located at the rear of the Aquarium off of Lockyers Quay, Plymouth. If using Sat Nav please use the postcode PL4 0DX for directions.

This will bring you to the rear of the Aquarium where a drop-off point for minibuses and coaches is on the left hand side near to the railing and the 3 disabled parking bays are located on the right hand side.

The closest alternative parking bays are in Lockyers Quay and the Harbour Car Park.

Take the footpath around the left of the building which is gently ramped to get to the main entrance (approximately 300m from the parking bays). 

A limited number of wheelchairs are available free of charge, on a first come first served basis, for customers who require them. If you’d like to borrow one please make yourself known at the front desk where you will be asked to leave some form of collateral like a drivers license or bank card whilst you borrow it. Our chairs are all manual. We will sanitise all wheelchairs before and after each use. If you have any further questions do get in touch with the team.

We offer free entry to an accompanying carer on proof of valid identification (e.g. a carer identity badge, DLA/PIP letter). Please book your free carer place when you book your ticket. 

Assistance dogs are allowed within the attraction. You will be asked to sign a waiver on arrival for your assistant dog. We also have staff available to support as Sighted Guides using training from Guide Dogs UK and staff who have taken part in Dementia Awareness training to assist with your visit. If helpful to your experience, please ask at the front desk on arrival.

*Please see our full terms

Quiet at the Aquarium

If you would prefer a quieter experience, we run special after hours events that allows families and people with autism, dementia and other sensory needs to enjoy our exhibits without the noise and distraction of our daily shows. These are known as our ‘Quiet at The Aquarium‘ sessions. To hear about upcoming dates, please sign up to the mailing list via the link below.

On arrival

The main entrance doors bring you directly into the main entrance of the Aquarium. Although not automatic, staff are always on hand to assist with entry into the building and this is where you can ask about assistance with your visit if required.

Once you have passed through the ticketing system, you will be directed up the ramps to begin your visit. There are two flights of steps before the entrance to the Aquarium. If you are unable to use these then a lift is available in the Waves Café to take you to the beginning of the exhibition. Disabled toilet facilities are first located at Waves Café, then our Eddystone exhibit.

In the exhibits

All of the exhibits have been designed to allow viewing by all of our guests, including those in wheelchairs. There are rest areas, with seating located throughout the attraction. Some areas of the exhibition are kept deliberately dark to enhance the viewing of the aquatic exhibits. Should you require assistance going around the attraction please let any member of staff know.

The exhibition is ramped in full compliance with building regulations. Only one area within the exhibition requires a lift to access it, as it is the deepest exhibit in the UK, and so you can see the Sharks and other animals from both the top and bottom of the habitat via the Sharks lift or stairs. This is the Atlantic Ocean exhibit and to visit the bottom section of the exhibit, you would take the lift down to the lower level. If, in the unlikely occasion, the Sharks lift is out of order, please use the left-hand corridor to access the top level of the Atlantic Ocean exhibit without changing floor level. If you have used the Sharks Lift to access the bottom level, you will return to the original higher level via the lift to continue your journey to the top of the Atlantic Ocean exhibit. This area is located just past the Ocean Drifters (Jellyfish) section.

Lifts are standard widths able to accommodate small and medium sized motorized chairs.

Disabled toilets are located next to the Cafe and Eddystone Reef area.

There is no flash photography allowed and no flashing lights are in use in any exhibit areas.

Catering Facility – Waves Café

• Our Waves Café is open daily between 10am – 4pm, with hot food served until 2pm. All items are subject to availability and our team are ready to welcome you during your visit. It is found on the first floor of the Aquarium and is accessible by ramp or lift from all areas of the building. There is a wide variety of Hot Food, Sandwiches, Teas, Coffees, Hot Chocolates, Cakes, Biscuits & Pastries, Bottled Drinks and Ice Cream available to purchase.
• Over the last 3 years we have increased our plant-based offering, whilst reducing our red meat offering.
• We are also proud to be part of Langage Farm’s initiative of utilising food waste from local businesses as feedstock for the Anaerobic Digestion plant they run. The AD plant produces electricity and heat for use in the dairy products factory, and residual biofertiliser is applied to the farmland to grow forage for the Jersey Herd. The milk returns to the products factory for processing and the cycle begins again.
• You can eat inside in our designated café area with café-bought food or outside in our ‘Blue Mind Garden.
• You are welcome to bring your own packed lunch to eat in our Blue Mind Garden. Picnics are allowed to be consumed but only in certain areas of the Aquarium. Please remove and dispose of your rubbish once you are finished eating. 
• The Barbican offers a range restaurants and cafés, why not shop local!

Retail Exit

This is located at the exit of the Aquarium and is fully accessible being on one level.

General Statement

The Aquarium welcomes in excess of 300,000 visitors each year. Many of these visitors have special requirements for access. Many visit on their own or as part of organised groups. All of our staff are happy to help you in any way they can and to provide the best service for you to have an enjoyable experience.

Key contact

If you have any queries at all to aid your visit, please contact our friendly Customer Services team below:

Email: enquiries@oceanconservationtrust.org

Tel: 0300 102 0300