We first visited Blue Reef Aquarium at Tynemouth back in 2010 when Zara was around 6 months old and we’ve been back a couple of times since. It’s one of those places where the older your children get the more they get out of it but even at 6 months Zara still enjoyed her visit.

Right practical things first, there are good baby changing facilities in the entrance area along with a cafe with plenty of high chairs. We took the Phil and Teds explorer with us on our last visit and found it easy to move it around. Access is good and I can’t see us having any problems when we go back with the double buggy. Parking is probably the trickiest part, we park on the promenade and it can be difficult finding a space at times but we usually manage to get one on our first drive past.

On our first visit we decided to use the baby carrier to take Zara around so she could get a better view of everything.

Letting daddy do the hard work

A baby carrier definitely helps the younger babies to appreciate the fish more

Zara really loved the Monkeys in the Amazon area :) (ok and so did I)

As a baby, Zara loved the underwater tunnel

Our next visit was when Zara was around 15 months old, and Oscar 5 weeks old so we took the Phil and Teds with us. Zara got a lot more out of the experience this time although Oscar just slept the entire time as 5 week old babies tend to :)

Zara absolutely adored the otters and could have spent all day watching them

There really were Otters :) who obligingly put on a great display for us

Zara was also fascinated with watching the seals this time round

She would have sat here all day spotting seals

I can see seals Daddy

There is also a small outside play area near the seal enclosure which allowed Zara to test out her newly found walking skills :)

Walking the plank with Daddy

Now I have to admit this isn’t the cheapest day out at £8.30 per adult (children under 3 free) but it is one of those places which we will no doubt return to as there is so much to see and do. Definitely worth a visit if you are ever in the area :)