Exploris Aquarium & Seal Sanctuary

View and learn about the marine species that are indigenous to Strangford Lough and the coastline of the island

A visit to Exploris enables the visitors to view and learn about the marine species that are indigenous to Strangford Lough and the coastline of the island. Marine communities are recreated to enable the visitor to gain a better understanding of the complex inter relationships between different species.

The Seal Sanctuary affords the visitor the opportunity to view the process of rehabilitation of rescued seal pups from their arrival through to full health when they are re-introduced to the wild.

Open all year, Oct-Mar: Mon-Fri 10am-5pm, Sat 11am-5pm, Sun 1-5pm. Apr-Sept: Mon-Fri 10am-6pm, Sat 11am-6pm, Sun 12-6pm

Adult £6.90; OAP/Student £4; Child 4+ £4; Family (2 adults & 4 children) £20

View Similar Tourist Attractions

• Adare Heritage Centre
• Dalkey Castle & Heritage Centre
• Fort Lucan
• National Gallery of Ireland
• Little Museum of Dublin
• Swiss Cottage
• House of Waterford Crystal
• National Museum of Ireland - Archaeology
• King Johns Castle
• VISUAL Centre for Contemporary Art & The George Bernard Shaw Theatre
• Ardfert Cathedral
• National Photographic Archive
• Thomond Park Stadium
• Giants Causeway
• Lusk Heritage Centre
• The Science Gallery
• Desmond Castle
• Number Twenty Nine - Georgian House Museum
• Larne Museum & Arts Centre
• Edmund Rice Heritage Centre
• National Transport Museum
• Arigna Mining Experience
• Trim Castle
• Guinness Storehouse
• Armagh Planetarium
• Dun Aonghasa
• Maynooth Castle
• Ross Castle
• Cahir Castle
• Emo Court
• Wexford Wildfowl Reserve
• Skellig Experience Visitor Centre
• St Marys Church
• Rothe House & Garden
• Ceide Fields
• Dublin Castle
• Ballyhack Castle
• Doneraile Wildlife Park
• Killarney National Park
• Xtreme.ie - Adventure Centre
• Kilbeggan Distillery Experience
• Ulster Folk & Transport Museum
• Jameson Experience Midleton
• Ros Tapestry Exhibition Centre
• Carrick a Rede Rope Bridge
• Navan Centre & Fort
• Rathfarnham Castle
• Casino Marino
• Somme Heritage Centre
• Viking Splash Tours
• Malahide Castle
• Famine Warhouse
• National Leprechaun Museum
• Kerry County Museum
• Athenry Castle
• St Marys Abbey
• Phoenix Park
• The Main Guard
• The Blascaoid Centre - Ionad an Bhlascaoid Mhoir
• Glendalough
• Iveagh Gardens
• Ormond Castle
• National Wax Museum Plus
• Sligo Abbey
• Sentry Hill & Visitor Centre
• Trinity College Dublin & Book of Kells
• Adare Castle
• Ulster Museum
• Ennis Friary
• Glebe House & Gallery - The Derek Hill Collection
• Irish National Stud & Japanese Gardens
• The Butlers Chocolate Experience
• Ballycroy National Park
• Ferns Castle
• Titanic Belfast
• Galway City Museum
• Dwyer McAllister Cottage
• Donegal Castle
• Eagles Flying
• Connemara National Park
• Dublin Zoo
• Jeanie Johnston Tall Ship Famine Museum
• Ulster American Folk Park
• Dublinia
• Funtasia Waterpark
• Castletown House
• King House
• Cobh Heritage Centre
• Westport House, Gardens & Pirate Adventure Park
• Tayto Park
• Lahinch Seaworld & Leisure Centre
• Jerpoint Abbey
• National Museum of Ireland - Country Life
• The Burren Centre - Gateway to the Burren
• Derrynane House
• Queens University
• Caherconnell Fort
• Croke Park & GAA Museum
• Portumna Castle & Gardens
• Shelbourne Park Greyhound Stadium
• Russborough House
• Hook Lighthouse & Heritage Centre
• Enniskillen Castle Museum
• Gallarus Oratory & Gallarus Castle
• National Museum of Ireland - Decorative Arts & History
• Carrowmore Megalithic Cemetery
• Bushmills Distillery
• Galway Atlantaquaria
• Museum at the Mill
• Bunratty Castle & Folk Park
• Aillwee Cave
• Skellig Michael
• St Stephens Green
• Hill of Tara
• Mid Antrim Museum at The Braid
• Cruachan Ai Heritage Centre
• Doolin Cave & Visitor Centre
• Pearse Museum & St. Endas Park
• Belfast Zoo
• Dunmore Cave
• Muckross House & Gardens & Traditional Farm
• Glasnevin Museum
• Exploris Aquarium & Seal Sanctuary
• Imaginosity - Dublins Children Museum
• Christ Church Cathedral
• Castlecomer Discovery Park
• Irish Museum of Modern Art (IMMA) - Royal Hospital Kilmainham
• Dingle Oceanworld
• Boyle Abbey
• Rock of Cashel
• Donegal County Museum
• Wicklow Mountains National Park
• Aviva Stadium
• Funtasia Bettystown
• Aughnanure Castle
• Tullamore Dew Heritage Centre
• Listowel Castle
• Florence Court
• Clonmacnoise
• The Old Jameson Distillery
• Desmond Hall
• Burren National Park
• Foynes Flying Boat Museum
• Old Mellifont Abbey
• Coole Park
• Scattery Island Centre
• Government Buildings
• Blarney Castle
• Parkes Castle
• Saint Patricks Cathedral
• Corlea Trackway Visitor Centre
• National Library of Ireland
• Leopardstown Racecourse
• Barryscourt Castle
• Tintern Abbey
• Dungarvan Castle
• Lullymore Heritage & Discovery Park
• Waterways Ireland Visitor Centre
• Tower Museum
• Clare Museum
• Dan OHaras Heritage & History Centre
• Newgrange & Knowth - Bru na Boinne Visitor Centre
• Glenveagh National Park
• Dromore Wood
• Belleek Pottery Visitor Centre
• Craggaunowen - The Living Past
• Charles Fort
• Reginalds Tower
• Farmleigh House & Estate
• Roscrea Castle & Heritage Centre
• Dunbrody Famine Ship
• Dublin City Hall - Story of the Capital
• Marble Arch Caves & Global Geopark
• Mizen Head Signal Station
• Newmills Corn & Flax Mills
• Aras an Uachtarain
• National Sea Life Centre
• Phoenix Park Visitor Centre - Ashtown Castle
• Cliffs of Moher - Visitor Experience
• Avondale House & Forest Park
• Battle of the Boyne
• Armagh County Museum
• Chester Beatty Library
• National Aquatic Centre - AquaZone
• Crag Cave
• John F Kennedy Arboretum
• Hugh Lane Gallery
• Garylough Mill
• Carrickfergus Museum
• Waterford & Suir Valley Heritage Railway
• National Concert Hall
• Kilmainham Gaol
• Castle Ward House & Demesne
• Natural History Museum
• Skibbereen Heritage Centre
• The Ark
• Patrick Pearses Cottage
• Kilkenny Castle
• Skerries Mills
• Lough Key Forest & Activity Park
• The Hunt Museum

Local Recommendations

Hospitality

• Picnic
  (6.9km)NW
• Dufferin Coaching Inn
  (7.0km)NW
• East Coast Seafoods
  (9.3km)SW
• Pheasants Hill Farm
  (10.0km)SW
• Curran's Bar & Seafood Steakhouse
  (11.3km)SW
• Glastry Farm Ice Cream
  (11.7km)NE
• Denvirs
  (12.3km)SW
• Dunnanelly Country House
  (13.0km)SW
• Daft Eddys & Island Coffee Room
  (13.4km)NW
• Balloo House & Overwood
  (13.7km)NW
• Old Post Office Tea Rooms & Pantry, The
  (17.3km)NW
• Angus Farm Shop
  (17.4km)NW
• Old Schoolhouse Inn, The
  (18.2km)NW
• Poacher's Pocket, The
  (18.5km)NW
• Crossgar Foodservice
  (19.0km)SW
• Mount Stewart Tea Room
  (20.4km)NW
• White Horse Inn, The
  (20.5km)NW
• Sugarcane Café Bistro
  (22.7km)NW
• Rogue and Co
  (22.7km)NW
• No. 14 at the Georgian House
  (22.7km)NW

Self Catering

• The Colonel's Lodge
  (31.5km)NW
• Rostrevor Holidays
  (48.3km)SW

Farmers Markets

• Castlewellan - Co Down - Saturdays
  (28.9km)SW
• Belfast - St. Georges Street - Saturdays
  (33.9km)NW
• Lisburn - County Antrim - Saturdays
  (34.9km)NW
• Park Shopping Centre - Belfast - Thursdays
  (35.4km)NW

Tourist Attractions

• Exploris Aquarium & Seal Sanctuary
  (0.0km)NW
• Castle Ward House & Demesne
  (2.7km)NW
• Somme Heritage Centre
  (27.4km)NW
• Ulster Museum
  (33.6km)NW
• Queens University
  (33.7km)NW
• Ulster Folk & Transport Museum
  (34.3km)NW
• Titanic Belfast
  (34.4km)NW
• Belfast Zoo
  (40.3km)NW
• Carrickfergus Museum
  (40.8km)NW
• Museum at the Mill
  (43.4km)NW
• Sentry Hill & Visitor Centre
  (44.6km)NW

Golf Courses

• Royal County Down Golf Club
  (28.8km) SW
• Royal Belfast Golf Club
  (34.7km) NW
• Greenore Golf Club
  (54.9km) SW

Gardens

• Anna's House & Garden
  (17.7km)NW
• Rowallane Garden
  (19.8km)NW
• Mount Stewart House & Gardens
  (20.4km)NW
• Seaforde Gardens
  (20.6km)SW
• Glenmount
  (29.3km)NW
• Redcot
  (31.0km)NW
• Guincho
  (34.0km)NW

Nearby Towns/Areas

• Portaferry
  (0.1km) SE
• Strangford Village
  (1.1km) SW
• Killyleagh
  (6.8km) NW
• Ballyhornan
  (8.8km) SW
• Portavogie
  (10.9km) NE
• Newtownards
  (12.0km) NE
• Kircubbin
  (12.0km) NE
• Downpatrick
  (12.3km) SW
• Ardglass
  (13.7km) SW
• Killinchy
  (13.7km) NW