rfisher
Fishaholic
Hi All,
Just thought I would share my thoughts on my visit to the London Aquarium today.
First of all I think that I must have picked 'National School trip day'. I think that I must have seen every school in the whole of europe there. The queing system was not particularly impressive. There was chaos all over with both ticket holders and non ticket holders being mixed up in both queues. Then when I was one customer away from getting my ticket, a rather abrupt and rude Security Lady informed me that I was not queing properly and was made to move back away from the desk. Which would not have been a problem except whilst I was arguing about there being no sign stating where the queue starts from I lost my place and had to queue up again, another six people back.
The lady on the counter did try to point out to the guard that I was next and had been queuing properly, but she was having none of it and said that she had seen me queue jump on the CCTV. I don't think so. When I did get to the till the very kind ticket lady gave me a students admission price instead. Which was some consolation.
The layout of the place is great and I was really impressed with all the tanks especially the Atlantic and the Tropical freshwater section. The Fresh water stream is really rally good and seems to go on forever. The Touchpool was very impressive and looked great with no less than 4 species of ray in the pool. I just could not get any where near it because of the school parties. All the tanks looked great, I just wish I had remembered to put the Memory stick in my damn camera.
The only other gripe that I had was that you could not go back in again. You see I was following everything around quite happily and then followed some escalators which were right in front of me. These escalators take you out of the aquarium and into the Shop and a cafe area. Unfortunately when you go up these escalators you are considered to be out of the aquarium and are not allowed back in. Perhaps it was my own fault but I dont remember seeing any signs saying that this is the end of the aquarium area and if you follow these esclators up or take the Elevator that you are leaving the aquarium.
Now having just paid £13.25, not more than an hour before, to get in I was not very happy to find myself back on the street.
I would definately recommend anyone paying a visit to the Aquarium but just make sure that you go at the weekend or when the school holidays are on. Dont get me wrong I have three children of my own and I would have loved to have taken them today but I was in London for an interview and couldn't take them. Just make sure that you are aware of the escalators at the end of the Rainforest section and just around the corner. Oh and make sure that you remember your Memory Card too
Sorry that this has turned out to be a bit of a rant but I had to tell someone and my wife is at work and my kids are in bed.
Thanks for listening,
Richard
Just thought I would share my thoughts on my visit to the London Aquarium today.
First of all I think that I must have picked 'National School trip day'. I think that I must have seen every school in the whole of europe there. The queing system was not particularly impressive. There was chaos all over with both ticket holders and non ticket holders being mixed up in both queues. Then when I was one customer away from getting my ticket, a rather abrupt and rude Security Lady informed me that I was not queing properly and was made to move back away from the desk. Which would not have been a problem except whilst I was arguing about there being no sign stating where the queue starts from I lost my place and had to queue up again, another six people back.
The lady on the counter did try to point out to the guard that I was next and had been queuing properly, but she was having none of it and said that she had seen me queue jump on the CCTV. I don't think so. When I did get to the till the very kind ticket lady gave me a students admission price instead. Which was some consolation.
The layout of the place is great and I was really impressed with all the tanks especially the Atlantic and the Tropical freshwater section. The Fresh water stream is really rally good and seems to go on forever. The Touchpool was very impressive and looked great with no less than 4 species of ray in the pool. I just could not get any where near it because of the school parties. All the tanks looked great, I just wish I had remembered to put the Memory stick in my damn camera.
The only other gripe that I had was that you could not go back in again. You see I was following everything around quite happily and then followed some escalators which were right in front of me. These escalators take you out of the aquarium and into the Shop and a cafe area. Unfortunately when you go up these escalators you are considered to be out of the aquarium and are not allowed back in. Perhaps it was my own fault but I dont remember seeing any signs saying that this is the end of the aquarium area and if you follow these esclators up or take the Elevator that you are leaving the aquarium.
Now having just paid £13.25, not more than an hour before, to get in I was not very happy to find myself back on the street.
I would definately recommend anyone paying a visit to the Aquarium but just make sure that you go at the weekend or when the school holidays are on. Dont get me wrong I have three children of my own and I would have loved to have taken them today but I was in London for an interview and couldn't take them. Just make sure that you are aware of the escalators at the end of the Rainforest section and just around the corner. Oh and make sure that you remember your Memory Card too
Sorry that this has turned out to be a bit of a rant but I had to tell someone and my wife is at work and my kids are in bed.
Thanks for listening,
Richard
. I think that I must have been extremely lucky when I went a few weeks ago as there were not many people there and we were able to wander around at our leisure. Hope that it has not put you off trying it again at a less busy time.
