I had no idea THIS was at London's Aquarium | SOLO ADVENTURE
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 11 ก.พ. 2025
- Let's visit London's Aquarium SEALIFE for the first time! It's been aggeesss since I've been to an aquarium but I was really interested in checking out London's aquarium (and I've never been before, so why not now?)
If you have a solo adventure activity you want to suggest for a video, please let me know in the comments!
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Hey! I'm Alanna - a thirty-something documenting my life as a Canadian living in England.
I share the ups and downs of an expat living abroad and what it's really like living in the UK. It's not always easy, but there's been so many wonderful experiences, too. I post a TH-cam video every Tuesday plus an additional video every Saturday on Patreon + YT Memberships. I also livestream every Wednesday and Sunday at 5:30pm GMT/BST on Twitch.
Alanna x
Ok Alanna stop saying Stingray !! I am of a age that everytime you say it the theme song to the Gerry Anderson series goes through my head and I will now be humming if for the rest of the week ;)
“Anything can happen in the next 25 minutes.”
@@magecraft2 would be funny if they put the sub and aquamarina figure in there for us oldies
“Stingray, Stingray, duh, duh, duh, duh, duh, duh”
I have the theme tune on my phone so yes anything can happen in the next half hour😊
Straight form decades old memory ... "Marina, Aqua Marina ...."
I have dived in the Sea Life in Scotland. I was surprised how much bigger the sharks are than they appear through the glass. The glass distorts the size. Great experience though. I also wasn't impressed to find out the sharks get fed once a week on a Saturday morning. I was diving on a Friday night!
It may not be your highest views but I so LOVE these outings. It absolutely has inspired me for some 2025 solo travel plans I'm booking. 🎉
Thank you so much!!! 😭🥹 you're too kind!! 💖
@@AdventuresAndNaps
This video didn’t come up on my notifications. A few from this channel don’t. Your other channel always comes up in notifications.
The building that the aquarium is in is the old city hall for london before the lcc was abolished.
If you're ever 'north' enough to visit Hull, you'd enjoy the "The Deep". (They used to describe it as 'the UK's only submarium' until they realised that sounded like a name they just made up!) It's basically an absolutely massive aquarium, so big that one of the enormous main tanks actually has a glass lift, on the inside of the glass that you can ride up/down past all the fishes, (including sharks!) inside. They have all the exhibits you'd find in a Sealife centre, (inlcuding a BREEDING penguin colony!)
Adult tickets cost £21, so cheaper than the London Sea Life centre, but your ticket is valid for unlimited free returns for a whole year; (great for locals, though admittedly not much of a bonus for someone who lives in Kent!)
the deep is way way way better than London sea life centre
You see a lot of those 'shark eggs' on many beaches in the UK. They're from various rays (relations of the shark), and very common here. Fun fact (as you would say), the egg sacs are also known as mermaids purses 🙂
Alanna, you make some of the best, most wholesome content on TH-cam.
More please 🙏 😊
Thanks Alanna. I'm down south, kinda Folkestone/Ashford & your solo days out give me great, first hand information on possible days out.
Your filming was excellent considering the kid hassle.
Maybe, London Aquarium, if you read this, you might consider late night adults only nights? Wine, fishy nibbles and background music?
Great video mate! And as I'm a recent subscriber I heard my first Canadian "eh?"! (Definitely a Britishism you guys took with you!)
Although I think you missed a trick by not calling this series "A Canadian out & about in London." 😆
Ok, time go see your day out at the war museum.
Keep safe Alanna 😎☮️
I'm thoroughly rn
Great video, as are all your "days out" videos. When i watch your videos, my personal "takeaway" is your personal strength and drive that pushes you to do things that you find uncomfortable by yourself. I admire anyone who does that. You are a lot more confident and stronger than you think.
GOOD FOR YOU 👍🏻
Around Christmas time in 2004, my work group hired the Aquarium for our Christmas party. It was great walking around holding a glass of wine, then sitting down at tables next to those brightly lit fish tanks to eat our meal. I do not remember if fish was on the menu! One of the highlights for me was a tank with the huge Rays, which we could attempt to stroke, though one false move and our expensive party clothes were soaking wet after an annoyed Ray splashed us!
An unusual museum you might not come across, but which may be of interest, is the Museum of Brands in Notting Hill. This displays the bags, boxes and advertisements of household products from the Victorian period up to today. Some displays are in year order, so includes everything you would have seen in 1910. Others follow a single product through time, some of which remain almost unchanged, others change to become unrecognisible.
Another fantastic place to visit is a tour of the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden. Even if you don't like Opera (I am not a big fan), the backstage tours are wonderful. There are a few different tours; all are worth it. You get to see the backstage sets, interesting scandalous stories, and if you are lucky, see the ballet rehearsing.
A few nice bars also!
I also went to the aquarium solo and was quite self conscious as well but I'm glad I did it in the end. Really like the idea of this series as I'm someone who has to push myself to get out there and it's nice to see your experience of it. Hopefully I'll get to come to London one day (perhaps solo)!
I'm so glad!! ☺️ Thanks for watching!
@@AdventuresAndNaps I just came here from Kalyn, Girl Gone London's channel and she is from Florida but has been living in London for around the same length of time that you have been in Kent. She has a British husband and am guessing she might have come here after falling in love and her videos are British related and compares the UK to the US.
I just thought it would be nice if you did something together, like a collaboration, as I thought you could have a lot in common and might get on well. Although I know you have anxiety issues at times so might not feel comfortable meeting new people, but you did with Anna and Hannah (not sure about the spelling there) and you all looked to enjoy yourselves and get on during your videos.
Something of interest.
Beneath that large slow shark after the penguins (a sand tiger shark, not very dangerous) is a shark responsible for killing the most humans. But he's not on any danger list.
The Oceanic White Tip roams the open ocean looking for distressed creatures. This is the shark from all the stories about shipwrecks.
I have found my travel sickness/motion sickness is always way better if I travel on a full stomach. A decent breakfast can set you up just right. However, I'm sure some people would say the opposite.
I love your enthusiasm, particularly as you get so anxious about going out on your own for these trips. Relax, enjoy it. You are doing great :-)
This idea of yours for these day trips take me back to my own past. Brilliant idea.
David Attenborough eat your heart out, I really enjoyed this and found it very relaxing and you did an amazing job telling us about everything 😊, good job.
Nice. Great topic and video.
I also went outside my comfort zone many years ago and did the London Aquarium (as I think it was still called) solo.
I was fish/aquarium crazy at the time: I had a pet octopus. (!!)
And the aquarium at London just was amazing. The size of those big main tanks (as a domestic tank keeper) is just mind-blowing.
They didn't have penguins when I was there, though. That's a class improvement.
But at the time I was near "Living Coasts" in Torquay, where you get to walk right up to and feed the penguins (at least, you could last time I was there; not sure now).
Another really interesting solo adventure. Totally brought back wonderful memories for me. Thank you!
😊😊😊
Brits keep telling visitors that there’s more to the UK than London. But this video highlights why London is so popular; there’s such a variety of stuff to see close together and it’s so easy to get around.
There are a LOT of different unusual things you can participate in, in UK.
Here are just one or two examples - you can meet and speak with parrots and other birds in an enclosed tropical forest.
You can hold many different species of owls in owl-land.
You can take sheep for an organised walk along the road, watch sheep racing, and try your hand at rearing them up with sheep dogs.
You can go canyoning, mountain tobogganing, underground cave via-ferrata-ing, and of-course being an island nation, I've taken more than one girlfriend out to sea in a simple row boat, or you can learn to sail if you prefer.
Don't expect to find any of this in London any more than you would in downtown Toronto.
So perhaps the best advice is to get yourself a Britrail pass (you'll need your Canadian passport) and take it all in.
If you're ever near County Hall and in need of baked goods, try Cafe Carmen, it's that door that just says 'Bakery' over it right when you come down the steps from Westminster Bridge (I think) and they make the best sausage rolls I've ever had, and a ton of other tasty stuff. I really enjoy this series, I find your commentary really relaxing every time and it's nice to know you're getting past some of your anxieties etc.
Alana, couple of suggestions for you. The RAF Museum in Hendon north London, loads to see and really interesting. Also the Postal Museum at WC1X 0DA, all about the Royal Mail. May not sound good but you get to ride on the postal trains that used to use the underground system, really fun. Lastly the London Transport Museum depot in Acton, full of old trains, buses, signs and history, a real treat,lots to see.
Seconding the Postal Museum. It's superbly set out, so interesting and the tiny underground train is a thrill.
Funnily enough, trains are the only means of transport that I don’t get travel sick on. I find that Kwells help when travelling on a coach etc but I still can’t read though. Audio books are a Godsend.
Have you ever seen “Happy Feet” always makes me smile. My my married daughter, her husband and kids love love it.
You get used to it walking around by yourself. Stiil I do have am alone feeling in the beginning. Been watching Naps for ages. Didn't realise. But Naps got a beautiful smile. Theirs a Puffer fish. I like stingrays as well. You don't want to get a bite from a Snapper turtle .(18:42).I forgot about the penguins. I don't remember seeing them types of Japanese jellyfish. When I went their years ago. . Wasn't their a section of camouflage sea creatures. Bit expensive. But a good day out if you have a tour tickets. If they still do them. You could go on the London eye as well. That's all I can remember. Nice one Naps. 😊👍
Hiya Alanna, I was in London 3 weeks ago, I tried looking for myself when you were on Westminster Bridge, but to no avail, I enjoyed your trip to London Aquarium, this is Choppy
Bill Bryson announced in 2020 that he had retired from writing books 😥😥 so enjoy every word. My favourite is At Home then Walk in the Woods. So funny.
lol just watching you on the train through a screen makes me motion sick. You are not alone x
Love this! I’m from London and visited Ripleys on holiday and loved it. Never been to Sea Life. Thanks for the tour!
I'm loving this 'grasping the nettle' attitude towards doing solo stuff Alanna - takes some guts but will heighten your confidence levels no end. About 95% of my oudoor time is solo, but that's by choice; I enjoy all things natural history and finding all the cool stuff thats out there 🙂
If you like penguins, there's a film with Steve Coogan called 'The Penguin Lessons'. You should put it on your 'things to watch' list. Loved seeing your visit. Excellent narration, as ever. Thank you!
I used to wonder why I hated going to the NEC until I realised I was hungry and thirsty. Then I started having lunch first, like you. Of course, it's so sensible.
Great footage Alanna. I'm glad you had a goodtime. Never be embarassed that you visit these type of places on you own visiting these places alone is how i enjoy it. ❤
Excellent, penguins, children, rays, children, croissants, laughter.. well done again.....
Cheers Steven, glad you liked it! 🎉
0:18 - There's nothing wrong with that + I can relate since I'm the same sometimes.
I think the aquarium is near the London Eye, if not then I imagined going past it on a date back in the early 00’s. Wish I’d imagined the date tbh! 😂
Bless you for your infectious and genuine enthusiasm and fondness for these creatures. Many years ago we were on a cruise in the Bahamas, and did a stingray experience excursion. You got to go in the water and feed them as they swam around you. You'd have loved it, and still one of the best days of my life.
All of Brysons books are excellent I really like "The Body: A Guide for Occupants ".
I found he went on a bit labouring a point to death (rather like Stephen fry in interviews ) but that was one of his first books on the UK.
I'm loving this solo adventure series. I love travelling with my wife, but I've discovered that travelling alone can have its benefits, too!
Thank you so much for watching! ☺️ These videos aren't very popular but I find them really rewarding to make 🙏🏻
Some peace and quiet being one of them 😏
I love seeing people's self-improvement journeys, and it's also cool that my comments help your channel in the process!
Bill Bryson audio books are epic.
A short History of Nearly Everything is a really long Epic!
This is super fun! Love your solo travel episodes, keep going!
I love to see you stretching yourself but please never too far.
Alanna, I am glad that you had a good day out. The aquarium was great. Watching fish is supposed to relax you - success!
I trust that you will find more subjects for solo adventures. Bye!
Seahorses are fascinating, other-worldly creatures. From their prehensile tails, to the females passing unfertilised eggs to the male for him to fertilise and grow in his pouch until they hatch, they're unusual!
The aquarium in Bergen, Norway also has penguins, btw. Well... at least they used to. It's been a good while since I visited it, being that I live in a different part of the country.
My local zoo has an aquarium and I saw the shark feeding. I was expecting a Discovery Shark week feeding instead the sharks are so lazy the feeders had poles with fish on the end. As the sharks swim by the feeders jammed the poles in the mouths of the sharks. A little disappointed. But other than that the aquarium is very cool.
I really enjoy watching your solo journeys, it's such a fun idea. We took the kids to the London Sea Life in 2022 and the kids were 12, 10 and 8 and we all had such a fun day there we took lots and lots of photos and videos it's such a beautiful place to visit. We also like to visit the Brighton Sea Life place as well. 😊
That is so sweet ☺️ thank you for watching!
I'm glad to hear you had a great time with us London is happy to have you anytime :)
Great video! I'm really enjoying your solo adventure series. I'm sure you know that Sea Life is a national chain of aquariums and if you ever get the chance visit the one in Birmingham. It has the only 360 degree tunnel in the UK, so basically a glass tube with fish swimming all around you. They also have penguins there but even better they have Sea Otters.
The solo day out videos are the ones I like best. And the admission price seems reasonable for an aquarium. They are expensive to build and maintain. Plus, it is corporate-owned unlike the other museums you have visited which are government affiliated in some manner or other.
I'm sold on it, definitely going to have a day out at the Aquarium cheers Alanna loved the penguins 😊😊😊
My son works there! It's a really nice aquarium and all the staff really love the animals.
So glad you had a great time and shared it with us.
Ahh what a small world!
Alanna, I have watched many of your videos dince before the pandemic: sadly, i am fish phobic, and on the occasion I tried to conquer it by going to this place, I came out worse than when I went in. So I am passing, but look forward to your next one. M
Thanks Alana. We've done the Brighton Sealife but not London. We'll have to give it a go.
Have you read Bill Bryson's A Short History of Nearly Everything? Best non-fiction book I've ever read. The audiobook is 18 hours long and the narrator's voice is perfect for it.
I haven't been for 30 years. I remember they used to have a tank where the rays would come into the shallows and you could pet them. They liked to be stroked. I'd like to visit again.
Great work Alanna! I've lived in England for 74 years, haven't been to the aquarium, your video may change that! Penguins are my fave creature & at Manila's Ocean Park you can actually feed the Humboldt penguins with special food. They're only about 2' tall and super cute! Penguins seem as interested in us as are of them!
At the end of the day do all the robot fish have to plug themselves into their charger ports and the animatronic penguins stand on their charge pads or do they employ a diver to do it?
I have a whole shelf full of Bill Bryson's excellent books, so I hope you enjoyed that(I think that one was the first I read many many years ago.) Loved the visit, it looks fascinating...and those cute penguins! Lovely trip, very enjoyable!
Hi,i think the fish are trained to pose 😖🤣🤣🤣.sharks and stingrays have no bones it is cartilage instead.cheers.Roly🇬🇧.
Fun video, Alanna. Those shark egg cases can be commonly found on our beaches. They're known as 'mermaids purses' which is a cute name!
I have read every Bill Bryson book - great author and one of my faves. He's a great anglophile, much like yourself 😍
At my local aquarium there are manta rays. They are quite a sight to see.
Really enjoyed this. I love a good aquarium. Especially if there aren't many people in. As you said a few times, it can be so peaceful. Time seems to slow right down as you watch these majestic creatures float by. The mood can be somewhat sullied by a child screaming for an ice cream though... I love the idea of doing this trip on your own. Taking your time to enjoy something is a lovely thing. Take care.
As a Divorced father, that spent at least almost 8yrs of alternate w/ends Entertaining my 3 children in London(I grew up in the SE of London)It's a long story, You at the Aquarium, are in the GLCC(GREATER LONDON CITY COUNCIL)building my Dad had an office in the attic with a window, I went their a few times, and also his office @ Greenwich Park, But will you Alanna, Brave the London eye, I thought they were a joint ticket, But thank you again for that which you do,
That looks like a great aquarium. The last one visited had about 4 tanks and a catfish called Tony
Betty is amazing!!!! Sharks are peaceful...not their fault people go swimming in their house!!! All their names are excellent. The penguins are adorable.
You clearly had a great time in rhe aquarium. Have been there and enjoyed it like you.
Absolutely loved it. That footage made me feel so calm and relaxed. Isn’t nature incredible.
I love that a fish is named Betty😂😂
Mr Pink looks like Tweety pie. He is a fish version of tweety pie😊.
Also … the penguins… the penguins. Love love love penguins. The are just so funny and adorable. Yes I was grinning too whilst watching them.
Beautiful video ❤
I'm glad you go along the Thames, there's so much to do and see
Idk if you’re an iPhone user, but if you are, the latest iOS version claims to have a feature to help with motion sickness-it will put dots on the screen that move with the horizon, so your brain doesn’t get as many mixed signals between what motion your eyes see and what your inner ear feels. Might be worth a try!
Wow! That was a lot of fun. Thank you for your endearing giggly commentary. 😊
Great video Alanna!! I'm shocked they didn't have a cafe.... You could have bought the ticket, seen the exhibition and eaten the stars!!!🐟🐟🐠🐠🐡🐡🦈🦈🐙🐙🐚🐚🐧🐧🐧🐧🐊🐊🐊🐊
PS If you're likely to go to more than 1-2 Merlin attractions in a year (Sea Life, London Dungeons, Legoland Windsor, Thorpe Park, London Eye, Chessington World of Adventures, Madame Tussauds and a bunch of others) it's worth looking into a Merlin Annual Pass, they start from £99 (although it's currently on sale for £79, not sure why) and I'm pretty sure it gives you unlimited access to all of those places for free (well, no extra cost), although you may need to book a time slot ahead of time.
When i was little kid i climbed into the penguin enclosure at Paignton zoo. I guess i wanted to be their friend or something. A keeper got me out before i could make any friends. Probably for the best. I bet zookeepers get that alot.
Been before and it's worth it -- good to see County Hall finally being used for something worthwhile...
You should pick up on Bill Bryson’s 20 years on sequel to that book - it called the Road to Little Dribbling. If you can’t read on trains, why not listen to it as an audiobook? Audible has all his books
You should read Bill Bryson's book on Australia. Once again very funny. Strangely it has a different title in the U.K. compared with exactly the same book here in Canada or the U.S.A. Try 'In a sunburned country'
As there was no Café/restaurant did you think about takeaway, maybe Fish & Chips? 🤔
A great aquarium, I think it is so well built into the old GLC building, wonderful architecture.
I remember being in the Maldives, and every evening the stingrays were fed (by hand) from staff at the resort.
I found this video quite fascinating - I don't think I've ever been in an aquarium, even though I used to walk past the local one on my daily commute.
Really enjoyed your commentary!
Love it when you get so animated ... keep it up 😯😃
I enjoyed that :) Literally never knew there was an aquarium in London, but of course it makes sense there would be. Thanks for taking us along!
Glad you enjoyed it!
Great video Alanna, I had completely forgotten about the London Sea Life Aquarium but thinking back I remember how much of a big thing it was when they said it was opening in the old GLC {Greater London Council building.). It looks like a great place to visit but I'm surprised they have no where to eat. Maybe the Butler could offer to open a sea food restaurant for them🐟🍟😄
I am enjoying your solo visiting series! Can’t wait to see where you are off to next.
By the way as I was born in the London suburbs, I too never realised there was an aquarium in London - but I left UK for Canada in 1970 and perhaps it was built after I left.
That was really very interesting. I love that you had an Armadillo for lunch - thinking that it was a Croissant. And regarding the sharks, did my eyes deceive me, or were those huge rock formations based on a human face with a huge nose. Your enthusiasm is infectious and spot on . The Aquarium looks superb and probably worth the entrance fee. I thought that the inclusion of penguins was a master stroke. Don't be embarrassed re being by yourself - it's your choice. Great video and narrative. Cheers ! Sheffield South Yorkshire.
.
Like your book choice, i've read all his books and once met him on a cruise. A quiet decent sort of chap with no "side" to him.
The perfect timing of Big Ben being at 12 noon both hands pointing up when you left the tube station 👏🏻👏🏻
Sigh. Big Ben is the bell.
Queen Elizabeth Tower is what you're thinking of. It was renamed in 2012 from St Stephen's Tower to celebrate QE2's 60th anniversary on the throne.
yeah i know that but for the sake of a quick comment i thought it was easier to write “Big Ben” than “The Elizabeth Tower” 🙄
Enjoyed that, although Attenborough's job is safe 😉
Another outstanding solo adventure vlog! I'm really enjoying this series Alanna has created...🐠🐟🐡🦈
Thanks for sharing.
Have a good day girl ❤❤
TY Alanna, good to see all the variety there. Nice to have something calming in a busy city! 🙏🙏
Thank you!
@@AdventuresAndNaps ☺
I went to sting ray city in Cayman, which was so cool, you could touch them, all wild but come everyday for snacks
The Sea Life Centers are part of the Merlin Group, who also own Thorp Park, Alton Towers and other SeaLife Centres and Parks in Britain and Europe.
Nice, looks like you had a great time
I went to tell Natural History museum last week after watching your visit, maybe next week I'll check out the fishez.
Colchester Castle and the Maritime Museum in Greenwich were always faves….and Imperial War in Elephant and Castle
I've had very bad motion sickness all my life, (will try to do trains more now I've my merseyrail pass) can't watch anything fast moving from fps games to mice running through grass followed by the camera, and planes forget it ! Also didn't know london had an aquarium.
Looks good will have to visit soon
You are doing well with your solo adventures