8From‘drydives’tofull-sizewhalereplicas,here’sourpickofmarinecentresthatoffervisitorssomethingextra-special.ByRICHARDHAMMONDOFTHEBEST## AQUARIUMS## AND SEALIFE## CENTRESMarvelatthemarineworldthroughtheUK’slargestsingle-tankviewingpanel.SeveralexhibitionsfeatureunderwaterlifefromthewatersaroundtheUKtotheAtlanticOceanandtropicalseas,whileaseriesofsmallertanksshowcasearangeoffascinatingcreaturesincludingclownfish,lionfish,livecoral,seahorsesandagiantoctopus.Childrenoverfivecanevenhaveorganisedsleepoversattheaquariumtoexperiencemarinelifeatnight.Theaquariumisrunasacharity,whosemissionis‘todrivemarineconservationthroughengagement’,providingaschoolslearningprogrammethatcomplementstheNationalCurriculum.Italsoruns``````severalconservationprojects,includinga‘ConservationthroughTourism’initiativethattrainsandassesseshoteliersintropicalcountriesabouttheimportanceofmarineconservationandcoralreefprotection.Entrycostsfrom£13.45foradults,£9.85forchildrenoverfour.Sleepoverscosts£40perchild;childrenmustbeaccompaniedbyanadultover16 (£30).national-aquarium.co.ukWHERE TOSTAY:JustalongthesouthcoastfromPlymouthatStGermansisacollectionofbeautifullyconvertedrailcarriageswithdoublebedsandbunkbedsforchildren.Athree-nightbreakcostsfrom£245.railholiday.co.uk.## 1NationalMarineAquariumPLYMOUTHAngleseySeaZooANGLESEY1138 OFTHEBESTSEALIFECENTRESSeeconservationinactionatthisaward-winningcentreonthebanksoftheMenaiStrait.It’sthelargestaquariuminWales,wherechildrencanseeover150 speciesofBritain’smostspectacularmarinelife,thankstoarangeofinteractiveexhibits,andlearnaboutthecentre’svaluableconservationworkattheLobsterHatcheryofWales,SeahorseConservationProgrammeandDolphinRescueService.There’saplaygroundwithbouncycastleandasuperlittlecaféservinghomemadesnacksandlunches.Adults£7.75;childrenoverthree£6.75.angleseyseazoo.co.uk.WHERE TOSTAY:Nearby,there’saclusterofoff-gridtipisandyurtsinasecludedwoodlandsettingjustamilefromthecoast,beautifullyfurnishedwithbedsorfutons,sheepskinsandlanterns,andcosystoves.Aweekendforfourcostsfrom£1 20 .angleseytipis.co.uk## 2FUTUREPROOFINGAngleseytakespartinaseahorseconservationprogramme