COVID-19: Information for Visitors

We are open!

It’s been a strange few months for us all, but we’re so excited to be open again.

Visitor numbers will be limited each day and everyone, including Annual Pass members, will need to book online to guarantee entry. Please ensure your choose the correct date as tickets are non-refundable and dates can not be changed.

To keep our visitors and staff as safe as possible, whilst giving you the best experience possible when you visit the aquarium, we’ve stripped back to focus on the bare necessities. Your visit might look very different for a while, but you’ll still be able to see your favourite creatures, and we are still one of the most picturesque places to visit and we all look forward to welcoming you!

What we’re doing
What we ask you to do
Closed areas & changes
FAQs about booking
FAQs about your visit

Buy Tickets

During your visit

We’ve been thinking long and hard about how you can get the most of your visit whilst helping us be covid-secure, and that has meant we’ve made a few changes.

Unfortunately, all in person talks and displays are suspended. To maintain social distancing, we’ll be asking you to follow our distance markers around the aquarium and adhere to some new one-way routes.

It is mandatory to wear a face covering inside the attraction and café/giftshop unless you declare that you have a government listed exemption or are under the age of 11 years. Please ensure you bring a face covering with you on your visit or you can purchase one from us. You may be refused admission if you attempt to visit the Lakes Aquarium without a face covering and don’t declare an exemption.

Our catering outlets will all be operating as takeaway and sit in and we would encourage you to use contactless payment methods wherever possible. The toilets on the train platform will be open as usual, however we will be managing capacity so you may find you need to queue a little longer than usual.

We’d like to thank you in advance for your patience and understanding at this time, as we all work to adapt to a new way of visiting. We’ll have plenty of staff on hand to answer any questions, reassure any worries and to help you adapt to our changes.

To help you keep a safe distance from others, we’ve introduced social distancing markers throughout the aquarium.

We’ve installed over 20 new hand sanitiser stations at key areas around the aquarium, in addition to the existing handwash facilities, to encourage regular hand washing.

One-way routes have been put in place throughout the site. These will be clearly signposted as you go around the aquarium.

We are respectfully asking visitors who are showing symptoms of Covid-19 not to visit the aquarium.

What we are doing

To facilitate the re-opening of the Lakes Aquarium we have implemented enhanced health and safety measures and followed Government advice for the safety of our staff and guests including conducting a full Covid Secure Risk Assessment.We are limiting the number of people who can visit so that we can safely manage people and enabling social distancing between visitors, and between visitors and staff.For a full list of the measures please see our website or ask any member of our staff.However there remains an inherent risk of exposure to Covid19 in any public place where people are present which cannot be entirely eliminated. Covid19 is a contagious disease that can lead to severe illness and death. Consequently, it is imperative that all those visiting the Lakes Aquarium behave responsibly and respect the measures that we have put in place. Please do not visit the Lakes Aquarium if you are experiencing symptoms of Covid19 or have any underlying health conditions or are otherwise vulnerable in any way that may put you at risk.

In the absence of any negligence or breach of duty by us, visiting the Lakes Aquarium is entirely at your risk.

Please help us to keep each other healthy.For further information please see our Covid19 guidance available on our website or ask any member of our staff for assistance.

You can read our full legal statement here.

Visitor Service Hosts
We have dedicated Visitor Services Hosts throughout the aquarium to answer any questions and reassure any worries you might have.

Queue Control
We have introduced manned queuing systems to ensure social distancing can be maintained in our main entrance, catering outlets and our gift shop.

One-way Routes
A one way system is in place throughout the aquarium.These will be clearly signposted.

Stripping back to the bare necessities
We have had to suspend all additional activities such as talks and feeds, sit-on rides, and interactives.

Where can I eat
Our 1872 Cafe will be operating a takeaway only service, with a reduced menu available. All indoor seating areas will be closed. Oscars cafe will remain closed.

Frontline Staff
To protect our visitors and staff, screens have been installed at interaction points and tills. Staff will be wearing facemasks and PPE where appropriate.

Cleaning
We have enhanced cleaning and disinfecting schedules across the park, high touch areas, picnic tables, hand rails and seating.

What we ask you to do

Face Masks
It is mandatory to wear a face covering inside the attraction and café/giftshop unless you declare that you have a government listed exemption or are aged under 11 years. Please ensure you bring a face covering with you on your visit or you can purchase one from us. You may be refused admission if you attempt to visit the Lakes Aquarium without a face covering and don’t declare an exemption.

Tickets are to be used in time slots only
We are no longer able to validate tickets for all day use, they are for your allotted time slot only. However don’t worry you will have plenty of time to see all the exhibits.

Keep your hands, paws and flippers clean
We have installed over 20 new hand sanitiser stations at key areas around the aquarium, in addition to the handwash facilities, to encourage regular hand washing.

Keep your distance
To help you keep a safe distance from others, we’ve introduced social distancing markers at busy areas around the aquarium.

Contactless Payments
Where possible, we’re asking visitors to pay by contactless card or phone if possible – the limit has been raised to £45.

Know when to stay away
We are respectfully asking visitors who are showing symptoms of Covid-19 not to visit the aquarium.

Push Chairs
We are unable to store Push chairs. Please either leave them at home or keep them with you during your visit. Push chairs left unattended will have to be removed in order to keep a safe environment.

Closed areas & changes

Talks, feeds & displays suspended
All in person talks, feeds and displays have been suspended

Stripping back to the bare necessities
We have had to suspend all additional activities such as, sit-on rides, fancy dress and interactives.

Can I purchase combined tickets?
Combined tickets with a Windermere Lake Cruise or Lakeside and Haverthwaite Railway are not currently available. Please visit the individual website to book tickets direct with them.

FAQs about booking

How do I book?
You can book a ticket on our website. You will need to book both a day visit and an arrival time slot. Arrival time slots will be at 30 minute intervals starting at 10am and ending at 4.30pm to allow a reduced amount of visitors entering the attraction at any one time. You must arrive at the attraction in your 30 minute arrival time slot to guarantee entry.

How many tickets can I book?
You may book a maximum of 6 tickets for one arrival slot.

Do I need to book if an Annual Pass Member?
We are limiting the number of visitors in the aquarium at any one time to ensure we can all maintain a safe distance. For this reason and to guarantee entry, all visitors and members will need to book online.

Do I need to book if I have a Local resident Pass?
We are limiting the number of visitors in the aquarium at any one time to ensure we can all maintain a safe distance. For this reason and to guarantee entry, all local resident pass holders will need to book online. However payment will be taken on arrival on production of your residents pass.

Do I need to book for a child under the age of 3?
No only children over the age of 3 years need to book a space.

Will my 2020 membership be extended?
All 2020 Memberships have been automatically extended and will now expire on 30/4/2021 (you will not be issued a new card). Renewals will be on sale as usual and there will be an optional discount to reflect the period of closure for those wishing to renew.

Can I do an animal experience?
Unfortunately we’ve had to suspend all Animal Experience, including sales and bookings. This is while we Covid Assess all experiences and put any new policies and procedures in place. Once this has been done we will be in touch with anyone who has an outstanding booking or voucher

FAQs about your visit

What to do on arrival?
You will need to bring your valid ticket and arrival time slot reservation with you ready to show our staff. A digital version is preferred. You will not be able to again access to the attraction without both of these.

Can I come in and out, can I stay all day?
In order to maintain social distancing your ticket allows you one visit of a maximum of one and a half hours from the commencement of your arrival timeslot. So if you book the 10am to 10.30am arrival slot you need to finish your visit by 11.30am regardless of whether you arrive at 10am or 10.30am. This will ensure we maintain our reduced capacity numbers.

Are the toilets open?
We do not have toilets inside the aquarium building, however there are toilets onsite. If needed please visit the toilet before joining the admission queue.

Do I need to wear a face mask?
It is mandatory to wear a face covering inside the attraction unless you declare that you have a government listed exemption. Please ensure you bring a face covering with you on your visit or you can purchase one from us. You may be refused admission if you attempt to visit the Lakes Aquarium without a face covering and don’t declare an exemption.

Can I purchase food?
Any catering outlets which are open will be serving takeaway only and may be offering a reduced menu. There will be a selection of drinks, pre-packaged sandwiches, ice creams and hot food available

Will the gift shop be open?
Our 1872 Café and giftshop has a range of products which all visitors to the site are welcome to browse. Our aquarium gift shop will also be open, but currently only to aquarium visitors.

Why are there no talks/feeds?
In an effort to maintain social distancing, we do not want to provide any activities which would encourage groups of people to gather in one specific place. For this reason, we have suspended all in-person talks, feeds and displays.

Can I pay with cash?
Yes. However, we do ask that wherever possible you use contactless payment methods to reduce the risk of spreading any virus.

Can I hire a wheelchair?
No. Unfortunately, we’re unable to hire out wheelchairs at this time

What safety measures are in place regarding Covid-19?
You can find out about all our measures throughout the this page, however in summary-

Enhanced cleaning and disinfecting routines throughout the park.
Appropriate PPE has been provided for staff where required.
Perspex screens have been installed on all counters and at till points.
We have over 20 hand sanitising stations throughout the aquarium.
Social distancing markers are in place
One-way routes have been introduced throughout.
Talks and displays have been suspended to discourage crowds.
Catering outlets will be open with a reduced capacity, takeaway only and with enhanced cleaning measures in place.
All of our staff have been trained in our new policies and protocols and the way we work in many departments has been adapted.
We are following Government guidelines and may be amending these measures as and when guidelines change.