VIP Penguin Experience
- Friday 8th December 2023
Get closer than ever to our adorable Gentoo penguins at SEA LIFE London Aquarium. Read more about the VIP experience here & book your ticket today!
VIP Penguin Experience
- Why book a VIP Penguin Experience?
- What does the VIP Penguin Experience include?
- How much does the Penguin Experience cost?
- How do I book a ticket for the VIP Penguin Experience?
- Additional information and restrictions
- Health and safety
- Learn more about our Gentoo penguins
- Penguin Experience FAQs
If you are looking for a Penguin Experience in London, SEA LIFE London Aquarium has you sorted.
Why book a VIP Penguin Experience?
Our VIP Penguin Experience is your ticket to a once-in-a-lifetime penguin encounter with SEA LIFE London Aquarium's sub-Antarctic penguin colony.
Suited up in your wellies and SEA LIFE snow coats, this exclusive experience takes you into the chilly wonderland where cheeky Gentoo penguins waddle, hop, slip and slide in their habitat right in front of you.
What does the VIP Penguin Experience include?
- A 30-minute unique experience which includes up to 25 minutes inside the penguin habitat
- Private experience and briefing with a dedicated aquarist for up to 2 people
- Go behind the scenes and learn how we take care of our Gentoo penguins
- Suit up in our wellies and snow coats and go inside the penguin habitat with the colony
- Entry to SEA LIFE London Aquarium is included.
- A portion of your ticket will be donated to the SEA LIFE Trust to help support their work to protect the world’s oceans and the amazing marine life that lives within them
How much does the Penguin Experience cost?
This fin-tastic experience costs £250 for two people.
How do I book a ticket for the VIP Penguin Experience?
Guests can book their experience below, it couldn't be easier!
Book nowAdditional information and restrictions
The experience will last for 30 minutes for up to 2 people. Experience is available at 1pm daily. Subject to availability.
- Please arrive at the attraction by 12.45pm to ensure you are ready for your experience. Late arrivals will need to be rescheduled for another date.
- Participants must be 10+ years.
- Participants age 10-16 must have adult supervision 18+ attending.
Health and safety
- For this activity, you must wear or bring along a pair of socks.
- All guests participating in an activity need to complete our penguin experience declaration, this is available to print from the website in advance. Please see here.
Learn more about our Gentoo penguins
The Gentoo penguin (Pygoscelis papua) is the third largest species of penguin, with only the Emperor and King penguins being larger. They are the fastest species of penguin, capable of reaching speeds of 22mph underwater. They are commonly found in Antarctica and typically range from 70-90cm in height!
Their diet typically consists of crustaceans, fish, and squid. In the wild, they can make as many as 450 dives a day to search for food. They're able to stay underwater for up to 7 minutes and can dive as deep as 200 metres.
Gentoos in the wild live in one of the harshest landscapes on the planet, so this species is specially adapted to life in the cold. Their body is covered in an insulating layer of blubber and they eat lots of fish to maintain it.
They also have a layer of woolly, insulating feathers covered by a second layer of smooth, waterproof feathers which helps to keep the warm in and the cold water out. Our penguin home has been specially designed to keep Gentoo Penguins cool and comfortable.
Read more about our Gentoo penguin colony here
Penguin Experience FAQs
The maximum group size for this experience is two people.
This is a 30-minute unique experience which includes up to 25 minutes inside the penguin habitat
Guests will be given a pair of SEA LIFE wellies and a coat to wear during the experience.
For this activity, you must wear or bring along a pair of socks.
The experience needs to be booked online in advance.
The experience will last for 30 minutes for up to 2 people. Experience is available at 1pm daily. Subject to availability.
Please arrive at the attraction by 12.45 pm to ensure you are ready for your experience. Late arrivals will need to be rescheduled for another date.
Photos are not allowed during the experience.
The experience is suitable for individuals with disabilities - however may not be suitable for people with reduced mobility.
This is due to the set of stairs that takes guests into the Penguin exhibit.
There is currently no gift voucher available for the VIP Penguin Experience.
However, there is a gift voucher available for the Snorkel with Sharks Experience, you can access this here.
