Living Coasts, Torquay

This is a must see attraction for any family who love the sea and all the wonderful life that it has to offer. Living Coasts is in a prominent seafront location in Torquay but don't do as we did and follow the signs for parking for Living Coasts as you are taken to a car park which is some distance away from the centre. If you proceed to Living Coasts, there is a car park situated right next to it, so it will definately save your legs! On entering you can immediately smell the wonderful smells of the ocean, and it gives the feeling that you are immersed in the sea, especially when you see the large underwater tanks with penguins swimming by. When we started our visit, there was a school party in attendance which meant that it was extremely busy and noisy but as soon as they left, we had the space and serentity to fully appreciate all that 'LIving Coasts' had to offer. A lady gave a very informative talk on the penguins and we got to see them get fed which was good fun. They were so close to us and had loads of character so the penguins were a definate highlight. We also saw seals, lots of sea birds, turtles and crabs aswell as many other creatures from the sea. The underwater tanks were great for seeing how graceful the seals and Penguins were underwater which is something you wouldn't usually see. We were very grateful for the sand pit and soft play area that was also provided as when our daughter started to play up (as most toddlers do!) this was the perfect remedy. She could of stayed in the sandpit all day and was happy just tinkering around while her dad had a well deserved rest! At the end of our visit we were looking forward to a nice cup of tea in the cafe overlooking the sea, but unfortunately they had stopped serving so I would advise visitors to go to the cafe early when its not peak season. We really enjoyed our visit here and the memories of the funny but graceful penguins will stay with us for a long time!

Living Coasts in Torquay Harbour is an interesting place to take children for a couple of hours, we took our children last year and they enjoyed it. It is right on the coastline itself and it gives children the opportunity to see the kind of wildlife that lives in the local area in a more personal setting. They have octopus and seals and visitors can get up close and personal with the penguins as they mingle amongst them during their feeding time. There is a nice café but we were also able to take our own food and have a picnic in the designated area they have for this.