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Standing beside the canals of the regenerated Brindleyplace district in the centre of Birmingham, the National Sea Life Centre is an aquarium that takes visitors on a journey through the underwater world, from the rivers and rock pools of Britain to tropical reefs and the open ocean. Opened in the 1990s and housed in a building designed by a celebrated architect, the attraction presents dozens of displays recreating a range of aquatic habitats, home to thousands of creatures including sharks, rays, sea turtles, penguins, seahorses, jellyfish and a great variety of fish and invertebrates. A highlight is the fully transparent underwater tunnel, claimed to be among the first of its kind in the country, which allows visitors to walk beneath the water as sharks, rays and shoals of fish glide overhead, offering an immersive perspective rarely possible elsewhere. The centre places strong emphasis on conservation and education, taking part in breeding and rescue programmes, caring for rescued sea turtles and using its displays to raise awareness of the threats facing the oceans, from pollution to overfishing. Interactive talks, feeding sessions and touch pools through the day bring visitors closer to the animals and their stories. Its central, canalside location makes it easy to combine with the shops, restaurants and other attractions of the surrounding area, and its indoor setting makes it a dependable choice whatever the weather. Tickets are cheaper booked online in advance for timed entry, and the centre welcomes families throughout the year across every season of the calendar. The rescued sea turtles cared for at the centre are a particular focus of its conservation work, and their stories help visitors understand the dangers that marine creatures face and the efforts being made to protect them. Daily talks and feeding sessions, delivered by knowledgeable staff, add depth to the displays and bring visitors closer to the animals and the issues affecting their wild counterparts. Set among the bars, restaurants and waterside walkways of one of the city's most attractive regenerated districts, the aquarium is easy to fold into a wider day out, and its sheltered, indoor nature makes it a dependable choice for families whatever the weather, drawing visitors of all ages throughout the year across the seasons of the calendar.