The London Aquarium may be close to the river, but its waters are teeming with life not seen in the Thames. There are more than 350 species housed in more than 50 separate displays, from an English stream to British coastal waters, rock pools to Caribbean reefs. It is one of Europe’s largest exhibitions of aquatic life, and holds a massive two million liters of water in its tanks. You are guided on an informative and well-presented path through a wide variety of aquatic habitats, all winding around the main feature of the aquarium, a giant glass tube that houses the big fish. No child can fail to be impressed as they find themselves nose to nose with a shark, or marvel at their efficient teeth at feeding time, held at 2:30 p.m. daily. Species on display in the Pacific Zone 9 include sandtiger, brown, zebra and nurse sharks. The exhibits are informative and entertaining, and there is a hands-on opportunity to pet the rays in their special shallow pool. It’s a damp and noisy space, and the sides are high for really tiny tots to see well, but lift them up and they can enjoy the fun of ray feeding time at 11:30 a.m. every morning. Or, stay dry and try to spot Nemo (clownfish) as they dart in and out of anemones in Zone 11. It’s a time-deceptive place to be, and afterward you emerge blinking in the daylight, suddenly realizing you’re hungry after a well-spent couple of hours of underwater fascination.