Welcome
Welcome to The Deep, Hull’s award winning aquarium, offering a great family day out for visitors with access or additional needs.
Home to a whopping 3,500 fish including Green sawfish, spectacular sharks, rays, Loggerhead turtles and a colony of Gentoo penguins. We aim to deliver excellent service to all visitors and continually strive to improve and provide a quality experience for all. We are committed to accessibility for all visitors, we are continually updating and adding to our wide range of tools and information to ensure an accessible family day out.

Level access
There is level access from the main entrance to:
Awakening Seas/ Timeline Lagoon of LightEndless Ocean, Slime, Changing Seas and Amazon Flooded Forest Cool Seas - UNDERGOING REFURBISHMENTKingdom of IceDeep Blue One Underwater TunnelReception deskChanging Places - Ground FloorGround Floor ToiletsLearning Centre CorridorFirst Floor ToiletsThird Floor ToiletsThird Floor Cafe Deepartment store (gift shop)Hearing
Visual
General
Getting here
Travel by public transport
The Deep is easily accessed via bus or car. For up to date information on bus timetables from Hull Interchange to The Deep please call Traveline on 0871 200 22 33 open daily from 8am - 8pm (calls to Traveline cost 10p per minute, plus any charges your network provider makes). Train times into Hull can be found via National Rail.
Travel by taxi
Parking

Arrival
Path to main entrance
Main entrance
The Deep has an dedicated accessible entrance which it situated towards the front of the building. The doors at this entrance are wider and operate on automatic opening. Once inside, visitors are directed to a dedicated accessible ticketing/information desk.

Getting around inside
Lift
Main lifts

Lift to Observatory
Bubble Lift

Wheelchair Lift

Ticket/ information desk
Reception desk
There is a low desk for wheelchair users situated to the left hand side of the reception desk, based within the accessibile till point area.
Things to See and Do
Awakening Seas/ Timeline
This zone is dark so that lights from the interactive stations can be more visible. There are also sound effects played throughout from the displays and interactive stations.
During Quiet Day or Tranquil Tuesday sessions, the lights in this area are brighter, and sounds are turned down.
Lagoon of Light
The Lagoon of Light is brightly lit with few sound effects. The tank is open topped and at a lower level with clear acrylic sides so is very easy to see into for those in a seated/lower down position. During peak periods space in front of the display may become busy.
There are presentations delivered in this zone throughout the day via microphone, which increases the noise level.
There are iPad stations that contain information about animals, which can 'flash' on occasion.
Seating is provided in this area in the form of wooden 'bleachers' of different heights. These are in direct view of the display, however during peak periods the view may be obscured by visitors on the main thoroughfare.
This zone is also home to Dylan's Discovery Corner, a tactile area which hosts an interactive floor, fossil brushing station, artifact handling with our Guiding team and sensory objects.
The interactive floor area is smaller and may be difficult to access with mobility aids.

Endless Ocean, Slime, Changing Seas and Amazon Flooded Forest
This area of the attraction is open-plan so all these zones are within the same area.
These zones are darker and generate noise from sound effects and the film shown on the large projector. Additionally, there are presentations delivered via a microphone in this area which can enhance the noice levels, due to the open plan nature of the exhibition the noise can carry and appear louder.
During Quiet Day/ Tranquil Tuesday sessions, the lights are brighter and the sounds turned down.


Cool Seas - UNDERGOING REFURBISHMENT
This zone is very dark and has sound effects, voice overs and music playing on a loop. Displays are lit appropriately to the natural habitat of the animals.
During Quiet Day's/ Tranquil Tuesday sessions the lights in this area are brighter and sounds are turned down.

Kingdom of Ice
This zone is lit by blue-toned lighting and is 'corridor-style'. Noise is generated through video played in this area. There are two ice walls on the left hand side that can be touched, to the right is an area that plays a video which can be viewed via tv-sized gaps at two different heights.
At the end of this zone is the penguin exhibit. This area has large windows which allow viewing from a seated position, however during very peak periods this area can become crowded. On occassion there may be presentations given via a microphone which creates additional noise.
During Quiet Day and Tranquil Tuesday sessions sound effects are turned down.
Deep Blue One
This zone is accessed via a walkway which bears illuminated rainbow-coloured lighting that changes every few seconds but does not flash. The zone is moderately lit and omits noise from a video playing on a loop and general sound effects, which can be loud.
The exhibits are stationed around the outer of the zone.

Underwater Tunnel
The tunnel goes through our 10m deep Endless Oceans exhibit and leads to a corridor where visitors can take the scenic stairs or the bubble lift through Endless Oceans.

Spectator/ Audience viewing areas
Public toilet
Changing Places - Ground Floor
The Changing Places facility is situated on the ground floor, past the reception desk. It can be accessed using a RADAR key or ask a member of our team for assistance.

Public toilet
Ground Floor Toilets
This facility is on the ground floor, past the reception desk.
Public toilet
Learning Centre Corridor
These toilets are on the ground floor, along the corridor, on the right from the main reception area.These toilets are used by school groups in term time and can be busy and noisy.
Public toilet
First Floor Toilets
Public toilet
Third Floor Toilets
Shop
Deepartment store (gift shop)
The gift shop is located on the ground floor which is usually passed through to get to The Deep's main exit, however visitors can choose to exit via the accessible entrance if they would prefer not to visit the gift shop.
There are a variety of products available at varying heights on display - including breakable items.
Place to eat and drink
Third Floor Cafe
Our cafe has tables that are at a raised height to allow wheelchair access. Should a person with access requirements need assistance in collecting/purchasing their meal they should speak to a member of catering team on arrival to the cafe area. Vegetarian and a small number of gluten free options are offered as standard, other dietary options can be catered for on request when possible.

Getting around outside
Outdoor Picnic Area
The tables in the outdoor picnic area are static wooden benches, a wheelchair can be seated at either end.
Picnic Area
Indoor Picnic Area
This picnic area is situated within the exhibition space on the first floor. It is comprised of moveable table and chairs, so a wheelchair can be seated where required.
Customer care support
The Deep offers complimentary use of wheelchairs, mobility scooters, rollators, ear defenders, audio guides and literature in alternative formats such as braille and large print. Mobility aids can be booked in advance with the exception of mobility scooters.
Emergency evacuation procedures
Customer care support