The controversial indoor gentoo penguin exhibit at Sea Life London Aquarium will close, with the attraction’s 14 birds to be merged with 17 gentoos in Birmingham and moved into a purpose-built outdoor habitat in 2028, the operator has confirmed.
What is changing
Merlin Entertainments, which owns both aquaria, said work on an "enhanced" enclosure at the National Sea Life Centre, Birmingham will begin in 2027 and that the animals will relocate in 2028. The new habitat will provide natural light, seasonal weather variation and substantially more space than the current London and Birmingham enclosures.
The company said the new site will include land and water areas "anticipated to be double the size of those in the existing London habitat, along with a longer pool" and an expanded "deep end" offering "over three times the space currently provided in both London and Birmingham."
Background and pressure that led to the decision
The move follows a sustained campaign by animal welfare groups including Freedom for Animals and the Born Free Foundation, together with interventions from MPs and public pressure over the London birds' lack of access to natural light and fresh air. Campaigners had long described the indoor exhibit as unsuitable for species accustomed to outdoor environments.
"Common sense and compassion have prevailed," said campaigners after the announcement.
Merlin previously agreed to merge the two groups of birds into a single colony and to end the breeding of gentoo penguins at its UK facilities. The company has now provided further details about the planned habitat and the timetable for delivering it.
Design and conservation ambitions
Merlin said the habitat has been designed in collaboration with an expert in wild penguins and will aim to create a "dynamic and complex environment with seasonal variations both above and below the water for the animals, reflecting aspects of natural weather conditions". The operator also indicated the facility will pursue research activity to support gentoo conservation in the wild.
| Current London penguins | 14 |
|---|---|
| Current Birmingham penguins | 17 |
| Construction start | 2027 |
| Planned relocation | 2028 |
Reaction from campaigners and public interest
Representatives from the Born Free Foundation and Freedom for Animals welcomed the announcement as the culmination of discussions with the attraction. The groups said the decision reflected a shift in how captive environments for species like gentoo penguins should be conceived, placing greater emphasis on natural conditions and animal welfare.
There has been sustained media attention in London over the exhibit, where critics noted the birds had no access to daylight or fresh air. The decision to relocate the birds to a site with natural light will be seen by many campaigners as a substantial concession.
Practical implications and next steps
Merlin Entertainments said it will submit formal planning proposals to the local authority for the Birmingham development. Subject to approval, construction is due to start in 2027. The company also stated it will not breed or import gentoo penguins for its UK facilities, making the current birds the last generation held by the company in Britain.
- London's indoor gentoo enclosure will close ahead of relocation in 2028.
- Work on a larger outdoor habitat in Birmingham is due to begin in 2027.
- Merlin has committed to end gentoo breeding and imports at its UK sites.
The announcement closes a contentious chapter for a central London visitor attraction, while setting a timetable for change that will require planning and construction work outside the capital. For Londoners who have visited the aquarium, the change marks the end of an exhibit that drew sustained criticism; for Birmingham, it promises a new, larger home for a combined colony with research ambitions aimed at supporting wild populations.
Further details, including planning documents and the precise design proposals, will be made available when Merlin submits its application to the relevant local authority.
