The Thames and the Venetian Grand Canal are at the hearts of London and Venice respectively, and their aquaria are good places to begin visits.
The Natural History Museum and Aquarium in Venice
The aquarium is near the heart of Venice, making it a good place to begin exploring, and my own recent weekend in Venice naturally included a trip there. It is true that I left this visit until the last day, but on reflection my advice to other tourists would be to begin at the museum. Vaporetti or Traghetto travel is fun, but equally importantly it rapidly introduces the visitor to canal transport and gives fabulous views of the city.
The London Aquarium
Right in the centre of London, and next to the London Eye – what better place to start? Getting there from the hotel will introduce the visitor to the ‘Tube’ system or the famous red London Bus (unless rich enough to go everywhere by taxi!). Visits to the aquarium and eye can be booked online in advance, so they provide a ‘safe’ starting point. Most places of interest are an easy walk from the aquarium, but simply getting there will have introduced the visitor to other modes of transport.
Comparing The Two Aquaria
London Aquarium has many different tanks and houses creatures from many different habitats worldwide, and is an ‘educational’ visit. The single (large) marine tank in Venice specialises in the fish of the lagoon, and provides a good introduction to the species that will be seen later in the fish-market and when eating out!
