Cardigan Bay Marine Wildlife Centre

Name: Cardigan Bay Marine Wildlife Centre
Address: Patent Slip Building, Glanmor Terrace,, New Quay, Ceredigion, SA45 9PS, GB

Cardigan Bay Marine Wildlife Centre is a free visitor centre in New Quay, dedicated to the conservation and education of the region’s marine wildlife since 1996. Housed in a heritage building on the slipway next to the RNLI lifeboat station, it’s the place to learn about the Cardigan Bay “Big 3”, bottlenose dolphins, harbour porpoises and Atlantic grey seals, alongside seasonal visitors like sunfish, basking sharks and the elusive leatherback turtle.

Inside, interpretative displays and microscopes explore local geology, pollution and sustainable fishing, and the volunteer team are always happy to answer questions. Children can hire a Borrow Bag to explore the local rock pools, and the gift shop stocks marine themed souvenirs and local crafts. The centre can also help you book a dolphin watching boat trip with Dolphin Survey Boat Trips. Dolphin activity increases from April through November, so it’s a great time to combine a centre visit with some wildlife spotting from the headland.

About Cardigan Bay Marine Wildlife Centre

Cardigan Bay Marine Wildlife Centre is a free, volunteer-run centre in New Quay, on the slipway by the RNLI lifeboat station, dedicated to marine conservation and education.

Prices

Entry to the centre is free, though donations are welcome and help keep it running alongside profits from the small gift shop. There’s no on-site parking, but several public car parks are signposted around New Quay, costing around £4 a day.

FAQs

Is the centre free to visit? ▼

Yes, entry is completely free, though donations are appreciated to help support the centre's conservation work.

When's the best time to see dolphins? ▼

Bottlenose dolphins visit New Quay harbour throughout the year, but activity picks up noticeably from April through to November.

Is there parking nearby? ▼

There's no on-site parking at the centre, but several public car parks are signposted around New Quay, costing roughly £4 a day.

Can we book a boat trip from the centre? ▼

Yes, the centre can help you book onto a dolphin watching boat trip with their colleagues at Dolphin Survey Boat Trips.

What can children do at the centre? ▼

Alongside the interactive displays and microscopes, children can hire a Borrow Bag to take rock pooling, complete with equipment and information to help them discover the local coastal wildlife.

If Cardigan Bay Marine Wildlife Centre sounds like your kind of place, we’ve plenty more suggestions to add to your family days bucket list, take a look at our full guide to animal attractions in West Wales for more family friendly options across the region. Don’t forget to add it to your calendar, and check our What’s On West Wales guide for more days out ideas.