Zoo/Aquarium

New England Aquarium

Founded in 1969, Boston's public aquarium has answers ready for the parts of a family day that usually derail it: where to feed a baby, how far a stroller can go, and what to do when the noise gets too much for one child.

Typical visit

Ages

Booking

Advance reservations are strongly recommended if you are buying general admission tickets.

Strollers

Strollers are welcome in every part of the aquarium except some of Simons Theatre.

Food

The Harbor View Cafe serves sandwiches, pizza, grilled dishes, soups, salads and snacks.

Family restrooms

Two family/companion restrooms are on level 2, between the elevator and the Harbor View Cafe.

Sensory kits

Kits with noise-cancelling headphones, fidget tools and picture-communication cards can be collected at the Information Desk.

Wheelchair loan

Ticketed guests can borrow a wheelchair free of charge.

OUR FAMILY ASSESSMENT

Family Intelligence

Founded in 1969, the aquarium rewards a bit of planning more than it rewards improvising. Feeding a baby is welcome wherever a parent feels comfortable doing it, so nobody has to go hunting for a private corner first. The family and companion restrooms share a level with the cafe, which turns lunch and a nappy change into one detour instead of two trips across the building, and if someone in the family eats around an allergy, the cafe managers are the people who hold the ingredient information. The one thing to settle before you arrive is Simons Theatre: a stroller can go almost everywhere else, but not through all of the theatre, so agree in advance who carries the toddler and who keeps the seats.

Family FAQ

Can you bring a stroller to New England Aquarium?

Strollers are welcome in every part of the aquarium except some of Simons Theatre.

Where are the toilets at New England Aquarium?

Two family/companion restrooms are on level 2, between the elevator and the Harbor View Cafe.

Why kids will love it

Small children are not an afterthought here. Exhibits lean on oversized type, bold illustrations, photographs and diagrams rather than blocks of text, so a child who cannot read yet still gets something off the panel instead of tugging at a sleeve for a translation. The aquarium is also explicit that every part of it is open and accessible regardless of physical ability, which means a cousin using a wheelchair and a sister on foot do the same circuit rather than meeting up afterwards.