No sea change, but the sharks make it

"Will Barack Obama be there? Is he still in London?" asked nine-year-old George. I told him the president had probably been around enough sharks on his visit and would not be at the reopening of the capital's aquarium.

The £5million refit has seen several changes, most notably a glass tunnel under the tropical tank and a floating glass walkway above the sharks. And yet at first glance, not a lot seems to have changed in the depths of the former County Hall building.

George assured me there used to be a yellow car filled with fish that was no longer there, and halfway round even he said: "Are you sure they've redone it?"

You used to be able to stroke the stingrays but apparently hordes of children imparted such horrible diseases on the poor fish it's been banned. Instead you get to touch a solitary star fish, which four-year-old Joe pronounced "soft".

Nevertheless, there was much "look at this!" squealing between our three children, and once under the tunnel, the awe factor set in as they watched some of the 25 tropical species glide over their heads.

There are masses of educational videos and notices, but in reality it's the shark walkway that makes it worth the £15.25 entry fee.

So what was the verdict? "It was brilliant," enthused George. "Quite good," said the ever inscrutable seven-year-old Alice.

"Scary," concluded Joe. "I don't like sharks."