Cool Place of the Day: The Deep, Hull

Every day, a new place to discover or explore, from coolplaces.co.uk

The Deep: Sharks swim right above you in Europe's deepest viewing tunnel

Must-see sights in Hull? Well, it’s not a huge list. But next year’s city of culture packs a few pleasant surprises within in its ancient streets, starting with The Deep, an iconic glass and aluminium aquarium overlooking the Humber estuary. It made an immediate statement about city regeneration when it opened in 2002, and has proved immensely popular, with over 300 other species on show, in two-and-a-half million artfully contained litres of water.

Most big public aquariums seek some kind of distinction and Hull's is no different, billing itself as "the world's only submarium". What this means in practice is an up-close-and-personal acquaintance with creatures you really shouldn't be up close and personal with, such as sharks, rays and green sawfish, which swim right above you in Europe's deepest (9-metre) viewing tunnel.

Various underwater habitats lift the lid on the story of the world's oceans and river systems, from Amazon to ice shelf – 'for conservation, not profit' is another of The Deep's taglines, and there's a strong educational and marine research side to its displays and activities. Which is basically something you forget entirely the minute you clap eyes on the divers in with the rays and clown fish (every day at 2pm) or rise through the 10-metre-high Endless Oceans tank in the glass lift. A very cool place.

Cool Places is a new website from the creators of Rough Guides and Cool Camping, suggesting the best places to stay, eat, drink and shop in Britain (coolplaces.co.uk)