You’ll find incredible dinosaur adventures across the UK, from Leicester’s New Walk Museum with AR experiences to the Isle of Wight’s Europe-richest collection featuring life-sized models. London’s Natural History Museum offers free entry to see roaring T. rex exhibits, while Dorchester’s hands-on fossil digging captivates young explorers. Don’t miss Hertfordshire Zoo’s 40+ animatronic dinosaurs, West Midlands Safari Park’s prehistoric trail, York’s Jurassic treasures, Oxford’s Victorian fossil halls, or Edinburgh’s Dynamic Earth. Discover what makes each destination uniquely thrilling for your family expedition.
- New Walk Museum, Leicester – Home to Ancient Giants and the World’s Oldest Fossils
- Dinosaur Isle, Isle of Wight – Europe’s Premier Dinosaur Discovery Destination
- Natural History Museum, London – World-Class Dinosaur Exhibits With Free Entry
- Dinosaur Museum, Dorchester – Interactive Prehistoric Adventures for Young Explorers
- World of Dinosaurs, Hertfordshire Zoo – Life-Size Animatronic Trail Experience
- Land of Living Dinosaurs, West Midlands Safari Park – Prehistoric Trail With Fossil Digging
- Yorkshire Museum, York – Jurassic Coast Treasures and Marine Reptiles
- Oxford University Museum of Natural History – Victorian Architecture Meets Prehistoric Wonders
- Dynamic Earth, Edinburgh – Journey Through Time and Prehistoric Landscapes
- The Sum Up
New Walk Museum, Leicester – Home to Ancient Giants and the World’s Oldest Fossils
When you step into Leicester’s New Walk Museum, your kids’ eyes will light up as they encounter the massive Rutland Dinosaur—a spectacular Cetiosaurus specimen that towers over visitors in the newly transformed Dinosaur Gallery.
Your family can explore prehistoric worlds through hands-on interactives and augmented reality experiences that bring dinosaurs to life before your eyes.
Download the free ‘Meet Leicester’s Dinosaurs’ app to view these ancient giants in real-world settings like local parks.
Your children will love the dinosaur quiz and sharing photos with #MeetLeicestersDinosaurs.
The gallery showcases impressive specimens including Barrow Kipper, Neovenator, and Coelophysis alongside the star Cetiosaurus. You can also purchase special dinosaur postcards from the museum shop that unlock additional AR content when scanned with the app.
Visit Monday-Friday 11am-4:30pm or weekends until 5pm, with free parking available nearby.
Dinosaur Isle, Isle of Wight – Europe’s Premier Dinosaur Discovery Destination
Perched dramatically over Sandown Bay on the Isle of Wight, Dinosaur Isle’s distinctive pterosaur-shaped building houses Europe’s richest dinosaur collection in what was the UK’s first purpose-built dinosaur museum.
You’ll discover life-sized models of famous local dinosaurs like Neovenator and Iguanodon, plus interactive exhibits where kids can touch real bones and fossils.
The museum’s 300,000 specimens include nearly every newly discovered UK dinosaur, with animatronic displays that bring prehistoric creatures to life. Exhibits feature fossils from Ice Age mammals, ammonites, molluscs, and insects spanning millions of years of natural history.
Your children can watch paleontologists clean fossils in the open lab and join pre-booked fossil hunts on the beach.
The family-friendly indoor exhibits work perfectly for any weather, making this UNESCO Biosphere Reserve location ideal for young dinosaur enthusiasts seeking hands-on prehistoric adventures.
Natural History Museum, London – World-Class Dinosaur Exhibits With Free Entry
Located in London’s prestigious South Kensington, the Natural History Museum houses one of the world’s most important dinosaur collections with completely free entry—making it an unbeatable destination for families exploring prehistoric life.
You’ll discover the roaring animatronic T. rex that’s captivated visitors since the mid-1990s, plus fascinating displays including Triceratops skulls and the most complete Stegosaurus named Sophie. Your kids can touch real fossils, tackle interactive gallery quizzes, and explore over 300 dinosaurs through the engaging Dino Directory.
Don’t miss Archaeopteryx in the Treasures Gallery—crucial evidence linking dinosaurs to birds. The museum’s collection spans 240-66 million years, featuring remarkable specimens like Baryonyx walkeri and the newly revealed Enigmacursor mollyborthwickae. This small herbivore from the Late Jurassic period represents the most complete specimen of its kind and is now on permanent display at the museum.
Book your free entry tickets online and use the step-free Cromwell Road entrance for easy access.
Dinosaur Museum, Dorchester – Interactive Prehistoric Adventures for Young Explorers
While London offers world-renowned collections, Britain’s original dinosaur museum awaits just seven miles from Dorset’s famous Jurassic Coast. You’ll find The Dinosaur Museum housed in a charming Victorian schoolhouse in central Dorchester, where your kids can walk among life-size T. rex and Stegosaurus reconstructions.
This hands-on attraction encourages touching rather than just looking. Your young explorers can dig for replica fossils in the excavation sandpit and discover how dinosaurs felt, looked, and even smelled through multisensory exhibits. Children can learn about fossil discovery pioneers like Mary Anning and Richard Owen who shaped our understanding of prehistoric life.
Activity sheets guide children through galleries featuring real fossils, skeletons, and prehistoric mammals.
Plan 1-2 hours for your visit. At £14 per adult and £10 per child, it’s pricier but offers focused dinosaur immersion perfect for enthusiastic young paleontologists.
World of Dinosaurs, Hertfordshire Zoo – Life-Size Animatronic Trail Experience
Step into Britain’s most spectacular dinosaur adventure at World of Dinosaurs, where over 40 life-size animatronic beasts roam acres of natural woodland at Hertfordshire Zoo. You’ll encounter towering Brachiosaurus, mighty roaring T-Rex, and cunning Velociraptors along winding trails designed for easy family navigation.
Your kids will love the interactive Dino Dig area for hands-on exploration and the UK’s first free-roaming robotic baby dinosaurs that appear during weekends and holidays. These playful little ones jump, wave, and squeak as they pop up unexpectedly throughout your journey. Each of the four Little Dinos has its own distinct personality, from the gentle long-necked Diplodocus to the bouncy spiky Ankylosaurus that loves exploring every corner.
Don’t miss the Rex Express train ride through the prehistoric landscape. Open daily from 9:30am with summer entry until 5:15pm, this educational adventure perfectly blends thrills with Mesozoic learning for young paleontologists.
Land of Living Dinosaurs, West Midlands Safari Park – Prehistoric Trail With Fossil Digging
Journey further north to discover the UK’s largest animatronic dinosaur attraction at West Midlands Safari Park, where Land of Living Dinosaurs has been thrilling families since 2015. You’ll walk through an immersive prehistoric trail featuring life-sized Stegosaurus, Triceratops, Ankylosaurus, and a roaring Tyrannosaurus Rex with realistic sounds that’ll make your kids jump with excitement.
The real hands-on fun happens at the fossil digging station, where little paleontologists can uncover prehistoric treasures. This interactive experience perfectly complements the animatronic adventure, giving children a chance to discover fossils themselves.
Don’t miss the adjacent Ice Age exhibit featuring massive mammoths and other prehistoric beasts. These displays provide valuable educational insight into how these magnificent creatures lived during prehistoric eras.
As part of the all-weather Safari Walk, you’ll enjoy a complete prehistoric adventure that combines education with thrilling entertainment.
Yorkshire Museum, York – Jurassic Coast Treasures and Marine Reptiles
Don’t miss “Alan the Dinosaur” – Yorkshire’s oldest sauropod vertebra – and the virtual reality experience where children can feed digital dinosaurs.
Ground-breaking CGI and LED lighting bring ancient seas to life, making this included museum attraction perfect for curious young explorers. The fossil dates back to the Middle Jurassic period, between 174.1 and 170.3 million years ago.
Oxford University Museum of Natural History – Victorian Architecture Meets Prehistoric Wonders
Don’t miss the 400,000 fossil collection** and interactive displays** explaining Oxfordshire’s “dinosaur highway” discoveries.
Best of all, entry’s completely free, making this Victorian masterpiece perfect for budget-conscious families seeking educational adventure. The museum showcases findings from the Middle Jurassic Period, including hundreds of footprints discovered at nearby Dewars Farm Quarry.
Dynamic Earth, Edinburgh – Journey Through Time and Prehistoric Landscapes
The location itself adds authenticity—you’re positioned at the foot of Arthur’s Seat, an extinct volcano that erupted 342 million years ago. Kids can examine three billion years of Scottish geological history on outdoor rock slabs. Then head inside for earthquake simulations and volcano experiences.
Don’t miss the “Dynamos: Jurassic Fantastic” family programming featuring real Triceratops teeth handling. The journey begins with the Big Bang theory and takes visitors through Earth’s complete formation and evolution story.
The Sum Up
You’ll discover Britain’s incredible prehistoric world across these nine fantastic destinations. Whether you’re digging for fossils on the Isle of Wight or walking among animatronic giants in Hertfordshire, each location offers hands-on adventures that’ll spark your curiosity. Don’t forget to pack a camera for those T-Rex selfies and comfortable shoes for exploring. Most museums offer family discounts and special kids’ activities, so check their websites before visiting for the best deals!
