14 Dinosaur Parks and Museums you need to visit in the UK

July 4, 2022
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14 Dinosaur Parks and Museums you need to visit in the UK

Looking to visit a dinosaur attraction this year? in this article we reveal the best dinosaur parks and museums in the UK!

Kids love dinosaurs and if you’re looking for the perfect family day out, a dinosaur-themed day out is the best choice. The parks have numerous animatronic dinosaurs allowing you to get up close to these prehistoric creatures. As you explore the park, you’ll discover a lot of information and details about where these giants lived and what they did.

Planning a dinosaur themed day out? We researched and found 14 dinosaur attractions in the UK.

1. Dinosaur Museum (Dorchester)

Location: Icen Way, Dorchester DT1 1EW

Opening times: 10am to 5pm, Monday to Sunday

The Dinosaur Museum in Dorchester is an award-winning attraction. Located 7 miles from the Jurassic Coast, it opened in 1984 and visitors loved its innovative approach to dinosaurs. As the town’s foremost attraction, it’s set in a converted Victorian schoolhouse at the centre of Dorchester.

Millions of visitors visit the Dinosaur Museum to see dinosaur skeletons, life-size contractions of the T-Rex, and much more. As you explore the museum, you’ll hear the sound and smell the breadth of a T-Rex.

You and your family will also learn from Richard Owen and Mary Anning, the pioneers of fossil discovery. Enhance your family’s day out by seeing and touching fossil displays. You can touch the eggs, dinosaur heads, teeth and much more.

Adult tickets go for £8.99 while children tickets cost £6.99. It’s free for under three and you don’t have to book a time.

2. Dinosaur Isle

Location: Culver Parade, Sandown PO36 8QA

Opening times: 10am to 4pm, Tuesday to Saturday

Another purpose-built museum is Dinosaur Isle. Designed by Rainey Petrie Johns, an architect from the Isle of Wight, the custom-built museum is in the shape of a giant pterosaur.

The museum has over 1,000 fossils. Your visit starts with a presentation of the different ecosystems. In this area, you’ll find the Pleistocene fossils plus the animatronic of an Ophthalmosaurus from Walking with Dinosaurs.

Outside the main room, the first Mesozoic animals including marine life are on display. The large central room has several life-size models such as the Iguanodon and Polacanthus.

On one of the walls, you’ll see reconstructions of heads of several pterosaurus including the holotype of an ornithocheirid. As a visitor, the museum will allow you to speak to resident palaeontologists and even watch them while they work.

Adult tickets cost £6 and for children, £5. You can get a yearly pass that goes for £15 for adults and £10 for children aged 3 to 15. For under-threes it’s free.

3. Roarr! Dinosaur Adventure

Location: Lenwade, Norwich NR9 5JE

Opening times: 10am to 5pm, Monday to Sunday

Set in 85 acres of woodland, the Roarr! Dinosaur Adventure is a themed adventure play park located in Lenwade. As an award-winning family attraction, the park offers true family fun adventures.

You can take a leisurely walk and hunt dinosaurs on the trail. Not only will you and your family enjoy the fresh air. But you can also hunt for raptors and other dinosaurs. Keep your eyes peeled for each dinosaur.

Another attraction where you can pit your wits against different trials is at the Lost World A-mazing. As you wander through the maze, you can listen out for bongos as you watch out for dinosaurs

The attraction has a 228 seat auditorium where you and your family can grab refreshments and watch a movie. You’ll also meet Dippy and friends or see a special themed performance.

Standard tickets for adults and children 90 cm+ go for £17.95 while for under three is free.

4. Dinosaurland Fossil Museum

Location: Coombe St, Lyme Regis DT7 3PY

Opening times: 10am to 4pm, Monday to Sunday

The Dinosaurland Fossil Museum is a private museum run by Steve Davis and Jenny, his wife. Located in a historic Grade I listed church building, it has a spectacular collection of Jurassic marine fossils. The 250-year-old church was where Mary Anning, an early fossil hunter, attended worship. Built by John Whitty between 1750 to 1755, the building has rusticated quoins and a hipped roof with a round-headed doorway.

As one of the best fossil collections in South West England, there are more than 16,000 specimens on permanent display. The museum has a large collection of Ichthyosaurs with highlights being the Langdon Ichthyosaur.

You and your family can also explore the Belemnite collection and see the variety of fossils discovered in Lyme. There is also a collection of Chinese dinosaurs ranging from dinosaur eggs to a 73 kg lump of dinosaur poo.

Admission to the museum is £6 for adults, £5 for children aged 5 to 16 and free for under-fives.

5. Knebworth House

Location: Old Knebworth Ln, Stevenage SG1 2AX

The Knebworth House is a Grade II listed English country house. Characterized by domes, gargoyles and turrets, the house achieved fame in Victorian times as the home of Sir Edward Lytton, a novelist.

Knebworth House sits on 28 acres of formal gardens that include fine trees, a maze and colourful borders. There is an exciting dinosaur trail in the Wilderness garden. Popular with families and young visitors, there are 72 life-sized dinosaurs you can find grazing among the shrubbery.

As you and your family explore the trail, you’ll get to learn about the Woolly Mammoth, T-Rex and other prehistoric creatures. Along the trail, there are information boards and even a huge chalkboard for creating caveman drawings.

Sadly, the Knebworth House dinosaur trail is temporarily closed. However, they will reopen in March 2022. Tickets for adults and children aged 3 to 16 will go for £11.50. For under-threes, it’s free.

6. Coombe Martin Wildlife and Dinosaur Park

Location: Combe Martin, Ilfracombe EX34 0NG

Opening times: 10am – 5pm

Coombe Martin Wildlife and Dinosaur Park is a family-run dinosaur park. Set in more than 28 acres of gardens, the park has a gigantic themed Dinosaur play zone. There are more than 7,500 square feet of rope bridges, tubes, slides, ball pools and much more that will keep your children entertained.

There are over 19 animatronic and static dinosaur models plus a life-sized model of a T-Rex. The park also has a dinosaur museum that holds real and replica fossils of more than 700 species of dinosaurs. Among the collection, you’ll also see dinosaur footprints and fossil eggs.

Besides fossils, the park has a wonderful collection of animals. You can find lions, penguins, pygmy goats, leopards, Bengal eagle owl, capybara and much more. There is a team of dedicated keepers to ensure the animals are well looked after.

7. Restricted Area 5 at Blackgang Chine

Location: Blackgang, Ventnor

Opening times: 10am – 4.30pm

The Restricted Area 5 at Blackgang Chine is one of the oldest theme parks. Set in over 40 acres of clifftop gardens, the park is home to life-size moving dinosaurs, gardens, rides and much more.

It’s divided into several lands of imagination such as Fairy Land, Cowboy Town, Nursery land and more. Each area has amazing attractions such as Sleeping Beauty Castle, Giant Hedge Maze, Victorian Water Gardens, and much more.

There is a lot to do at the park besides sightseeing. Your kids can become sheriffs and lock up outlaws in jail. They can discover life-sized moving dinosaurs, fight pirates on-board a ship and even become a fairy princess. With stunning sea views, the park has lots to offer for families.

Not only can you start your own adventure at the park. But you can make magical memories that will last generations. Tickets start from £50.

8. The Dinosaur Park Tenby

Location: 2 Gower View, Gumfreston, Tenby SA70 8RB

Opening times: 10.30am to 4pm, Tuesday to Saturday

Wander through the Dinosaur Park Tenby and come face to face with over 30 life-size dinosaurs. The park has Velociraptors, the mighty T-Rex and many more prehistoric creatures. As you explore the dinosaur trail, you’ll find these creatures lurking amongst the bushes and trees.

The park has a 12 hole dinosaur themed golf course. On this site, it’s believed that the early Welsh Palaeolithic man played golf.

Another must-visit attraction is the Dino’s Fun House, where there are games and other activities for the whole family to enjoy. They include Digiwall, Bag A Dino, Volcano Valley, Island Box, Big Game Hunting and much more. The park has a dinosaur-themed park for toddlers where they can play to their heart content. Tickets for adults go for £15.95 and £14.75 for children aged 3 to 15. For toddlers aged 2, the ticket costs £9.75.

9. Torquay’s Dinosaur World

Location: 3 Victoria Parade, Torquay TQ1 2BB

Opening times: 11am to 5pm, Monday to Sunday

Explore Torquay’s Dinosaur World, a fun and interactive indoor exhibition where you can see full size and scaled dinosaurs. Every display has lots of detail and information where you and your family will learn more about these prehistoric creatures. You will learn about the lives of these creatures and later, enjoy the exhibition’s Explorer Quiz.

There is plenty to do for younger kids. They can touch dinosaur skin prints, dig for fossils and play interactive games. The exhibition has a small craft room where kids can colour pictures and read dinosaur books.

Kids can also sit on some of the dinosaurs or put their heads between the jaws of the mighty T-Rex. The exhibition is on one level except for the mezzanine. Also, the park does not have its own café, but there are plenty of restaurants outside on Victoria Parade.

Tickets start from £6.95, and no booking required.

10. Wingham Wildlife Park

Location: Rusham Rd, Wingham, Canterbury CT3 1JL

Opening times: 10am to 6pm, Monday to Sunday

Set in over 26 acres of animal housing area, the Wingham Wildlife Park has over 200 species covering amphibians, mammals and much more. Opened in 1986, the park started with a small collection of birds. They added new animals to the collection including mammals, invertebrates, reptiles and fish.

At the Tropical House exhibit, you’ll find a variety of tropical plants. Covering 1100 square meters, the exhibit includes three ponds containing koi and goldfish. It also has a butterfly house and an enclosure with a variety of free-roaming birds.

Next is the Reptile House with over 46 species of reptiles. They include Gray monitors, dwarf crocodiles, rhinoceros iguanas and much more.

Mandrill Island is one of the two islands that act as a natural enclosure for the animals. As opposed to fencing, the park is using the water to contain a troop of mandrills. The island is home to a pair of black and white ruffed lemurs, ring-tailed lemurs and much more.

Wingham Wildlife Park Tickets for adults cost £19 and £16 for children aged 2 to 15.

11. Paultons Park Lost Kingdom

Location: Ower, Romsey SO51 6AL

Opening times: 10am to 5pm, Monday to Sunday

Enjoy an exciting family day out exploring Paultons Park Lost Kingdom. Home to a host of dinosaur attractions, the park has dinosaurs of all shapes and sizes. Set within 140 acres of beautiful parkland, there are five themed worlds. They include Tornado Springs, Lost Kingdom, Critter Creek and the main park.

The Lost Kingdom is one of its popular attractions. It has 27 animatronic dinosaurs of all shapes and sizes. You and your family can explore the Jurassic world and discover dinosaurs such as T-Rex, Triceratops and many more.

You can take a stroll through the Discover Trail, a wooded trail that weaves through marshes and trees. With interactive boards along the route, the trail provides an excellent opportunity to enjoy the fresh air.

The park has numerous attractions, including a dinosaur-themed play park for young children. It features slides, climbing frames, dinosaur footprints and a sandpit where kids can uncover rare fossils. Admission to the park costs £39.75.

12. Dino Park Dumfries

Location: Hetland Garden Centre, Carrutherstown, Dumfries DG1 4JX

Opening times: 10am to 4pm, Monday to Sunday

Discover a world of dinosaurs and other prehistoric creatures at Dino Park Dumfries. The park has a wide range of dinosaurs ranging from Stegosaurus, Brachiosaurus and the mighty T-Rex.

You can take a walk through the Dino Mine or visit the Gorilla and take a selfie while sitting on his hand. If you sneak past the life-size model of the T-Rex, the kids can start digging for fossils at the Dino Dig and later identify their finds.

The park has an indoor soft play area where kids can play, socialize and enjoy themselves. Since the play area is indoor, the weather will not ruin their fun. They can play all day until the park closes.

For snacks, head to Dino Bite and order food and refreshments. Just before leaving the park, visit the Dino Shop and get yourself some souvenirs.

13. Natural History Museum, London

Location: Cromwell Rd, South Kensington, London SW7 5BD

Opening times: 10am to 5.50pm, Monday to Sunday

The Natural History Museum in London is home to a collection of more than 80 million items. Housed in five main collections, they have a great historical and scientific value. Such items include Charles Darwin specimens, the exhibition of dinosaur skeletons and more.

At the Blue Zone, you can explore the museum’s world-famous dinosaurs. You can see the skull of a Triceratops, and meet the T-Rex. Other exhibits include the first skeleton of Iguanodon and the gigantic dinosaur Sclosaurus.

More dino fun for kids comes in the form of a sleepover at the museum. Called Dino Snore, it offers kids an opportunity to explore and adventure in the museum by torchlight. Kids also get creative at the dinosaur T-shirt workshop and learn more about dinosaurs at an educational science show.

At midnight, the kids settle down to sleep and wake up in the morning for an early breakfast before the museum opens to the public.

14. Gullivers Dinosaur and Farm Park, Milton Keynes

Location: Livingstone Dr, Milton Keynes MK15 0DT

Opening times: 11am to 5pm, Monday to Sunday

Explore the Lost World at Gullivers Dinosaur and Farm Park and discover a variety of dinosaurs. You can find the Giganotosaurus, the mighty T-Rex and 30 other animatronic dinosaurs. These tail thrashing dinosaurs are roaring and clawing all over the park. As you explore the Lost World, you can learn how the dinosaurs lived, what they ate and much more.

After the Lost World, head to the Jurassic River Ride and take a guided tour. As you travel through the deepest parts of the Lost World, try to spot as many dinosaurs as you can.

Next, you can drop by the Reptile and Bug centre to meet geckos, iguanas, snakes and many more. The centre is also home to creepy crawlies such as scorpions and tarantulas. For the best view of the park, head to the Observation Tower. While at the top, try to count how many dinosaurs you can spot.

Admission for under one year is free. Tickets for adults and children cost £9.

Final Words

The best dinosaur attractions in the UK provide a fun, interactive and educational environment. As you explore the park, you’ll discover animatronic dinosaurs hidden among the trees and bushes. Besides dinosaurs, there are rides, slides, play areas and arts and crafts activities. If you’re looking for a lovely wholesome day with your family, we recommend visiting dinosaur attractions in the UK.