The Best Dinosaur Days Out In The UK For Dinosaur Lovers 2024
Our children have always had a thing about dinosaurs. Just when you think they’re past that phase, another Jurassic Park movie is released and they get right back into them!
Over the years we have really enjoyed taking them on all sorts of dinosaur days out in the UK. It was more about dinosaur trails when they were younger. Nowadays it is more about dinosaur exhibitions at museums. They just devour dinosaur facts.
We have come up with a list of our favourite UK dinosaur days out for families and it includes everything from animatronic dinosaurs at dinosaur parks to museums to dinosaur train rides and more.
These UK dinosaur attractions are a great day out for families.
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Here’s a quick rundown of the best dinosaur days out in the UK. We’ve also included links to the best dinosaur museums in the UK at the end of the post and added a few more new openings in 2024.
So – where are the best places to see dinosaurs in the UK?
These are the best dinosaur days out in the UK
We’ll start with dinosaur theme parks because this is where it all started with our kids. Who wouldn’t love a dinosaur themed theme park?
Dinosaur theme parks
1. Roarr Dinosaur Adventure
Roarr! Dinosaur Adventure! is the UK’s largest Dinosaur themed adventure park. They are located in Norfolk and their whole theme park is based on dinosaurs.
It is one of the best dinosaur attractions in the UK with a Valley of the Dinosaurs dinosaur trail with huge dinosaurs. There are also dino themed rides, dino themed play areas, dino themed crazy golf and a dino themed splash zone (don’t forget swimmers and a towel).
The dinosaur trail winds through a wooded area where you’ll find life-sized dinosaurs including a hugeBrachiosaurus. The kids will be wowed by the dinosaurs here, especially when they’re teeny tiny and the dinosaurs are towering over them!
During the year there are special events, usually coinciding with school holidays. At Halloween they have Dippy’s Halloween Days and they ocasionally have Dinos in the Dark when the park stays open until 10pm.
Ticket prices
Adults: £12.95
Children over 90cm: £12.95
Children under 90cm: FREE
Roarr Dinosaur Adventure Address: Roarr Dinosaur Adventure, Lenwade, Norwich, Norfolk, NR9 5JW.
Whilst you’re in Norfolk, you really need to check out some of their beautiful beaches. See here for our favourite family-friendly beaches in Norfolk and other great things to do in Norfolk with kids.
2. Combe Martin Wildlife and Dinosaur Park
Combe Martin Wildlife and Dinosaur Park is home to 700 dinosaur species as well as a life-sized T-Rex in the Dinosaur Domain & Valley of the Dinosaurs.
The Dino Express train takes you on a short ride through a dark tunnel to the caveman village where you’ll be in for a surprise when Dave the dinosaur sneezes!
There’s also a small dinosaur museum with real and replicas of eggs and dinosaur footprints. If the weather isn’t playing along, there’s a dinosaur themed indoor playzone.
Ticket prices
Adults (15+): £18.99
Children (3-15): £16.49
Children under 3: FREE
Address
Combe Martin, Ilfracombe, North Devon, EX34 0NG.
3. Hertfordshire Zoo (formerly Paradise Wildlife Park)
Hertfordshire Zoo is home to the amazing World of Dinosaurs which is one of the best animatronic dinosaur parks in the UK with 30 incredible life size moving dinosaurs.
Wandering around, you’ll get to see the dinosaurs in action. You can also take the Rex Express dinosaur train which will take you past more dinosaurs.
Kids will love the dinosaur dig in a huge sandpit where you can dig up dinosaur bones.
The main focus of Hertfordshire Zoo is its animals where you’ll find a huge selection of big cats, primates, reptiles and farm animals. There’s also an excellent playground.
There’s so much to do and within easy reach of London – it’s perfect for a day trip from London with kids.
Ticket prices
Adults (16+): £26.00
Children: £24.00
Children under 2: FREE
Hertfordshire Zoo Address
Hertfordshire Zoo, White Stubbs Lane, Broxbourne, Hertfordshire, EN10 7QA.
4. Knebworth House
Knebworth House is a beautiful country estate in Hertfordshire with lots to see and do including a fabulous play area (Fort Knebworth), giant slides and a maze as well as the house itself.
But it is the dinosaurs that our kids love to visit.
The dinosaur trail takes through a woodland area where you’ll find 72 life-sized dinosaurs with information boards.
Check What’s On at Knebworth to see their special events through the year. We’ve attended the Great British Food Festival, a hilarious Horrible Histories event and a lovely Christmas Fair.
Ticket prices
All: £13.00
Family of 4: £48.00
Children under 3: FREE
Address
Knebworth House, Old Knebworth Lane, Stevenage, Hertfordshire, SG1 2AX.
5. Paultons Park Lost Kingdom
Paultons Park is a theme park and home to Peppa Pig World and the Lost Kingdom dinosaur theme park.
There are Jurassic themed rides including 2 rollercoasters as well as a number of animatronic dinosaurs, some of which wander around the park.
There are dino themed play areas and family rides.
Your ticket gives you entry to everything at Paultons including the American theme park with more adventurous rides but still aimed at a younger crowd.
Ticket prices (includes Peppa Pig World)
Anyone over 1m: £43.50 (or £58.50 on the day).
Children under 1m: FREE
Address
Paultons Park, Ower, Romsey, Hampshire, SO51 6AL.
6. Restricted Area 5 at Blackgang Chine
Blackgang Chine is the oldest theme park in the UK. In their Lands of Imagination you’ll find Restricted Area 5 where you will get to meet life-sized moving dinosaurs.
There are 5 other lands of imagination at the park – Cowboy Town, Fairyland, Underwater Kingdom, Nurseryland and Pirate Cove.
Ticket prices
ALL: £15.00 or £24.50 during school holidays.
Children under 1m: FREE.
Address
Blackgang Chine, Ventnor, Isle of Wight, PO38 2HN.
7. Dino Park Dumfries
Dino Park at Hetland Garden Centre in Dumfries has 15 dinosaurs in the dinosaur park as well as lots more dinosaur related activities.
Hear dinosaur stories in the Dino Den, take a walk through the dark Dino Mine, bounce on the bouncy dinosaur or dig for fossils.
If the weather isn’t great, there’s also a dinosaur soft play centre.
Ticket prices
Adults (14+): £5.00
Children (2-14): £10.00
Children under 2: FREE
Address: Dino Park, Hetland Garden Centre, Carrutherstown, Dumfries, DG1 4JX.
8. Gullivers Dinosaur & Farm Park
Enter the Lost World at Gullivers and discover a land of dinosaurs and Jurassic themed activities.
As well as the dinosaurs, there are lots of rides and attractions and some farm animals to get up close and cuddly with.
Ticket prices
Adults: from £10.00 if booked in advance.
Children under 90cm: FREE
Address: Gulliver’s Land, Livingstone Drive, Newlands, Milton Keynes, MK15 0DT.
9. Dinosaur Kingdom at Landmark Adventure Park
Dinosaurs large and small have made their home at Dinosaur Kingdom. Walk among the 22 life like dinosaurs as they move and call to each other.
Enjoy the dinosaur fossil dig, play areas and interactive exhibitions throughout the park. It’s a great family day out in Scotland.
Ticket prices
Adults: £36.00
Children: £34.00
Children under 3: FREE
Address: Landmark Forest Adventure Park, Carrbridge, PH23 3AJ.
10. The Dinosaur Park Tenby
The Dinosaur Park in Tenby is a dinosaur-themed theme park aimed at younger children. There are lots of dinosaur-themed activities, like the Dinosaur Activity Corner where you’ll find an iSand box to create your own dinosaur habitat.
There’s also ‘Draw Alive’ where you can draw your own dinosaur and watch it come alive on a tv screen.
The dinosaur trail has over 30 dinosaurs to spot in lush settings as you wander along a woodland path and there are lots of other rides and attractions.
Ticket prices
Adults (15+): £17.95
Children (3-15): £16.50
Toddlers (aged 2): £11.50
Children under 2: FREE
Address
Great Wedlock, Gumfreston, Tenby, Wales, SA70 8RB.
11. Torquay’s Dinosaur World
Torquay’s Dinosaur World is home to full size and scaled dinosaurs and fossils. You can take part in the explorer quiz and sit on a deadly dinosaur.
Ticket prices
Aged 3+: £7.95
Children under 2: FREE
Address
Torquay’s Dinosaur World, 3 Victoria Parade, Torquay, Devon, TQ1 2BB.
12. Wingham Wildlife Park
Wingham Wildlife Park in Kent is predominantly an animal park but has a great Dinosaur park.
Take a look at their Dinosaur A-Z which gives some really informative information on each of their 23 dinosaurs.
Ticket prices
Adults: £22.00
Children (2-15): £19.00
Children under 2: FREE
Address
Wingham Wildllife Park, Rusham Road, Wingham, Canterbury, Kent, CT3 1JL.
Dinosaur Train Rides
First there were Santa Trains and Polar Express trains and then there were Halloween train rides. Now there are dinosaur themed train rides.
Here are a few places you can find them. Most of them are only temporary events occuring once or twice during the school holidays. Check their websites for more info.
- The Dino Squad at Mid Norfolk Railway
- Bucks Railway
- Spa Valley Railway
- East Lancashire Railway
- Hamerton Zoo
Remember there is also a dinosaur train at Hertfordshire Zoo.
More dinosaur days out in the UK
- Alton Towers – Andy’s Adventures Dinosaur Dig.
- Godstone Farm in Surrey – The World of Dinosaur Roar.
- Dinosaurs in the Park – new for 2024.
- Dinosaur Valley at Avon Valley Adventure & Wildlife Park.
- Dinosaurs at Edinburgh Zoo!
- Dating back to 1854, Crystal Palace Dinosaurs is the world’s first dinosaur park.
- Hoo Zoo in Shropshire.
- Dinosaur Adventure at Marsh Farm in Essex.
- Blair Drummond Safari Park in Stirling.
- Dinosaurs in Park – Manchester, Northampton and Bexley.
Dinosaur museums in the UK
There are lots of really great dinosaur museums in the UK including one of the best museums in the world – The Natural History Museum in London.
Amazingly this museum is free to visit and our kids have loved it since they were tiny.
Here are some of the best museums with dinosaur exhibits in the UK.
- The Natural History Museum (London). See also free activities in London for kids. Or take a look at this family guided tour of the dinosaurs.
- National Museum of Scotland (Edinburgh)
- Dinosaur Isle (Isle of Wight)
- New Walk Museum (Leicester)
- Lyme Regis Museum (Lyme Regis)
- Manchester Museum (Manchester)
- The Dinosaur Museum (Dorchester)
- World Museum (Liverpool)
- Yorkshire Museum (York )
- Oxford University Museum of Natural History (Oxford)
- Sedgwick Museum of Earth Sciences (Cambridge)
Other places to see dinosaurs in the UK
Surely nothing could beat finding your own dinosaur?!
OK, that may be a bit of a stretch but finding fossils is entirely possible. There are several places in the UK to go fossil hunting.
- Jurassic Coast in Dorset.
- Hunstanton Beach in Norfolk.
- Find footprints at An Corran beach on the Isle of Skye.
- Visit Hannover Point on the Isle of Wight for your very own fossil hunting.
Always check guidelines on fossil hunting beforehand.
We hope you’ve enjoyed our list of places to see dinosaurs in the UK.. If you have any more to add – let us know!