The Dinasour Museum
Britain's original award winning Dinosaur Museum located in Dorchester, the county town of Dorset, only 7 miles from the Jurassic Coast.
The only museum on mainland Britain dedicated to dinosaurs, the award-winning Dinosaur Museum is a treat, especially for children. The museum combines life-sized reconstructions of dinosaurs with fossils and dinosaur skeletons to create an exciting hands-on experience. Multimedia displays tell the story of the giant prehistoric animals and their enthralling world millions of years ago.
Life-size reconstructions - including the dinosaur T rex, Stegosaurus, and Triceratops - beg to be touched by little hands - that’s encouraged. Acclaimed as one of Britain's Top Ten Family Museums in 2006, the Dinosaur Museum is part of any Jurassic Coast experience.
The visitor immediately encounters a complete dinosaur skeleton of the famous meat-eating Megalosaurus, a Jurassic dinosaur, with its sickle-shaped claws and teeth, mounted over a set of very rare footprints made by that dinosaur.
Among the most of the dramatic displays are the awe inspiring life-size dinosaur reconstructions. There are two examples of T rex - one of the largest meat eating land animal ever; a Stegosaurus with its strangely shaped ridge of plates along its back; a Corythosaurus, one of the duckbilled dinosaurs and affectionately known as "Dina" by her many fans; and outside a Triceratops dominates the Museum's courtyard. They beg to be touched by little hands - and that is encouraged, as is the handling of some of the dinosaur fossils.
VISITORS INFORMATION:
OPENING TIMES - All year daily, including Sundays
From 9.30am to 5.30pm (10.00am to 4.30pm from November to March).
Closed 24-26 December inclusive.
| ADMISSION CHARGES |
| Adult |
£6.95 |
| Senior |
£5.95 |
| Student |
£5.95 |
| Child |
£5.50 |
| Family (2ad+2ch) |
£22.50 |
| Children under four |
Free |
Dinosaur School Party Rates-
For pre-booked groups of 15 or more:
Children £3.95
One adult is allowed with every ten children. Extra adults admission £4.95
FACILITIES - The ground floor of the Museum is accessible for people using a wheelchair (only one step with temporary ramp at the entrance).
The two upstairs galleries are inaccessible to wheelchair users and to compensate a concessionary rate is charged. Car parking and a wide range of catering establishments can be found within easy walking distance of the Museum. Toilets are available in the Museum.
THE DINOSTORE - The 'Dinostore' within the Museum is well stocked with a wide range of dinosaur toys, gifts and souvenirs.
There is an extensive dinosaur book section with a range of dinosaur titles for kids, schools, and adults. The Museum also has an excellent online shop.
SCHOOL VISITS - The Dinosaur Museum has an enviable reputation for its educational services.
The Museum is extremely popular with schools linking various topics to the study of dinosaurs.
Coach and Car Park : The nearest coach park is at the "Top of Town" roundabout, about 800 metres walk from the Museum. The closest car park is about 40 metres away. The main car parks are about 100 metres.
Getting to Dorchester by Road : Dorchester is centrally located on the intersection of the A35 and the A37 and is within comfortable reach of the M27, M3 and M5.
Getting to Dorchester by Rail : There are excellent rail links by Intercity on the Waterloo to Weymouth line stopping at Dorchester South. The Sprinter links Bristol to Dorchester West Station. The Museum is about 10-15 minutes walk from either station
Address:
Dinosaur Museum Icen Way,
Dorchester
Dorset
DT1 1EW