Huge moving dinosaurs debut in the UK and draw record crowds

The Great Dinosaur Experience – one of the most ambitious and technically complex temporary exhibitions staged at Newcastle’s Life Science Centre (Life) – has delivered record-breaking visitor numbers since opening.

Developed by Dinosaurios Mexico, and making their UK debut, the experience brings together 25 dinosaurs, the majority of which are animatronic, including a 9 metre long, 3 tonne roaring Tyrannosaurus rex.

The majority are housed in a purpose-built 350 sq. metre ‘enclosure’, roughly the size of one and a half tennis courts, while visitors are invited to become ‘Dino Rangers’, following a centre-wide created trail to locate a number of escaped dinosaurs and crack a code to secure the enclosure.

Delivering an exhibition of this scale within a short three-month timeframe presented a significant operational challenge. It required rapid planning, international collaboration and complex on-site installation that included the removal of doors and walls.

The dinosaurs arrived in the UK at the start of the year and were held in storage before making their journey to the science centre in early March. Transported on flatbed trucks, the huge prehistoric models drew plenty of attention as they travelled through the city.

Life worked closely with partners, including design company AFSB Associates, to transform a former conference and events space into the immersive ‘Big Dino Den’.

Specialist lighting was installed and set design added to create an atmospheric experience.

A team of technicians from Mexico were also on hand to facilitate the process.

The new experience opened just weeks after Life scooped double gold at The Destination North East Tourism Awards, winning the Best Large Visitor Attraction and Accessibility and Inclusion categories.

The Great Dinosaur Escape is included with general admission to the science centre. For more information visit life.org.uk