TO celebrate the release of Jurassic World, here is a list we’ve compiled of dino-themed European destinations - a must for all those dinoasaur-loving kids (and their parents)
1. Natural History Museum, London
A great favourite with children, especially since it was revealed the CBeebies favourite, Andy's Dinosaur Adventures, was filmed there.
It is also home to one of the most extensive dinosaur collections in the world and the Natural History Museum was famous for its 26m long Diplodocus skeleton in the main hall, dubbed ‘Dippy’.
Recently, the museum decided to replace Dippy with a blue whale skeleton, but the dinosaur exhibits here are still well worth a visit. The museum can be easily reached by tube from London Victoria, which is served by trains from whole swathes of Southern England, as well as Gatwick Airport.
London Natural History Museum when Dippy was on display. Flickr: Mikel Ortega
2. Museum für Naturkunde Berlin, Germany
The Naturkundemuseum in Berlin is home to the largest mounted dinosaur in the world: the Brachiosaurus in the Dinosaur Hall.
It stands 12 metres tall and 24 metres long and dwarfs the Diplodocus skeleton next to it. The museum can be easily reached from Berlin Hauptbahnhof and Berlin Friedrichstrasse, both of which are served by trains from across Germany.
Berlin Museum für Naturkunde. Flickr: Indra Hajar
3. Solnhofen Limestone Beds Solnhofen, Germany
Archaeopteryx, one of the world’s most famous fossils ever discovered, as it showed evidence that dinosaurs were related to birds, was unearthed in Solnhofen, southern Germany in 1861.
Only 12 Archaeopteryx specimens have ever been excavated, all from the limestone beds found here. Regional trains stop on Solnhofen from nearby major cities such as Nuremberg.
Remains found in limestone at Solnhofen. Flickr: Luidger
4. Jurassic Coast Dorset and East Devon
Covering a distance of 155km between East Devon and East Dorset, the Jurassic Coast offers cliffs and coastline documenting nearly 200 million years of geological history.
As well as Jurassic-era fossils, those from the Triassic and Cretaceous periods can also be found. Complete your visit with a trip to The Dinosaur Museum in Dorchester. The train stations of Weymouth and Lyme Regis are well placed as start and end points.
Jurassic Coast, UK. Flickr: Andrew and Annemarie
5. Museu da Lourinha Lourinhã, Portugal
The Museu de Lourinhã houses fossils recovered from the Lourinhã Formation dating to the Late Jurassic Period.
Attractions include a large Theropod nest first discovered in 1993 at the beach of Paimogo. Eggs belonging to the dinosaur Lourinhanosaurus, some containing embryonic bones, are on display here. Lourinhã can be easily reached by buses from Lisbon.
Embryo remains at Museu da Lourinhã. Wikimedia; Ghedoghedo
6. Museo Jurásico de Asturias Asturias, Spain
Opened in 2004, The Jurassic Museum of Asturias is shaped like the footprint of a three toed dinosaur.
But its appeal doesn’t just stop at a nifty design; this museum contains the most comprehensive collection of fossilised footprints in the world, as well as a feathered reconstruction of a Velociraptor. The nearest major city of Gijón is just 50km away.
Remains in Museo Jurásico de Asturias, Spain. Flickr: Antonio L. Martin
5. Dinosaur Isle – Sandown Isle of Wight
The Isle of Wight is a treasure trove of dinosaur fossils and footprints and visitors can find many dinosaur remains along Compton Beach. Located on the other side of the island in Sandown, Dinosaur Isle boasts a geological collection which has grown since 1819.
The museum also organise fossil walks to nearby beaches. The Isle of Wight can be reached by ferry from Portsmouth or Southampton.
Image courtesy of Dinosaur Isle Museum, Sandown
8. Musée Parc de Dinosaures Mèze, France
This open-air museum in the Mèze, in the South of France is built around an extensive palaeontological site discovered in 1996.
Researchers are still active in the area, and visitors are treated to a mix of observing and hands-on learning. The cities of Sète, Montpellier and Béziers are all nearby.
Image courtesy of Musée Parc de Dinosaures
9. Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences Brussels, Belgium
The Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences in Brussels is most famous for its fossilised Iguanodon skeletons, discovered almost 150 years ago.
It also has the world’s largest museum hall entirely dedicated to dinosaurs. Brussels is well connected to the European rail network, with two major stations: Brussels North and Brussels Midi – the museum is to the east of both of them.
Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences. Flickr: The Integer Club
10. Dinópolis Teruel, Spain
Located in Teruel, almost equidistant between Madrid and Barcelona, Dinópolis consists of three main exhibition halls and a research laboratory.
It is one of the largest museums of palaeontology in the world and part of a chain of seven natural history museums scattered around the country.
T Rex on display at Dinópolis. Wikimedia: PePeEfe
It has already been leaked to the press so we may as well publish the "extract" on our own platforms.In the early hours of this morning (11th July) one of our cameras registered motion and started recording. The 20-30 second footage has not yet been verified by experts but it is causing somewhat of a stir to say the least.The film is being looked at by experts and until we hear differently, we are open for business as normal!!!!
Posted by dwl Stockton Heath on Saturday, 11 July 2015
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