Dinosaurs In The Wild – A Surreal Experience

A couple of weeks ago we were invited to review Dinosaurs in the Wild. We were so worried that we were not going to make it on time because we missed our Ferry from France the day before and had to book an overnight ferry so we actually arrived back in the UK on the Sunday morning we had this review. We travelled all the way from Portsmouth to London and then we took the Jubilee line straight to North Greenwich underground to arrive for our 12 pm slot! We rushed but we made it on time… Hurrah!

My girls, like I’m sure most kids would be, were super excited about seeing some dinosaurs. They were so intrigued by the whole experience and were very eager to arrive to find out what it was all about.

GETTING THERE

Dinosaurs in the Wild is a 10-minute walk from North Greenwich tube station, which is on the Jubilee Line. For us, this was a straightforward journey and we were there after 40 minutes travel in the tube. You can see signs around the tube station which makes it easier for you to find the venue. We took a bus from the station to the venue which was one stop away.

ARRIVING AT DINOSAURS IN THE WILD

As soon as we arrived, we were kindly greeted by a lovely lady who explained a little bit about what we could expect to see. She asked us to wait for our slot on a seated area where another lady would take us to our queue when it was time.

They told us that there were no toilets during the show so we had to go before it started. The duration of the show is about 70 minutes so bear this in mind if you think your little ones will need the loo during that time.

WHAT IS DINOSAURS IN THE WILD

Before I start telling you all about our experience, I bet you might be wondering, what exactly Dinosaurs in the Wild is. Well, it is an exhilarating time-travelling adventure that whisks you back to the deep past to meet living dinosaurs. For the first time, you’ll see for yourself what life was really like 67 million years ago, in the Late Cretaceous Period.

It is a unique mix of theme park and theatre, combined with breath-taking 3-D views of dinosaurs in their natural environment and the very latest scientific knowledge about these amazing animals. It is like an ultimate safari where you’ll see mighty dinosaurs such as Tyrannosaurus and Triceratops roaming free in their natural environment.

This exciting and immersive experience is based on the Greenwich Peninsula in London. It is 100% lead by scientific consultancy and their dinosaurs are created through a scientist’s factual understanding of how they looked, it aims to be both entertaining, immersive and educational.

WELCOME AREA

As soon as our slot began, we were taken to a welcome area where we were told all about the history of Chronotex Enterprises, about time travel as well as about the man who discovered it. Chronotex Enterprises is a pioneering company that invented time travel. It runs Dinosaurs in the Wild tours to TimeBase 67, a scientific research station that it has built in the late Cretaceous Period, 67 million years ago.

The girls were interested and curious listening to the story and they were super excited to be going into a time travel machine! We were also given 3D glasses to use while at the travel machine.

TIME TRAVEL MACHINE

We were then separated into 2 groups and taken into one of the time machines. The girls couldn’t believe what was going on. This takes place within an enclosed, but relatively large, seated space that features rotating lights and, briefly, loud noises. You are always with a guided tour person who explains what is going to happen.

We travelled back 67 million years! Amazing right? We put our 3D glasses on so we were able to see from a screen what was around us. After we arrived in the late Cretaceous Period, the time machine converted to a rugged land vehicle for a hazardous and thrilling drive across Cretaceous plains, looking out across herds of dangerous, boisterous dinosaurs, to reach TimeBase 67, their incredible scientific research station.

TIMEBASE 67

As soon as we reached at TimeBase 67, we disembarked. This research station, which Chronotex Enterprises built 67 million years back in time is where their brave scientists study dangerous dinosaurs.

This place was fantastic! So many details and information around. They had screens all over the place showing different parts of the station.

LABS

We were then taken for a tour of their laboratories where we were able to get ‘hands on’ with things. OMG, this place was amazing with so much attention to detail. They have created this whole space in such an immaculate way that you really believe you are back in time researching dinosaurs.

We witnessed their scientists’ extraordinary studies of dinosaurs. Our expert guide showed us all the equipment and let us have a look around for ourselves. They had a live Alamosauraus heart that was beating inside a big transparent tank! It was great!

We also got the chance to get our hands on some real dinosaur poo! I didn’t do this but the girls wanted to feel it straight away! It was actually very cool. We also had the chance to touch real dinosaurs’ bones. Bella was so impressed! It was certainly unique! They had so much going on in that lab, you could stay there for hours reading all the labels and information.

Dinosaur Autopsy

Dinosaur Eggs Hatch

Young Dinosaurs in cages

Next to this room, they were doing a dinosaur autopsy! This was very cool too! Little Sienna was taking all of this information in! She was a little bit scared and confused but carried on exploring. The next room had young dinosaurs in cages and we also got to see hatchlings emerging from eggs. We were so lucky to see a super cute baby dinosaur. The girls loved this.

THE LOOKOUT

The next part of the experience was the highlight of the show because we got to get inside the Lookout. This area had huge windows providing the most enthralling panoramic views of the dinosaur and prehistoric life teeming around TimeBase 67. This was surreal!

The views here were incredible. We had to use our 3D glasses again. The show brings the giant creatures of the late Cretaceous to life all around you and reflects realistic animal behaviour. We experienced the fiercely competitive prehistoric world of the hunter and the hunted.

The dinosaurs looked very real, some are large and noisy, and they occasionally engage in battle and prey on other creatures. We got closer to dinosaurs than we ever imagined possible! It was a surreal experience. The girls really had a great time.

We also got to see an emergency situation with the dinosaurs that was really well performed. At the end of the show, we went through a dramatic and exciting exit, which I won’t give too much information away otherwise I will spoil the experience for you. But it included moving us through some darkened and noisy areas. This was a bit scary for our girls and more so for Sienna. She didn’t know what was going on and wanted to be carried. I heard a few little ones crying because this part was really scary!

We were with our guides all the time, who explained what is going on and you know everything is fine but it can be difficult to explain this to a 3-year-old! My girls overall were fine but this last part can be scary for some little ones and it is important that you explain to your little ones that the dinosaurs are actually extinct and that no-one visiting the show has been eaten by one yet!

The experience is ideal for children aged 5 and above but they have had large numbers of visitors aged 3 and 4 who have also enjoyed it. Sienna is almost 4 and she did enjoy it. However, each child is unique, so they strongly recommend you to exercise parental discretion according to your child’s individual sensitivities.

TICKETS, OPENING HOURS, DURATION

The tickets for Dinosaurs in the Wild can be pre-booked at www.dinosaursinthewild.com and start from £25 for Advanced Off-peak adult tickets and £85 for Advanced Off-Peak family tickets (2 adults and 2 children).

Their opening hours are between 10.00-12.30 and 14:00-17:00 and they do not open Tuesdays. As I mentioned above, the show lasts approximately 70 minutes, but they recommend you to allow a minimum of 90 minutes in total for entry and exit into the building. Dinosaurs in the Wild will be open to visitors until 2nd September, so hurry and take your little ones for a surreal experience!

OUR THOUGHTS

We really enjoyed our time at this experience. Despite the ending part where Sienna got a bit scared, the girls both loved it and really bought into the idea that we travelled back in time and were around real dinosaurs! It is a must see show to visit, especially if you have little dinosaur fans at home. It is indeed very surreal and somehow magical. They will have a great time! It is a unique experience that is fun for kids and adults. You will have a great family time.

Have you visited this show? Do you have dinosaur fanatics at home?

*Disclosure: We were invited to visit this experience for the purpose of this review. However, all thoughts and opinions are my own. 

Thanks for stopping by,

Love you all ❤️

Franca  💋

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