1 / 3Crystal Palace Dinosaurs
📍 London, Greater London
Around 30 Victorian paleontological sculptures arranged by geological era around tidal lakes in Crystal Palace Park.
🏆 Funzaroo Verdict
Best for families with children who enjoy history, science and outdoor exploration — the lakeside setting and the sheer scale of the sculptures make this a memorable free outing. The 170-year-old statues spark genuine curiosity about Victorian science.
ℹ️ What to Know Before You Go
💬 What Families Are Saying
View all reviews →1,359 Google reviews
G Reviews from Google
Oliver Schofield
6 months ago
“Crystal Palace Park is one of my favourite places to wander about in South-east London, and the dinosaurs still impress me every time. I highly recommend coming down and seeing them, they may not be anatomically in line with what you saw in Jurassic Park, but they're still very cool and a window in to what the Victorian pioneers envisaged these creatures looking like.”
Maria Lysenko (My Bucket List At 60)
8 months ago
“It's a Jurassic heaven. Situated on a lake within Crystal Palace Park there are numerous sculptures of dinosaurs. These life sized sculptures were erected in 1854, well before scientist truly knew what the dinosaurs looked like. Well worth visiting.”
Travis Holland
a month ago
“Historic sculptures set amongst a beautifully designed park.”
💬 What parents mention
Overview
The Crystal Palace Dinosaurs are approximately 30 Grade I listed sculptures commissioned in 1854, predating modern dinosaur anatomy knowledge and reflecting Victorian-era scientific understanding. Species include Iguanodon, Megalosaurus, Hylaeosaurus and Teleosaurus alongside aquatic prehistoric reptiles and mammals. Audio tours and interpretation signage explain the history. An information centre and cafe operate at the Penge entrance.
