London Events Dinosaurs UnleashedDinosaurs Unleashed at the O2
Kids of all Ages Love Dinosaurs
Ah, the fond memories of dinosaurs as a child. The books were interesting enough, but often with too much scientific backchat for my seven year-old mind. I'd skim the science, leaping over the charts stiffly examining how the Silurian fed into the Devonian (I do remember that one - it was 'the age of fishes'). Proper dinosaur activity occurred in the Mesozoic Era when it was warm and the atmosphere was especially oxygen-rich. 
I tended to hone straight in on the action. It was not just sensible, but essential for book publishers to provide frequent and detailed illustrations, of supposed encounters between dinosaurs. Then you could while away an absorbing ten or fifteen minutes, imagining the carnage following one of these encounters. A couple of favourites I can still recall, include:
- - A herd of terrified Brontosaurus being chased down by a lone T-Rex. Actually a reconstruction of fossilised footprints found in Montana, back when Montana was on the shore of a great American lake - slicing the continent in two. I was fascinated by T-Rex's tiny arms. He might snip me in two with his prickly jaws, but I'd destroy him in an arm-wrestle.
- - An Ankylosaurus and a Megalosaurus facing off. Here the firepower of the Megalosaurus would surely dispatch the diminutive Ankylosaurus, but no. The Ankylosaurus was the proverbial armour-plated, hard nut. This was always the fight I longed to see. Ringside, but safe.
Not that I was learning-impaired - I certainly recognised the value in knowing the 
history and detail of dinosaur-kind. It's just that most of their Latin names were 5 syllables or more and when you're just getting the hang of reading - that's a big ask. However, there were few things I'd like to have seen more than a dinosaur back then (except perhaps two. Fighting). I also understood that they'd been wiped out 65 million years earlier. Probably not by an almighty blast from a meteor, but most likely by the secondary effect of a meteor spewing trillions of tons of earth and ash into the atmosphere. It became colder, many plants died and a lack of protein in the dinosaur's diet may have led to soft shells. Their eggs were unable to protect the young and over a short period they became extinct. Mammals didn't need to lay eggs - and for this reason and several significant others (being small, furry and warm-blooded), they survived.
Dinosaur Unleashed at the O2 - Greenwich
So - had the prospect of seeing full scale, animatronic dinosaurs been available back then, I would have been there in a heartbeat. From February 18 2011 until the end of the year, the Dinosaurs Unleashed Exhibition is open at the O2 in London's Greenwich. It was a temporary exhibition in Oxford Street last year and attracted over 100,000 visitors during its brief run.
Featuring more than 22 life-size dinosaurs, a prehistoric aquarium (CGI), holographic video presentations by wildlife expert Chris Packham, real and replica fossils, interactives galore and more than 40 educational interpretation panels - this unique exhibition has been developed to appeal to family audiences, especially those budding young palaeontologists aged 2 – 12. Walk alongside the giants of the Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous periods. Meet Stegosaurus, Triceratops, Megalosaurus, the fearsome Tyrannosaurus Rex and marvel at the giant Diplodocus: three times the length of a double-decker bus.
A truly interactive experience, kids can get their hands dirty and dig for fossils, piecing them
together in the Fossil Zone. They can also create their own dinosaur skins and colours at the popular Dino-Paints as well as testing their dinosaur knowledge with dynamic quizzes. There are loads more great interactive games and if this isn’t enough, free regular tours will take place with an expert team providing an educational insight into the life and times of these prehistoric wonders. But spare a thought for the big children too - there are plenty of dads (and mums), who would have loved to have seen these life size animatronics when they were kids. You'll be able to spot them dotted around, with thousand-yard stares, squinting eyes and embarrassed children. Pretending they've just stumbled upon a herd of Stegosaurs at a crowded watering hole. Then preparing to take flight, once the nearby Spinosaurus aegyptiacus (look it up) gets downwind of their scent. Ruuuuuunnnn!
Opening times (from 18 February 2011 to 31 December 2011):
Open daily from 10am to 6pm.
Final admission between 4 and 4:30pm.
Cost (including booking fee)
| Child (aged 2-14 inclusive) | £11.25 |
| Adult | £14.25 |
| Family (4 persons, maximum 2 adults) | £42.60 |
| Concession (student and OAP) | £12.25 |
For groups and to book online - refer to the website: http://www.dinosaursunleashed.co.uk/
Dinosaurs Unleashed, The 02, Meridian Gardens, Peninsula Square, London, SE10 0DX
Nearest Tube: North Greenwich
