Walk the dinosaur
FORGET GUNNERSBURY PARK – IT’LL BE MORE LIKE JURASSIC PARK IF DINO KINGDOM GETS THE GO-AHEAD
LONDONERS could walk with dinosaurs this spring if a new park attraction in is given the go ahead.
The move would see families strolling among 85 life-sized animatronic dinosaurs in Gunnersbury Park.
Under plans submitted to Hounslow Council, the dinosaur walk could open as early as April. The Dino Kingdom attraction would include rides as well as food and drink stalls.
According to plans submitted to the council by Outreach Creative, the event’s organiser aims to “bring pre-history to life” and give visitors the chance to learn about dinosaurs and how they lived. The dinosaurs, including what appears to be a flying dinosaur, will be set up along a route around an enclosed portion of Gunnersbury Park.
Visitors will be able to walk along the route, observing and learning about the dinosaurs they see with the help of a mobile app.
There will also be four sand pits where children will be able to dig for and ‘excavate’ fossils.
Dino Kingdom, which is aimed at families with children aged 12 and under, previously held dino walks last year in Manchester and Nottinghamshire where it received a mixed reception.
Posting on TripAdvisor, one visitor to Dino Kingdom in Manchester called the event “very underwhelming” and said: “Not what I expected and definitely not worth the money, £64 not including the money we spent on petrol and meal.
“Better ways to spend £64 in my opinion. Very overpriced for what it was, just moving, roaring dinosaurs in a huge field with a very overpriced fun fair at the end.”
However, another visitor to the event said it was “a must for any dinosaur fan” and wrote: “Lots of fun had by all!
“No, it’s not cheap, but how much does it cost to build and maintain lots of animatronic dinosaurs? My two and four year old loved every moment.”
Although ticket prices for the Gunnersbury Park Dino Kingdom have not yet been proposed, entrance fees for previous Dino Kingdoms started from £15 for adults and £13 for children.
Should Hounslow Council give permission for the event, Dino Kingdom will be open from April 1 to 18. Outreach Creative has been approached for comment.