There’s a Jurassic world to explore at a Kent shopping centre soon

Children can explore a Jurassic world on their doorstep from next week.

New adventure park Dinotropolis is opening its doors at Bluewater shopping centre to intrepid explorers who can become Dino Rangers and explore the world of dinosaurs.

The park, which opens for a soft launch on Monday, November 12 and fully on Monday, November 19, will feature animatronic dinosaurs, a three-storey dino jungle with soft play, dino interactives, raptor racing, a dino escape challenge and the Fossil Café. Children - with a parent or guardian - will become Dino Rangers to explore the Discovery Cove, where they can search for fossils in the Dino Dig and discover their favourite dinosaurs, coming face to face with the moving animatronic beasts. There will also be a chance to build a volcano at the scientific sand table, paint and draw in the arts and crafts corner and bring their hand drawn dinosaurs to life on huge, interactive screens. There is a themed soft play zone area for younger rangers from 18 months to three, and older children can take their chances sneaking past sleeping monsters in the dino escape challenge.

When the rangers are all played out, there’s the Fossil Café for relaxation and refuelling. Wannabe rangers can also sign up to the newsletter online to be entered into a competition to win a year’s family pass to the park.

Operations director, Adam Smith, said: “Most children are dinosaur crazy and we realised there was nothing offering this type of educational play anywhere so we built it based on what we know they would enjoy. Our motto is Play Learn Entertain and this is something our team strives for.” Tickets for Dinotropolis cost from £12 for an Explorer Pass that gives full access to Dino Jungle, Raptor Racing Run and the Discovery Cove. The all inclusive ranger pass for £20 includes the Dino escape challenge and a meal deal in the Fossil café where all the food is freshly made on site. Tickets can be booked at dinotropolis.co.uk