Hull’s interactive, hands-on, dinosaur museum, Dinostar  celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2024. The museum in the Fruit Market area of the Old Town was officially opened by Tony (now Sir Tony) Robinson (of Time Team and Blackadder fame) in June 2004. Since then the museum has grown to become a popular attraction for visitors to Hull.
Highlights of the exhibition include full-size Tyrannosaurus rex and Triceratops skulls, dinosaur bones you can touch and numerous interactive, child-friendly exhibits. One of the most popular exhibits is an interactive sandbox where children can build dinosaur landscapes and even make a volcano!
The museum is designed with children and families in mind. Exhibits can be touched, buttons can be pressed and young palaeontologists can dig for dinosaur bones in sand. The museum is complemented by a gift shop offering dinosaur toys as well as genuine and replica fossils.
More recent additions include an exploration of feathers on dinosaurs – look out for the feathered Velociraptors stalking the upper floor. Three large Velociraptor models overlook visitors from their perches. The famous dinosaurs, stars of Jurassic Park and Jurassic World, are represented as feathered in line with the latest scientific research. There is also an Augmented Reality exhibit where visitors appear alongside wandering dinosaurs.
Dinostar is on the corner of Humber Street and Queen Street in Hull’s Fruit Market creative quarter. It is just two minutes’ walk from The Deep, Victoria Pier and Hull Marina. In recent years Dinostar has been joined in the Fruit Market by a range of cafes, restaurants, galleries and independent shops. A great place to explore.
The museum is open every Saturday and Sunday throughout the year. It also opens during school holidays, notably the summer school holiday from July to the start of September. Full details can be found on the Dinostar web site.
School visits to Dinostar are very popular. As the museum is closed during school times groups have exclusive access to the venue. Groups of up to 60 children can be accommodated.
As an alternative, especially for schools further afield, Dinostar takes some of the more portable exhibits to schools for Dinosaur Workshops. Workshops have taken place from Glasgow to Southampton and from Cardiff to Norwich. Dinostar has also appeared at science festivals, visitor attractions, holiday parks and even racecourses across the country.
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