In light of the current situation, we’ve taken the difficult decision to suspend Dippy events. We will continue to keep this decision under review and keep the website updated. More information about the suspension
The world famous Diplodocus dinosaur cast from the Natural History Museum is on a national tour and he'll arrive in Rochdale, his only North West stop, in February 2020. Dippy will be wowing visitors in Rochdale from 10 February to 28 June 2020. It's a once in a lifetime opportunity to inspire the next generation of scientists.
The event is free to attend.
How to book
You can book your tickets through our online booking system. Your ticket to Meet Dippy at Number One Riverside automatically includes your entry to the Dippy experience at Touchstones Rochdale.
What to expect on your school visit
A unique event – 2 experiences in one. Schoolchildren can look forward to a double dino adventure, with 2 separate natural history adventures to enjoy, Meet Dippy and visit the Dippy exhibition.
We highly recommend schools Meet Dippy and visit the Dippy exhibition for a full experience as they both offer a fantastic educational experience. The event is FREE and you'll be expected to manage your time as there is no guided tour.
Meet Dippy at Number One Riverside: pupils will start their visit by seeing Dippy himself at the council's office building, customer service centre and library, Number One Riverside.
Accompanying Dippy in Number One Riverside will include:
- Downloadable science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) focussed content to enable schools to guide themselves around the exhibition and understand the significance of Dippy and the supporting themes of evolution, biodiversity and sustainable futures.
- There will also be a selection of pre and post visit activities so you can design your own Dippy experience. All resources will have clear curricular links and be designed to encourage creativity, scientific investigation and curiosity.
- You can access a range of free cross-curriculum learning resources for teachers and home educators, helping 4-11 year-olds explore the natural world both now and in the time of the dinosaurs. Take part in the Dippy on Tour Natural History Adventure (external link).
- There will be hands on activities in our educational spaces.
Dippy Exhibition at Touchstones Rochdale: once you've been wowed by meeting Dippy, take a short (approximately 0.4 mile) walk across Rochdale town centre to our local museum and art gallery, Touchstones Rochdale, for the next instalment of your Dippy adventure. At Touchstones Rochdale, there will be 3 galleries packed with exciting interactive exhibits that will complement the Dippy experience and extend scientific enquiry into the supporting themes.
We estimate you'll spend up to 1 hour at each venue. Both Number One Riverside and Touchstones Rochdale will have an on-site Dino store selling Dippy goodies, as well as a café.
Downloadable resources for schools
These resources aim to enable teachers to develop the curriculum and pre and post visit learning opportunities to match the specifc needs of their children. They'll also help to support teachers and support staff to make the most of their visitor experience to Dippy on Tour in Rochdale.
Getting here
We've information on various transport methods including public transport and coach and minibus parking.
If you're a school group of 10 or more students and travel by Metrolink, you can take advantage of tickets for £1 per child.
Frequently Asked Questions
We advise you to read all Frequently Asked Questions in the sections for schools, groups and visitors.
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