In March 2020, we made the difficult decision to suspend Dippy in Rochdale. We're regularly reviewing the situation and will keep this website updated with the latest information.
We're looking forward to welcoming you back.
The world famous Diplodocus dinosaur cast from the Natural History Museum is on a national tour and he arrived in Rochdale, his only North West stop, in February 2020. Dippy will be wowing visitors in Rochdale for a once in a lifetime opportunity to inspire the next generation of scientists.
The event is free to attend.
How to book
You'll need to contact us to make a booking to visit both Dippy at Number One Riverside and the Dippy Exhibition 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. They both offer a fantastic educational experience.
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 no longer be hands on activities in our educational spaces due to COVID-19.
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 exhibits and more that will complement the Dippy experience and extend scientific enquiry into the supporting themes.
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 specific 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
We advise you to read all Frequently Asked Questions in the sections for schools and visitors.
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