About
Dinostar is an independent, family-run natural history attraction in Hull dedicated to dinosaurs and prehistoric life, offering a genuinely hands-on and immersive experience aimed particularly at younger visitors and families rather than the more academically framed displays typical of larger national natural history institutions.
The attraction's collection combines full-scale dinosaur models and reconstructions with genuine and replica fossil specimens, giving visitors the opportunity to encounter both the scale and physical presence of prehistoric creatures and the actual palaeontological evidence from which our scientific understanding of dinosaurs and other extinct life has been built, bridging the gap between spectacle and genuine scientific education in a format designed to be accessible and engaging for visitors of all ages but with particular appeal for children discovering an interest in prehistoric life.
Interactive elements throughout Dinostar allow visitors to handle certain specimens, participate in fossil-related activities and engage directly with the material on display in ways that larger, more object-protective museum environments often cannot accommodate, reflecting the attraction's distinctive identity as a genuinely hands-on educational experience rather than a purely observational museum visit.
As an independent, locally run attraction rather than part of a larger municipal or national museum network, Dinostar occupies a genuinely distinctive niche within Hull's wider cultural and heritage offer, complementing the city's more traditional maritime and civic museums with a dedicated focus on natural history and prehistoric science that appeals to a different, often younger, audience.
The attraction's Hull city centre location places it within easy reach of the city's other Museums Quarter attractions, making it straightforward to combine a Dinostar visit with wider exploration of Hull's cultural offer during a single day out, and its family-oriented programming, including themed events and activities during school holiday periods, gives it a particular appeal for visiting families with young children seeking an engaging, interactive introduction to prehistoric life and natural history more broadly.
For dinosaur enthusiasts of any age, but especially for families with young children, Dinostar offers a genuinely enjoyable and educational visit that stands somewhat apart in character from Hull's other, more traditionally curated heritage attractions.
Categories:
Plan Your Visit
⏱️ Recommended Visit Duration
💡 Visitor Tips
- Bring children, as Dinostar's hands-on, interactive format is particularly designed for younger visitors.
- Check for special holiday activities and events, which run during school holiday periods.
- Combine your visit with Hull's wider Museums Quarter attractions for a fuller day of family-friendly heritage.
- Allow time for hands-on activities, which can extend a visit beyond simply viewing the displays.
- Visit the gift shop for dinosaur-themed souvenirs, popular with younger visitors.
- Book ahead for birthday party or group activity sessions if interested.
- Bring a camera for the full-scale dinosaur models.
- Combine your visit with The Deep aquarium nearby for a fuller family day out in Hull.
Highlights
Full-Scale Dinosaur Models
Full-scale dinosaur models and reconstructions give visitors a genuine sense of the physical scale and presence of prehistoric creatures, a highlight particularly popular with younger visitors encountering dinosaurs at true-to-life proportions.
Genuine and Replica Fossil Specimens
The collection combines genuine and replica fossil specimens, giving visitors access to the actual palaeontological evidence underpinning scientific understanding of dinosaurs and other extinct prehistoric life.
Hands-On Interactive Activities
Interactive elements allow visitors to handle certain specimens and participate in fossil-related activities, offering a genuinely hands-on experience distinctive from more object-protective larger museum environments.
Family-Focused Programming
Themed events and activities during school holiday periods give Dinostar particular appeal for visiting families with young children seeking an engaging introduction to prehistoric life.
Collections
Dinostar's collection combines full-scale dinosaur models and reconstructions with genuine and replica fossil specimens, presented through a genuinely hands-on, interactive format designed particularly for family and younger audiences. Rather than following the more academically framed display conventions of larger national natural history institutions, Dinostar emphasises direct engagement and accessibility, allowing visitors to handle certain specimens and participate in fossil-related activities.
As an independent, family-run attraction, it occupies a distinctive niche within Hull's wider cultural offer, complementing the city's more traditional maritime and civic museums with a dedicated focus on prehistoric life and natural history.
Dinosaurs and Prehistoric Life
Full-scale dinosaur models and fossil specimens introducing visitors to prehistoric life through an interactive, hands-on format.
Current Exhibitions
No current exhibitions. Please check the museum website for updates.