See Dippy the Dinosaur in Newcastle at Great North Museum Hancock

If you were to visit the Natural History Museum in London this year you would definitely notice that something very large and iconic is missing from the museum's entrance hall. Dippy, the Museum's famous Diplodocus skeleton, has packed his bags and left his home for some adventure across the UK and this Summer its our very special chance to see Dippy the Dinosaur in Newcastle at the Great North Museum: Hancock.

I'm sure I'm not the only person who has great memories of Dippy from their childhood. I remember my Mum treating me and my sisters to a great adventure on the train from Norwich down to London for the day. I experienced so many incredible firsts but the one thing that sticks in my mind above anything else is going to the Natural History Museum and seeing Dippy for the very first time.  Like every other child who has ever laid eyes on him, I became obsessed!

So I have been counting down the days to Dippy's arrival in Newcastle since I very first heard about it. It's been many many years since we were last together and I was so excited to be reunited!

We felt very lucky to be one of the first to see Dippy at his Newcastle home and stepping into the exhibition on opening weekend and seeing Dippy towering over us was quite a sight, I have to say he really does suit his new home.  Can we keep him?

It blows my mind to think that Dippy has been greeting visitors in the Natural History Museum for over 100 years, being first unveiled in 1905 he became an instant sensation and has not only been astonishing generations of visitors but has also had a starring role in movies and TV shows (my husband, who has an amazing knowledge of films, can remember in pretty impressive amount of detail the 1975 Disney movie "One of our Dinosaurs is Missing" despite having not seen it since his childhood).

As you can imagine dissembling Dippy isn't something that's been done too often, it takes a great amount of time, care and storage and moving him is a bit of a responsibility.  He's moved exhibition spaces a few times within the Natural History Museum and was carefully disassembled during the Second World War to limit damage during bomb attacks, but this is the very first time that he's been out on the road and fans across the UK have had a chance to see him close to home.

It is definitely an event you don't want to miss!

Seeing Dippy again gave me goosebumps, it must have been at least 25 years since I last saw him and I'm sure there are many people like me who will be feeling very nostalgic about the dinosaur's visit to Newcastle and the chance to share memories with their own children who may well be seeing Dippy for the very first time.

I feel very very thankful that Dippy has been brought out on the road to introduce himself to a legion of new fans and this is a fantastic opportunity for the people of the North East to see a true legend, I really hope that you're all as excited as I am!

I'd love to know if you're planning to visit and if you have any special memories of Dippy the Dinosaur from your childhood.

What you need to know:

• Dippy is in Newcastle until Sunday 6 October

• Entry to see Dippy is free however visits are allocated with a time slot. Walk up spaces are very limited to please book your free tickets in advance here

• Relaxed sessions (with reduced capacity making for a quieter experience) to see Dippy take place every Sunday at 11:15 am and on the first Wednesday of the month at 4:15 pm

• Dippy continues his tour from October taking on Cardiff and Rochdale before stopping off in my home city Norwich in July 2020 

Find The Great North Museum at:

Barras Bridge
NE2 4PT

greatnorthmuseum.org.uk/