WHAT IS DIPPY?

Dippy the dinosaur is a life-size, plaster-of-paris replica of a Diplodocus carnegii skeleton. It was gifted to the Natural History Museum by Andrew Carnegie and was unveiled for the first time on 12 May 1905.

The original skeleton is housed at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History in Pittsburgh, USA. Carnegii is a reference to Andrew Carnegie who funded the excavation of the original specimen and presented the replica as a gift to King Edward VII.

Diplodocus carnegii lived during the Late Jurassic period, about 155 – 145 million years ago and their skeletons have been found in North America. They were huge, plant-eating dinosaurs, with long whip-like tails. They grew to about 24-26 metres long and probably weighed up to around 15 tonnes. For comparison, a London double-decker bus is around 14 metres long and weighs 12 tonnes.

WHEN CAN I SEE DIPPY?

Dippy will be installed at the Herbert Art Gallery & Museum in mid-February, with public viewing starting from Monday 20 February 2023. It will remain at the Herbert for three years before travelling to his next destination.

WHERE CAN I FIND DIPPY?

Dippy will be located in the covered court at the Herbert Art Gallery & Museum – that’s the area at the front of the building, accessible via the entrance from University Square, nearest Coventry Cathedral.

WILL I NEED TO BOOK TO SEE DIPPY?

Booking in advance to see Dippy is highly recommended, as we are anticipating a high level of demand when it arrives in Coventry, especially during February half-term and the Easter holidays.

Some walk-up tickets will be available, especially on quieter days, but priority entry will be given to those who have booked in advance, so those without a ticket may have to queue.

Find out how to book tickets here-