Dippy: The Nation's Favourite Dinosaur comes to Coventry
04 January 2023
Image credit: Natural History Museum
Fresh from the Natural History Museum, Dippy the Diplodocus stomps into the Herbert Art Gallery & Museum from February 2023, where it will be dino-in-residence for three years!
Tickets to see Dippy at the Herbert will go on sale very soon! Please check back to our website, sign up to our newsletter or follow #DippyInCoventry on social media for updates.
Want to know more? Read our FAQs below for further details.
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?
You can see Dippy now at the Herbert Art Gallery & Museum. It will remain at the Herbert until February 2026 before travelling to its next destination.
Where can I find Dippy?
Dippy is 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.
DO I need to book to see Dippy?
Booking in advance to see Dippy is highly recommended, especially during school holidays and weekends.
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.
How do I book tickets?
Tickets are available to book via our Dippy website.
Will I need to pay for tickets?
No, tickets to see Dippy are free, but if you would like to make a donation to support our work, you can do so here.
Will I still be able to visit other exhibitions at the Herbert without a ticket?
Yes, our permanent galleries and temporary exhibitions are open as normal.
You do not book advance tickets for any other exhibitions at the Herbert apart from Wildlife Photographer of the Year.
To access our other galleries, you will need to enter the building via Bayley Lane, near to Alfred’s café.
I want to book a school or large group visit. Who should I contact?
If you are planning a school trip or a visit for more than 10 people, please contact our Visitor Experience team by emailing ctm.info@cvlife.co.uk. We recommend you allow a double-slot of 30 minutes to explore the space with your class.
Our Learning and Engagement team are currently developing content for facilitated schools workshops that will be available for schools to participate in over the next three years. These will carry a cost of £4 per pupil, and will include guided time in the Dippy exhibition area as well as fossil-focused, hands-on activities for pupils to immerse themselves in. Please look out for updates, either by checking back to our website or following @CovMuseumsLearn on Twitter.
What else can I do at the Herbert?
In addition to our three permanent galleries – the History Gallery, Discover Godiva and Peace and Reconciliation – we have temporary exhibitions throughout the year.
For families, we also run a programme of supporting events including themed children’s craft, a talk about the fossils in our collection and more. Many of these take place during the school holidays. Please check our website our sign up to our newsletter for updates.
I’m visiting from out of town. What else can I do in Coventry?
As part of the CV Life family, we’re excited to be offering 50% off entry to Coventry Transport Museum for all Dippy ticket-holders on the same day. Simply show your Dippy booking confirmation when you arrive at reception to claim your discount. Please note that this offer is valid for single-day tickets only and does not cover annual passes.
Be it culture or leisure, there's something for everyone across CV Life's venues in Coventry city centre, offering you plenty of opportunities to build your own perfect family day out.
You could see Dippy in the morning, followed by a short walk to Coventry Transport Museum to take in the largest public collection of British vehicles and the world's only supersonic car, Thrust SSC. You could also get the adrenaline pumping with a visit to our award-winning waterpark, The Wave. With six high-speed slides, a splash pad, lazy river and wave pool, The Wave has something for all the family.
Visit the CV life website for details of our partner venues, or head to the Visit Coventry website for more information on other things to see and do in the city.
