Skip to content

Huge moving dinosaurs make UK debut at Life

Share:
Two children stood in front of dinosaur egg at Angel of the North
Life's iconic logo is featured at the entrance to the science centre.
Life communications
Author

Dinosaurs have stomped their way into Life Science Centre and are bigger, louder and more lifelike than ever!

Visitors to Life can enjoy the ultimate dinosaur experience with the largest collection of life-size animatronic dinosaurs in the north of England.

The Great Dinosaur Escape opens to visitors on Saturday (28 March) and brings together more than 20 full-size animatronic dinosaurs, including a 9-metre-long moving Tyrannosaurus rex.

The collection, which is making its UK debut at Life, has been developed by Dinosaurios Mexico.

The dinosaurs are housed in a 350 sq. metre enclosure, roughly the size of one and a half tennis courts, but a few of the prehistoric creatures have “escaped”. Visitors can follow a specially created trail around the science centre to track them down.

“Dinosaurs have always been a firm favourite at Life and continue to capture people’s imaginations.

“With The Great Dinosaur Escape, visitors not only get the chance to see these magnificent creatures, but they can also become part of the story by being investigators and code breakers, following a specially created trail through the centre to help secure the dinosaur enclosure.”

Linda Conlon, Life's Chief Executive

News of the new dinosaur experience comes just days after Life scooped double gold at The Destination North East Tourism Awards on 19 March, winning the Best Large Visitor Attraction and Accessibility and Inclusion categories

The Great Dinosaur Escape is much more than a standard dinosaur exhibition as there will also be dinosaur-themed live shows, hands-on making activities, experiments and curriculum-linked workshops for schools.

“This is an incredibly meaningful moment for us, bringing our animatronic dinosaur exhibition to the UK for the very first time and presenting it at Life, one of Europe’s most important science communication centres.

“Each of our dinosaurs has been created in Mexico with a high level of realism, combining art, engineering and technology to bring experiences to life that both amaze and connect with audiences.”

Rafael Estevez, managing director of Dinosaurios Mexico

The experience is designed to appeal to families, school groups and adults alike, combining science with spectacle. Visitors will be transported back to the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods as they get up close to the dinosaurs and learn more about how they lived, what they ate and how they became extinct.

The Great Dinosaur Escape runs from Saturday 28 March for a limited time and is included with general admission to the science centre.

Other articles you may enjoy

School aged students in Life Science Centre's Space Zone wearing bright orange space suits and holding helmets.

Competition to name spacecraft on a mission to clean up space 

15 October 2026

People across the region are being offered the chance to make their mark on a pioneering UK space mission.

Thrilling tricks and treats for the family throughout October at Life

9 October 2026

Families can enjoy a frightfully fun programme at life throughout October, with live shows, exciting experiments and spooky science.

Young boy pictured in astronaut suit inside Newcastle's Life Science Centre.

Life inspires children to reach for the stars as part of World Space Week  

1 October 2026

Children from across the North East are being encouraged to aim for the stars as Newcastle’s Life Science Centre (Life) celebrates World Space Week.