Titanosaur: How to see gigantic Natural History Museum dinosaur

Visitors to the Natural History Museum in London are now able to get the chance to see the life-sized skeleton of the largest dinosaur to have ever lived.

Just in time for the Easter holidays, people who head to the museum in South Kensington can catch a glimpse – and even touch – the life-sized skeleton of a titanosaur.

The 2.67 tonne cast of Patagotitan mayorum, the most complete gigantic dinosaur ever discovered, is set to thrill visitors, who will be able to learn more about the creatures through interactive games and experiences,

Visitors will also be able to see a 69-million-year-old grapefruit-sized egg which hatched an enormous titanosaur and touch its model replica, while also finding out how many people it would take to balance the scales of a giant dinosaur.

Director of the Natural History Museum, Dr Doug Gurr, said: “There is nothing that comes close to Patagotitan walking the Earth today – so in this case, seeing is believing.”

What are titanosaurs?

Titanosaurs – long necked plant-eaters that stood on four legs – weighed up to 70 tonnes and included the largest animals that ever walked the Earth.

They lived towards the end of the dinosaurs’ reign in the Cretaceous era, around 101 million years ago and were widespread around the world.

What is Patagotitan mayorum?

Discovered in Argentina in 2010, Patagotitan mayorum is the most complete giant dinosaur ever discovered.

It is around 12 metres longer than other Natural History Museum exhibit Hope the blue whale.

It would have weighed around 57 tonnes when alive – approximately eight Tyrannosaurus Rex’s and more than nine African savannah elephants, which are the largest animals alive on land today.

The cast weighs 2.67 tonnes, approximately the same weight as 59 velociraptors or five full concert grand pianos.

Patagotitan would need to eat over 129kg of plants every day – the equivalent to approximately 516 round lettuces.

How can I see Patagotitan mayorum?

The huge cast is on display at the Natural History Museum in South Kensington, London.

The museum opens at 10am every day and closes at 5.50pm, with the last entry at 4.30pm.

The exhibition begins on Friday, 31 March and goes on until Sunday, 7 January 2024.

Tickets cost £16 for adults and £9 for children, while family tickets range from £27.25 to £47.25.

They can be purchased on the Natural History Museum website.

What else is in the exhibit?

As well as the cast, visitors will be able to view hand-drawn illustrations of the flora and fauna of the Cretaceous period.

Information on the predators that were brave enough to try to prey on Patagotian mayorum can be read, while you can stretch your legs to try and match the titanosaur’s giant strides across the gallery floor.

Interactive games and experiences also combine with a 69-million-year-old grapefruit-sized egg which hatched an enormous titanosaur, while visitors can get hands-on with its model replica.