Go everywhere, Do everything

Pip and I have previously done the sleepover at the Science Museum, we were really keen to do Dinosnores before Pip got too old so we could compare. Getting tickets isn’t easy though as there is usually only one date per month and they sell out very quickly. 

What is Dinosnores?

If you have ever fancied a sleepover with actual dinosaurs then this is the perfect activity for you. An opportunity to access the Natural History Museum after hours, explore the galleries without the crowds, get involved in some really cool activities and then sleep* under the skeleton of a giant whale (I use the term sleep very loosely here). 

The event is for 7-11 year olds and their chosen grown up and starts after the museum has closed to the public for the night, finishing just before it opens again the next day. 

What we did

We arrived just before 6:30pm and got in to the queue at the side door of the museum, on the way in there was a quick bag check and then we were given out breakfast tokens and told which group we would be in (Red Raptors) and shown where to leave our snacks for later. 

First up was meeting our group leader in Hintze Hall who showed us to the area we would be sleeping in. Sleeping mats were already laid out but there was some flexibility to move things around. Pip and I chose a couple of mats in a corner next to the giraffes. 

The evening started with a welcome talk and some housekeeping rules and then we split in to our groups to start our activities. 

Activity 1 – Dinosaur hunting in the dark

Our first activity was in the dinosaur gallery where we started with a workshop with one of the members of staff from the museum. Once we had learned all about identifying dinosaurs then we were let loose with a worksheet and a torch to look for some specific dinosaurs. The session had the added bonus of allowing us to visit the animatronic T-Rex without having to wait in a big queue (and even better, he was wearing his Christmas jumper). 

Activity 2 – Shark Talk

Our second activity was a talk from one of the museum’s palaeontologists about sharks which was interactive and fascinating, who knew that sharks loose quite so many teeth over their life time or that star fish eat the lost teeth!

Snack time

Half way through the evening we all headed to the T-Rex café to eat the snacks we had brought with us. There was also tea, coffee and water available although the actual café was closed. 

Activity 3 – Palaeo- artistry

Palaeo-artists draw what scientists imagine dinosaurs would have looked like and in this activity Pip got to imagine her own dinosaur and then draw it on to a t-shirt to take home. This was her favourite activity of the evening and she loved having something to take home. 

Bedtime

Lights out is about 11:30pm and before that there is about 30 minutes to get yourself ready for bed and also a bedtime story (The dinosaur that pooped a planet – Tom Fletcher and Dougie Poynter). 

Morning

Lights come back on at about 7:00am and you have time to get yourself ready, pack up your belongings and get your breakfast from the café. 

After breakfast there is a worksheet and free time to explore the museum. Pip and I were really lucky to be the first ones to head up the escalator, through the meteor to the top floor where we had the gallery to ourselves for a while. 

The sleepover ends about 30 minutes before the museum opens when you can choose to either collect your belongings and head home or leave your bags in the designated storage area (different from the usual cloakroom) where they will be looked after until lunchtime while you explore the museum. 

What to bring?

We travelled light because we had other activities to go to with our bags but others had come fully prepared with full luggage. 

What you definitely need;

• Sleeping bag/ pillow etc (yoga style sleeping mats are provided but if you feel you need a bit more comfort then bring your own mat or small SIM, inflatable mattresses are not allowed. We waited until everyone was sorted with a mat and then asked if there were any extra for a bit of extra padding). 
• Something warm and comfortable to sleep in. Hintze Hall is a very large space with a tiled floor so make sure you have enough clothes that you will be warm. 
• Personal items for the night: toiletries, change of clothes etc. 
• Snacks for the evening – we took leftovers from our afternoon tea but others had nearly a full picnic. Hot drinks were available but you needed to bring your own hot drink cup and any cutlery you might need. 
• Drinks or a water bottle.
• Torch
• Portable charger – you are not allowed to plug anything in at the museum so bring your own charger for your phone. 

What you might like to bring;

• Fancy dress – If you want to wear matching dinosaur onsies or jumpers then go for it, there were quite a few people in either Christmas attire or dinosaur themed outfits. 
• Comfortable shoes/ slippers. We had winter boots and I did wish I had brought a cosy pair of slippers to wear. 
• Pocket Money for the shop which opens in the morning and has lots of wonderful stuff. 

Tickets

Tickets are available directly from the Natural History Museum website. You can sign up for the newsletter but I found it easier to just keep checking the website for the dates and tickets being released. 

Accessibilty

The museum has lots of accessible options, full details can be found on the Access page of their website or the Dinosnores team can be contated directly. 

Food

You are advised to eat before the event and then bring a snack for later on in the evening as well as a drink. There aren’t any food options to purchase during the evening. 

Breakfast is an option of a bacon or sausage roll or a vegetarian sausage roll and tea or coffee. Milk and some milk options are provided. 

You are encouraged to bring your own cups and cutlery if needed to minimise waste. There are not any refrigeration options so whatever you bring needs to be ok unrefrigerated. 

Shop

The museum shops open after breakfast and have a brilliant range of gifts, souvenirs and science based items. You can also get a dinosaur Christmas jumper that matches the T-Rex if you fancy. 

Our Thoughts

Pip has never had a massive interest in dinosaurs but still really enjoyed the evening, I’d imagine if you had a dinosaur obsessed child then it would be the most amazing activity. We really liked how varied the activities were so that there was something for everyone. 

We loved being able to explore the museum after hours which less people around and take our time over the things we wanted to see. Sleeping next to a giraffe was very cool too. 

Don’t plan too much on getting a full night’s sleep, Hintze Hall is a big space and then was lots of noise throughout the night from people moving around and the odd person snoring. We took eye masks and ear plugs and while we didn’t have a full night’s sleep we did feel reasonably well rested. 

Full details of Dinosnores and Frequently Asked Questions can be found here.

We took part in Dinosnores in December 2023 when Pip was 11.