Running throughout the summer (25 July – 6 September), the programme will see the Eden Project, the globally recognised education charity celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, transform its Cornwall home into a prehistoric playground, showcasing one of the largest collection of animatronic dinosaurs in the UK at the iconic destination.
A nod to Eden’s much-loved dinosaur events of a decade ago, Return of the Dinosaurs is almost three times bigger than before, with 15 animatronic dinosaurs — including several life-size species and a towering 40‑foot-long Tyrannosaurus rex — hidden among lush planting to create a journey through deep time.
The experience features Dinosaur World Live, the internationally acclaimed, Olivier Award-winning show that has captivated audiences in theatres around the world. Included in the price of admission, the 45‑minute live show will run three times daily, seven days a week, throughout the summer holidays.
The high energy, family friendly production features eight life-size dinosaurs, from T‑rex and Triceratops to giant flying reptiles, combining theatre, science and storytelling to captivate children and grownups alike.
Cretaceous-period dinosaurs will be woven into Eden’s living landscape in the Rainforest Biome. The magnificent T-rex will loom amid the steamy planting, while giant Pterosaurs with wingspans of up to four metres will be suspended from Biome beams overhead. Elsewhere, visitors might stumble upon a nesting Oviraptor, glimpse Raptors concealed in the vegetation, or come face to face with a seven‑metre‑long Parasaurolophus. Completing the prehistoric cast are fish-eating Baryonyx, armoured Ankylosauruses, and a towering Triceratops, all carefully positioned to create moments of surprise, scale and wonder across the gardens.
Alongside the large-scale dinosaurs and live theatre, Return of the Dinosaurs also offers a programme of hands-on, interactive experiences and dinosaur-themed craft activities designed to spark curiosity and creativity. Together, these experiences invite children not just to learn more about dinosaurs and the past, but to imagine, explore and discover their inner explorer and scientist through play.
Simon Townsend, General Manager at the Eden Project, said: “This is one of Eden’s most famous and much-loved summer programmes, and we are incredibly excited to be bringing it back on an even bigger scale than ten years ago.
“The sheer size, level of detail and the way the dinosaurs are integrated in the Rainforest Biome makes this an experience unlike anything else in the UK. At a time when dinosaurs are capturing the imagination again — from major films and television to new scientific discoveries — this summer at Eden offers a truly spectacular way to experience them in a setting that’s as dramatic as the creatures themselves.”
Kate Francis, Eden’s Live Producer, said: “We looked back at what we did ten years ago and asked how much further we could go. This year we’ve almost tripled the number of dinosaurs, using the Rainforest Biome to create moments of surprise, drama and wonder at every turn.
“Eden’s Rainforest Biome is a fitting environment for the takeover. During the Cretaceous period, when all the dinosaurs that can be seen at Eden lived, global average temperatures are thought to have ranged between 18–25°C, with vast areas of the planet covered in warm, humid, lush rainforest – not unlike the environment recreated inside the Biome today.
“With views of the dinosaurs from the Rainforest Canopy Walkway and scenes set among dense tropical planting, positioning the dinosaurs within this living landscape gives visitors a rare opportunity to see them where they truly make sense, surrounded by greenery that closely mirrors the world they once inhabited.”
Simon added: “Beyond the spectacle, this experience is about what dinosaurs can teach us. By exploring how environmental change and extinction shaped life on Earth, we’re inviting people to reflect on our own relationship with the natural world — and to think differently about the choices we face today in the context of climate change and the future of the planet. Whether you’re a dinosaur enthusiast or simply looking for a spectacular day out, this summer at Eden delivers a genuine ‘wow’ moment — and plenty to inspire curiosity and conversation along the way.”
Return of the Dinosaurs launches on 25 July and runs throughout the summer holidays. Alongside the prehistoric adventure, visitors can experience much-loved storytelling sessions in the Mediterranean Biome, with this season marking 25 years of storytelling at Eden.
The renowned Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition (6 June – 5 September), produced by the Natural History Museum, also returns, showcasing extraordinary images from one of the world’s most prestigious wildlife photography competitions and highlighting the beauty, diversity and fragility of life on Earth.
All Summer Holiday activities, including showings of Dinosaur World Live, are included with a standard Eden Project ticket.
Admission to Eden starts from £35.50 for adults and £12 for children, with under-fives admitted free.
Visitors receiving Universal Credit, Pension Credit or UK Legacy Credit can enter for £15 for an adult and £7.50 for a child, and Devon and Cornwall residents can purchase a Locals' Pass from £29.80 per adult and £12 per child, representing a possible saving of more than 30 per cent, available year-round.
For more information and to prebook online for the best price, visit www.edenproject.com.
