Crystal Palace Park is a historic park located in south east London and has something for everyone across its 200 acres.
The Dinosaur Area
When Crystal Palace Park was constructed in the 1850s, it was arguably the world’s first ‘theme park’. The giant Palace held technological wonders of the modern world, while walking along the central pathway took the visitor to the prehistoric landscape of the lower lakes and dinosaur park.
The dinosaurs caused a sensation when the Park was opened as they were designed and built before Darwin’s ‘Origin of Species’ was published. They were the first life sized replicas of the prehistoric reptiles ever built.
The dinosaurs were recently restored by Bromley Council following a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund. The Β£4 million programme brought together a team of palaeontologists and landscape architects. Original colours were restored, replacements made and models reconstructed to match historic records of the original designs.
Opening times:
Daily from 7.30am to half an hour after dusk.
By train:
Crystal Palace Station is situated next to the Park off Anerley Hill.
Penge West Station is a 5 minute walk via Thicket Road.
Penge East Station is 15 minutes walk to to the Penge gate entrance on Thicket Road.
By bus:
Northern side of the park: 2, 3, 63, 122, 137a, 202, 227, 249, 306, 322, 358
Southern side of the park:194, 227, 312
Website:
http://www.crystalpalacepark.org/