Areas of the park have been undergoing a massive 15-month regeneration
Crystal Palace Park will reopen in full today (Saturday, July 18) with an extravaganza of free, fun-filled activities to celebrate a 15-month regeneration project over some of the Victorian beauty spot’s most treasures features.
Among the revamped areas of the park is the ‘Geological Court’ where Benjamin Waterhouse Hawkins’ Grade I-listed sculptures of prehistoric dinosaurs roam the promenade. The dinosaurs were famously moved to the park in 1854 when the Great Exhibition closed. Elsewhere, a new visitor centre will be open to the public along with a dinosaur adventure playground, plus a food market with cuisine from all over the world.
Vintage lawn games, stilt walkers, carnival dancers and fire performers will also be on hand for maximum enjoyment.
“The park will be filled with things to see and do, from performances and workshops to creative activities, music, food and plenty of surprises along the way,” says the Trust. Other highlights of the weekend include:
- Tethered hot air balloon rides (had to apply via ballot which has now closed)
- Pengenista drummers, with carnival dancers
- DIY dino art workshops and creative masterclasses
- Food market and bar – open all weekend
- Crystal Palace Museum – open all weekend
- Iguanodon Restaurant theatre performance
Public pathways and areas such as the Italian terraces have been beautified and made more accessible for visitors. Plus, the Crystal Palace Museum will open both days from 10am to 4pm. Visitors can marvel at the dinosaur sculptures or go for a stroll by the boating lake and the dinosaur playground.
This project was funded by grants from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, as well as the Garfield Weston Foundation, the Wolfson Foundation, London Marathon Foundation, and the Pilgrim Trust.
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