New dates for Dippy on Tour

The nation’s favourite dinosaur is preparing to head to Norwich Cathedral later this year as the new summer 2021 dates are today revealed for Dippy on Tour: A Natural History Adventure. Dippy, the Natural History Museum’s iconic Diplodocus cast, will be taking up residence in Norwich Cathedral’s Nave in July, and the Dippy on Tour exhibition will run from Tuesday 13 July 2021 until Saturday 30 October 2021.

Norwich Cathedral is the eighth and final stop for the exhibition that aims to inspire people of all ages to engage more with nature and explore the natural world on their doorsteps.

Dippy on Tour: A Natural History Adventure is being brought to Norwich Cathedral and visitors across the UK by the Natural History Museum in partnership with the Garfield Weston Foundation, and supported by Dell EMC and Williams & Hill. Barratt and Cooke is the regional sponsor for the exhibition.

Dippy had been due to go on display in Norwich Cathedral in Summer 2020 but his visit was rescheduled to January to March 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic before being postponed to Summer 2021.

With the continued uncertainty with regard to Covid-19, Norwich Cathedral and the Natural History Museum are working together closely to ensure that visitors will be able to enjoy the exhibition safely when it opens in July.

More details about the opening times for Dippy and other visitor information including details of associated special events will be available nearer the time on this website.

The Dean of Norwich, the Very Revd Jane Hedges, said: “We are delighted to be able to announce the new summer 2021 dates for Dippy on Tour at Norwich Cathedral.

"The past year has been an extremely challenging time for everyone, and we hope the new dates for Dippy’s visit will provide people of all ages with something exciting to look forward to in the year ahead.

“We are incredibly honoured to be the final stop on Dippy’s national tour and also the only Cathedral, and our team is working closely with the Natural History Museum to ensure that we really make the most of this amazing opportunity for Norwich, Norfolk and the wider region.”

For Dippy’s summer 2021 visit, safety continues to be the number one priority.

The Dean of Norwich said: “Health and safety remains the single most important factor in everything we do at Norwich Cathedral and immense care is being taken by the whole Cathedral team to keep everyone as safe as possible.

"As with all organisations, we are keeping abreast of all the latest guidance and developments with regard to the Coronavirus pandemic to ensure that the Cathedral continues to be Covid-secure.

“As we prepare to welcome our prehistoric guest later this year, our planning is being continually updated in line with the latest guidance to make sure that we can offer visitors the safest possible environment to enjoy seeing the Natural History Museum’s magnificent Dippy the Diplodocus close-up in the beautiful surrounding of our 900-year-old Cathedral.”

Philippa Charles, Director of the Garfield Weston Foundation, said: “We are delighted that Dippy will be able to resume his adventures by visiting Norwich this summer - the final stop in his grand tour of the UK

“Dippy’s mission to inspire people to explore the nature on their doorstep has never been more important and we are so pleased that Norwich Cathedral is enabling people to visit Dippy safely.”

Dippy has previously visited Dorset County Museum, Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, Ulster Museum, Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, Glasgow, Great North Museum: Hancock, Newcastle upon Tyne, National Museum Cardiff and Rochdale’s Number One Riverside.

The famous 26-metre long (85ft) dinosaur cast took centre stage in the Natural History Museum’s Hinzte Hall for many years before embarking on the current UK tour.

More details about the opening times for Dippy and other visitor information including details of associated special events will be available nearer the time on this website.

For more details about Dippy on Tour: A Natural History Adventure, visit www.nhm.ac.uk/dippyontour