Travel back to the prehistoric era for an action-packed adventure at the brand new Jurassic World Experience at Battersea Power Station.
You’ve seen them on screen, now it’s time to come face-to-face with some of the world’s largest and most dangerous dinosaurs. This spectacular immersive experience is based around one of the most successful movie franchises ever: Jurassic Park. Expect all the blockbuster magic as you learn more about each species as well as getting hands-on with some of the incredibly life-like creatures. Your visit will be full of thrilling surprises (some might be a little scary) for kids and grown ups alike. Citizen Enfants couldn’t wait to join the journey to discover more.
What is the Jurassic World Experience?
You’ve gripped the edge of your seat at the cinema watching all manner of dinosaurs chase various hapless humans through the jungle in all seven of the Jurassic Park movies – now it’s time to brave the prehistoric era yourself. And the new Jurassic World Experience is set to become one of the most popular attractions for families in London this summer.
Having just opened at Battersea Power Station’s shiny new NEON events space, this immersive step back in time is one of the most spectacular sensory experiences to arrive in the capital: the sheer scale of it is akin to a Florida theme park attraction. While it’s not actually a film set, it feels like you are being transported into a clever mix of the scenes from the movie franchise – expect to see trucks overgrown with creepers and labs filled with experiments, alongside the truly magnificent dinosaurs.
Your adventure starts as you board the ferry (a simulated trip where you are greeted and told a little more of what’s in store) to the tropical Isla Nublar. Disembarking and walking up to the iconic Jurassic World gates, visitors are transported to an exciting, exotic land with dazzling lighting and sound effects that all contribute to the atmosphere.
Is that a roaring Tyrannosaurus Rex you can hear in the distance? It sure is. And of course the catchy theme tune from the movies is playing in the background too. The experience is laid out across 10 immersive zones – like the Lab and the Dig Site – that bring to life what you’ve seen on screen.
Throughout you’ll find huge, life-like animatronic models of dinosaurs, like in The Land of the Giants which is home to some of the largest creatures ever to walk the earth (think Brachiosaurus and Stegosaurus). Or in the large cages that house predators such as the Carnotaurus, fierce creatures with distinctive devil-like horns that could run faster than a T-Rex. While you can’t touch the dinosaur displays, you are encouraged to get up close and there are plenty of opportunities to get hands-on, with touch screens and interactive games.
In the Genetic Creation Lab you’ll discover the techniques that the Jurassic Park scientists used to bring the dinosaurs back to life; at the Dig Site you can uncover fossils; and in the super-cool Gyrosphere Valley you can climb inside the famous transportation bubbles plus take pictures with a baby dino (film-quality puppets).
The dinosaurs are in enclosures and move around within their own space – and their scaly skin, nodding heads, blinking eyes, plus grunting and roaring noises will leave you thinking they are living breathing creatures. Knowledgable rangers are on hand to tell you more about each one and their habitat, all adding to the feeling that the animals you are seeing are in fact real.
Who is the Jurassic World Experience for?
What makes this experience so great is that it appeals to all ages. Very young children who have never seen the movies (most come with a 12+ age restriction), but who love playing with dinosaurs, will be mesmerised by seeing their toys in life-size form; older kids and teens who have seen the films will appreciate the tech wizardry and movie-style sets.
Then of course there are the grown ups who will enjoy all of the above – plus a dose of nostalgia as they hear the famous soundtrack and remember watching the very first Jurassic Park movie back in 1993. Billed as being suitable for everyone, there are no age restrictions but do expect some nail-biting moments that very little ones might find somewhat scary. If you’re unsure if it’s going to be too much for anyone in your party, it’s possible to skip any of the areas as you move through the space.
You can’t take a buggy or pram inside, but there is a buggy park and changing facilities on site. Wheelchairs are welcome.
The Highlights
Lets face it, there’s always one dinosaur that everyone wants to see the most: the T-Rex. And at this experience you won’t be disappointed: you’ll come face-to-face with the legendary creature in a close-shave, heart-pounding moment that’s the real highlight of the visit.
If predators are your thing then you’ll enjoy seeing Blue the Velociraptor being fed her lunch and showing off her 84 razor-sharp teeth in a cleverly choreographed interaction with her ranger (which, spoiler alert, becomes even more exciting when the power suddenly goes down to leave her cage unprotected). This might be one of the sections to skip if you’re visiting with younger kids.
Need to know
One of the best ways to help kids navigate the experience is by using the Explorer Guide – an interactive booklet that adds to the fun with educational missions to bring each exhibit to life. Measure dinosaur footprints or look out for special features that tell you more about your surroundings and each species you encounter. The Guide can be added to your online booking for £8, or you can purchase a Premium Ticket which includes it, as well as the added benefit to skip the queue when you arrive.
The whole experience takes around an hour, but feel free to spend longer. You can book for groups of up to 14, but those aged under 16 must be supervised by an adult. It’s also advised that you arrive 10 to 15 minutes before your allocated time slot. There’s a gift shop on-site, plenty of parking nearby, and the nearest train station is Battersea Power Station underground.
Where is it?
The experience is located in the brand new NEON building, London’s first-ever purpose built entertainment and cultural exhibition space at Battersea Power Station, 2 Circus Road East, SW11 8DQ
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