Prehistoric London

Q:  What do you get if you cross Jurassic Park with Pompeii?

A:  Crystal Palace Park, London.

Well, they’re not really fossilized Dinosaurs, but simply the strange creations of the sculptor Benjamin Waterhouse Hawkins.  Built in 1853, they are one of the strangest parts of the Victorian era that still survives in London today.  The park itself is a nice place to visit, with plenty of open space, picnic areas and a children’s play area.  There is a café in the park which is a nice, cheap and cheerful little place for a cup of coffee or a bite to eat.

            The walk around the Dinosaur Pond is well sign-posted with the names and descriptions of the Dinosaurs on show.  There is even an audio app of Darwin’s views on evolution that can be downloaded as an extra guide around the walk.  Just be warned that the path can get rather muddy if the weather has been wet, so you might want to bear that in mind when choosing which shoes to wear.

            It is a shame that you don’t find Crystal Palace Park in a lot of London tour guides, as it is one of the more interesting parks in the city and well worth a visit.  It is especially a good place to visit with children, particularly little boys who like their Dinosaurs.  They don’t even have to know that they are only made of concrete.  It’s always fun to see just how far you can pull their little legs!