Looking for one last big family adventure before the school uniforms come back out? Port Lympne Reserve is going prehistoric this August, with 91 life-size dinosaurs taking over its newly reimagined Dinosaur Forest.
Just when you thought a day at Port Lympne couldn’t get much wilder, the Kent reserve has added dinosaurs into the mix.
Running from Monday 24 August to Sunday 6 September, Jurassic Takeover marks the reopening of Port Lympne’s newly reimagined Dinosaur Forest, giving families a suitably spectacular way to round off the summer holidays.
Set among ancient woodland, the experience brings together 91 life-size dinosaurs and ancient megafauna representing 62 species, taking visitors on a journey through hundreds of millions of years of prehistory.
There will be special ranger-led dinosaur talks and activities along the way, so younger palaeontologists can discover a little more about the creatures lurking between the trees.
Dinosaurs, safaris and 900 animals
Of course, the prehistoric residents are only part of the adventure.
Your ticket also gives you the chance to explore Port Lympne Reserve itself, home to around 900 animals from 75 species across an impressive 600 acres of Kent countryside.
And then there’s the reserve’s iconic truck safari – always a highlight of a Port Lympne day out and a chance to experience a very different side of the Kent countryside.
It makes Jurassic Takeover a particularly good option for families wanting to squeeze one final memorable day trip into the summer break: dinosaurs in the woods, a safari and some of the world’s most extraordinary animals, all without leaving Kent.
Half-price kids’ tickets
There’s good news for family budgets, too. During Jurassic Takeover, children’s tickets are 50% off, bringing the online child ticket price down to £14.50, while adult tickets are £36.
And if your camera roll inevitably ends up full of dinosaur encounters, those photographs could prove useful.
Visitors are being invited to share their favourite Dinosaur Forest pictures on Instagram or Facebook using #PortLympneJurassicTakeover. Five family tickets to Port Lympne Illuminated are up for grabs through the photo competition.
For Kent families contemplating how to fill those final precious days before the school gates reopen, a woodland full of dinosaurs might just be difficult to beat.
Jurassic Takeover runs at Port Lympne Reserve from 24 August to 6 September 2026. Children’s online tickets are £14.50 during the event and adult tickets are £36.
