London Photo Gallery - Crystal Palace Dinosaurs

At the western edge of Crystal Palace Park are over 30 animal sculptures, including various dinosaurs. These were created during Victorian times by Benjamin Waterhouse Hawkins, a natural history artist, to showcase scientific knowledge and provide entertainment and learning at the same time. Unveiled in 1854, these sculptures are placed on various islands within the park's lakes and are listed as Grade I. In August 2024, local council approved a 17.5 million pound regeneration for the park. The National Lottery subsequently announced 5 million pounds in funding to help execute the plan. Crystal Palace Park is a huge site and the nearest railway station to the dinosaurs is Penge West on the Overground's Windrush Line. The rest of the park is also great for a stroll especially on a sunny spring morning. Guy the Gorilla lived in London Zoo from 1947-78 and now has its own statue here. The terraces were built in the 1850s at the highest point in the park for the Crystal Palace. What we see is what remains after the 1936 fire and are in poor condition. There are also 3 pairs of sphinx statues that have been repainted terracotta red as they should have looked during the Victorian era.