Crystal Palace Park upgrade to start this month

A £22m project to upgrade Crystal Palace Park is due to begin later this month.

The work, which gets under way on 19 May, will see the Grade I listed dinosaurs restored, a replacement visitor centre built, and a dinosaur-themed new playground created.

The south-east London park's toilets, two cafes and boat hire will remain open throughout the makeover, which will also see the restoration of its Grade II listed Italian terraces.

The park will remain open to all visitors, Crystal Palace Park Trust (CPPT) said, but warned there would footpath redirections, gate and car park closures.

CPPT said the "large and complex programme" of works was due to finish in summer 2026.

Sustainable drainage systems, new meadows and wildlife friendly shrubs will all form part of the upgrade.

CPPT's regeneration updates page said "there will still be lots for you to see, experience, and enjoy during your visit".

The 29 Grade I-listed dinosaur sculptures were created between 1853 and 1855 by artist Benjamin Waterhouse Hawkins, and sit on an island in the park.

The creatures are thought to be the world's first attempt to model extinct animals at life-size, based on fossil remains as evidence.

While commonly known as the Crystal Palace dinosaurs, only four are technically dinosaurs with the others being ancient mammals, amphibians, and marine and flying reptiles.

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