Decked out in its ginormous Christmas jumper and standing almost 15 feet tall, the Natural History Museum’s animatronic Tyrannosaurus rex is once again dressed to impress for its sixth festive season.
The dino-sized jumper is 12 and a half times the size of an average child’s and took 12 hours to make. Everyone, from dinosaur enthusiasts to Christmas tradition lovers, will love the annual, free festive display. This year’s knitwear design pays homage to a star resident at the Museum, Sophie the Stegosaurus – one of the most complete Stegosaurus on display in Europe.
The jumper has once again been created in collaboration with NOTJUST Clothing, a UK-based social enterprise, from 100% organic cotton, farmed in a way that supports soil healthy, water efficiency and biodiversity. Available to buy in the Museum and online, the festive knitwear collection includes adult and children’s sizes, matching socks, a scarf and even a canine jumper for four-legged friends, so the whole family can join in the fun!
Claire Bevan, Head of Retail and Customer Contact at the Natural History Museum, said: “This year’s Christmas jumper pays tribute to some of the Museum’s most extraordinary specimens, including the first recorded T. rex fossil and Sophie the Stegosaurus! Our Christmas knitwear is one of the shop’s best-sellers, and all sales help support the upkeep of our wonderful building, the work of our educational public programming and our world-leading scientists conducting research. We can’t wait for our beloved animatronic T. rex to show off our latest jumper design to the Museum’s many visitors from across the globe!”
Exclusive to the Natural History Museum, the cosy Christmas jumper features a nostalgic cream and dark, jungle-green colour scheme, and two prehistoric stars – T. Rex and Stegosaurus emblazoned across the chest and arms. Visitors wanting to witness the Museum’s prehistoric specimens with their own eyes can scout out Sophie the Stegosaurus in Earth Hall, and a fearsome T. Rex jaw in the Dinosaur Gallery.
All profits from purchases made both online and in store support the Museum’s charitable mission, including the work of its 350 scientists conducting research and finding solutions to the planetary emergency.
Ella Wigfall-Gamble, Design Lead at NOTJUST Clothing: “We really wanted to give the much-loved T. rex a standout new look for this year’s collection. Working in collaboration with the Natural History Museum, we’ve created a rex-cellent design that captures the magic and wonder of the museum, using rich jewel tones and weaving in some of its most celebrated exhibits and iconic figures.”
Available in-store and online, the Museum Christmas jumper is available for £45 for adults (sizes S-XXXL) and £30 for children (sizes 3-4 through to 9-10). A scarf (£20) and a Christmas jumper for dogs (sizes S-L) (£25) are also available.
Palaeontologist Professor Susannah Maidment wearing the Christmas jumper in front of Sophie the Stegosaurus © Trustees of the Natural History Museum
Visitors can experience a variety of other Christmas activities at the Museum. Join Storytelling with Father Christmas, from 1 to 22 December, as he shares a magical Christmas story filled with surprises. While grown-ups can enjoy this seasons Silent Disco, taking place on 28 November and 18 December, with three DJs battling the very best songs.
Open seven days a week, visitors to the Museum this Christmas can also meet legends of the Earth’s prehistoric oceans in Jurassic Oceans: Monsters of the Deep or step into the natural world’s wonder at Wildlife Photographer of the Year.
