In what has become a highly anticipated staple in London’s calendar of festivities, the Natural History Museum has today officially kicked off its yuletide with the unveiling of its annual Christmas T. rex display.
Perhaps its most famous resident, the Museum’s animatronic T. rex first called the South Kensington building its natural habitat in 1992, but since 2021 has become renown for sporting a dino-sized version of the Museum’s Christmas jumper, available in-store and online alongside a matching scarf, hat and socks. Now in its fifth year, the Christmas T. rex display is free for all visitors to see in its Dinosaurs Gallery.
Claire Bevan, Head of Retail and Customer Contact at the Natural History Museum, said: “Since we first began our Christmas T. rex tradition half a decade ago, it has become a firm favourite amongst our 6 million-strong visitors annually. Part of what makes our Museum so special is that it’s free entry for all and this ferociously festive display is always a part of that. Our Christmas knitwear is one of the Shop’s best-sellers and all profits help support our world-leading scientists’ research and the Museum’s educational public programming.”
This year’s design features a selection of the Museum’s finest prehistoric specimens, including a T. rex skull and ammonite fossil, complete with a beautiful illustration of the iconic South Kensington building on the back. Excitingly and brand-new for this year, canine pals can get in on the festive action with a matching dog jumper! The full range is available alongside a full natural history-themed range of gifts, games and apparel in the Natural History Museum Shop.
The range has been created once again in collaboration with NOTJUST, a UK-based social enterprise, from 100% organic cotton. All profits from purchases made, support the Museum’s charitable mission, including the work of its 400 scientists conducting research and finding solutions to the planetary emergency.
Ella Wigfall-Gamble, Lead Designer at NOTJUST, said: “We loved the challenge of bringing a new roaring design to this enormous T Rex sized festive knit and think we’ve created something even bigger and bolder this year in collaboration with the Natural History Museum. We’re proud to be working with the leading museum of natural history to deliver a vibrant festive collection that will delight dinosaur fans of all ages including their four-legged friends.”
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The Natural History Museum’s winter knitwear range is now available in-store and online. © Trustees of the Natural History Museum
Alongside the festive knitwear and retail range is a host of Christmas activities at the Museum for the whole family to get stuck into. The ever-popular Silent Disco returns for a festive December date, with iconic tunes playing into the night. For the little ones, Father Christmas is dropping down the Museum chimney for the family-favourite Storytelling with Santa from 1-21 December. Finally, treat yourself to a Christmas-themed tour and afternoon tea on 12 and 19 December, with the tea held in the Museum’s lavish private Anning Rooms.
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). Unisex socks (from £8), scarf (£28) and a Christmas jumper for dogs (sizes S-L, £25) are also available.
