It's never too late to up sticks and leave London. If anyone knows that, then it's Dippy the plaster cast diplodocus, who resided in the capital from 1905 until 2017 (imagine the rises in travelcard prices he's seen).
Maybe it was time for Dippy to move on. We wouldn't be surprised if he penned a 'why I'm leaving London' op ed for The Telegraph, citing the latte-fication of east London, and all those blue whales coming over here and stealing our jobs.
But where is our beloved plaster cast now? Packed up into shoe boxes and shoved in the Natural History Museum's attic?
In fact, Dippy's embarking on a rock 'n' roll tour of the UK, lasting from 2018-2020. Given the venues — including Norwich, Rochdale, and Dorset County Museum (where Dippy begins his tour) — this is more Steeleye Span than Rolling Stones. But it's exciting nonetheless, especially given that the faux-dino has never been on public display outside of the Natural History Museum.
Says Director of the Dorset County Museum, Dr Jon Murden, "We are so excited to be welcoming Dippy on Tour. As the birthplace of palaeontology, there is nowhere in the UK more appropriate for Dippy to start his tour than Dorset, and we’re thrilled to have been chosen as the first host venue."
Here's one London dinosaur that's even more loved than Mick Jagger.
