Coventry is gearing up for a giant visitor this February as an iconic Jurassic exhibit is taking residence at a city art gallery and museum.

The Natural History Museum’s iconic Diplodocus cast – Dippy – will head to the Herbert Art Gallery & Museum from Monday 20 February 2023 for an initial period of three years, with tickets for the free installation available in advance via the Herbert’s website.

Dippy, a cast of a Diplodocus skeleton, first arrived in London in 1905. The 292-bone, 26 metres long, 4.17 metres high replica skeleton has proved a huge hit ever since inspiring generations of visitors to connect with nature.

After 110 years on display at the Museum in London, Dippy embarked on an eight-city tour, which saw it take in every country in the UK, spending time in Dorchester, Birmingham, Belfast, Glasgow, Newcastle upon Tyne, Cardiff, Rochdale, and Norwich.

Every venue and region that played host to the well-travelled Diplodocus cast reported what has come to be known as the ‘Dippy effect’, with a record-breaking two million visitors recorded and an economic benefit of just under £36m across the eight regions.

More recently, Dippy returned to the Museum for its temporary installation Dippy Returns: The Nation’s Favourite Dinosaur, which was visited by over one million people. It is hoped that the same benefits will be seen in Coventry, with the dino-star continuing to engage people of all ages with nature and inspiring them to protect it.

Dippy’s long-term loan to Herbert Art Gallery & Museum comes after the venue underwent a vast refurbishment in preparation for Coventry UK City of Culture, enabling the gallery to display more works and major world-class exhibitions including The Turner Prize 2021.

A new weatherproof bronze replica of the much-loved Diplodocus specimen will be welcoming visitors in the grounds of the Natural History Museum as part of its Urban Nature Project, due for completion in early 2024.

Tickets will be made available in advance via theherbert.org, with more details to follow.