By Isle of Wight Observer
Sandown’s Dinosaur Isle museum will offer a quieter experience for visitors this summer, with a new weekly ‘quiet hour’ starting next month.
Beginning Wednesday, July 2, the museum will open early every Wednesday from 9am to 10am, creating a calm, sound-free environment for those who may find the usual roaring effects overwhelming. All background sounds and pre-recorded narrations will be turned off during the quiet hour, while the full range of exhibits, including fossil specimens and life-sized dinosaur reconstructions will remain fully accessible.
The initiative is aimed at creating a more inclusive space for visitors with sensory sensitivities, young children, or anyone who prefers a gentler start to their museum visit.
Sue Wilkins, retail manager at Dinosaur Isle, said: “We know loud sounds can be too much for some visitors. Quiet hour is our way of making the museum more welcoming to everyone, because even the fiercest dinosaurs deserve a moment of calm.”
Located on Culver Parade, the museum showcases many fossil finds made on the Island, including the Neovenator, Polacanthus and Iguanodon. The newest addition, Comptonatus chasei, the most complete dinosaur skeleton found in Britain in a century, is also on display.
Dinosaur Isle is open daily from 9.30am to 5pm throughout July and August, with last entry at 4pm. On Wednesdays, doors open early at 9am for quiet hour. Standard admission fees apply, and no booking is required. For details, visit dinosaurisle.com.
Mal Butler