Eight venues will host the Museum's Diplodocus skeleton on its tour of the country, including a cathedral, parliament building and community centre.

Dr Jon Murden, Director of Dorset County Museum, says, 'We are so excited to be welcoming Dippy in 2018 at the heart of the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site. 'As the birthplace of palaeontology, there is nowhere in the UK more appropriate for Dippy to start the tour than Dorset, and we're thrilled to have been chosen as the first host venue. 'There are connections to be made between our internationally significant fossil collections and current coastal management, and therefore we're delighted to be working in partnership on this tour with the Jurassic Coast Team and Trust.' Inspiring the next generation With support from the Garfield Weston Foundation, the tour aims to spark the imagination of a new generation of scientists and connect the nation with nature. Each partner will use Dippy's visit to showcase their local nature and natural history collections. Along the way, Dippy will draw attention to the rich array of past and present UK biodiversity. Sir Michael Dixon, Director of the Natural History Museum, says, 'We wanted Dippy to visit unusual locations so he can draw in people who may not traditionally visit a museum. 'Making iconic items accessible to as many people as possible is at the heart of what museums give to the nation, so we have ensured that Dippy will still be free to view at all tour venues.'