Age of Dinosaurs tops time-travel wish list for kids - as new London suite opens

Age of Dinosaurs tops time-travel wish list for kids - as new London suite opens More than a third of kids would choose to go back to the age of dinosaurs, with the biggest appeal being the chance to come face-to-face with a real one The age of the dinosaurs tops kids’ ultimate time-travel wish list, research has revealed. A poll of 1,000 parents with children aged three to 12 found 34% would choose to go back to the Mesozoic age, with the biggest appeal being the chance to come face-to-face with a real dinosaur (43%). The next desired time-travel destination was the future world (20%), while 7% wanted to go to ancient Egypt and visit the pyramids. It emerged 78% of kids are interested in dinosaurs, with 20% of mums and dads also naming them as their child’s number one fascination in general. Gaming came second (18%), followed by superheroes (14%), and arts and crafts (14%). The research was commissioned by Park Plaza London Riverbank, which is searching for the UK's biggest “T-Rexpert” for a chance to win a family stay in its new Natural History Museum Dinosaur Suite, which opened for booking on September 1st. Maxine Lister, head of licensing at the Natural History Museum, said: “We are delighted to see dinosaurs continue to captivate children and spark their curiosity in the natural world. “Together with Park Plaza London Riverbank, we have created a new way for families to immerse themselves in a wonderful prehistoric adventure together, from the comfort of their own hotel room.” There were no surprises as the Tyrannosaurus rex was voted the dinosaur children would most like to see in real life (42%), followed by Triceratops (11%) and Velociraptor (nine%). The biggest fascinations about them include their size (50%), their appearance (46%) and the fact they lived so long ago (41%). Interestingly, just 22% of parents think they know more about dinosaurs than their little ones, with half of children (50%) having corrected them at one point on a fact about them. But mums and dads are seemingly delighted with their passions - as 81% agreed learning about the prehistoric animals has sparked their kids’ interest in science and history, according to OnePoll figures. Overall, 84% believe it’s important for family days or holidays to have an educational element attached to them, and 79% believe their child would be excited about the potential of staying in a dinosaur-themed hotel suite. Families can win a stay in the suite, which includes a hidden bookcase opening into a world inspired by dinos, featuring many goodies and experiences, by submitting a short video to @ParkPlaza on Instagram showing why their child is the ultimate dinosaur fan by September 21st. Suat Binkaya, senior general manager at the hotel, added: “Collaborating with the Museum means we have built real storytelling and discovery into the experience that every family will have. “From a dinosaur-inspired bunk bed and prehistoric murals to interactive games, discovery activities and hidden specimens waiting to be uncovered, every corner of the suite has been built to spark curiosity and bring the ancient world to life. “Every part has been meticulously designed to be immersive, educational and highly memorable, while still delivering on the comfort and quality guests expect.” TOP FIVE PERIODS OF HISTORY KIDS WOULD LIKE TO VISIT: - Jurassic/Dinosaur era - Future world - Age of pirates - Roman Empire - Ancient Egypt