Palaeontologist Professor Mike Benton will deliver two exciting dinosaur lectures at Warminster Civic Centre as part of Roarminster.
Professor Benton, Professor of Vertebrate Palaeontology at the University of Bristol, will speak at the Civic Centre (Sambourne Road, Warminster BA12 8LB, on Saturday 25th July. His lecture, ‘Dinosaurs: New Visions of a Lost World’, will show how science and art help reconstruct how dinosaurs may have looked in life.
The 2pm lecture is family-friendly and aimed at children aged 7 and over. The 4pm lecture will look in greater depth at how scientific evidence shapes our understanding of the prehistoric world, and how those discoveries are brought to life through art.
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Tickets cost just £3 each and are available to purchase here. Alternatively search Warminster Town Council on Eventbrite. Tickets will also be available to purchase on the day. The Civic Centre Coffee Bar will be open selling hot and cold drinks plus snacks.
Professor Benton has written around 400 scientific papers and more than 50 books on palaeontology.
A Warminster Town Council spokesperson said: “Roarminster has got off to a brilliant start, and there is a real buzz around the town. We can’t wait to welcome palaeontologist Professor Mike Benton to Warminster for this exciting event.
“Roarminster features a fantastic range of activities, and we’re delighted to see so many events taking place alongside the dinosaur trail.
“The 4pm lecture is designed for ages 16 and over. However, younger dinosaur enthusiasts who are comfortable in a lecture-style setting are welcome to attend with a parent or guardian.”
Jay Balamurugan, Paleo Artist for the BBC, will also host a free “draw your own dinosaur” event at Warminster Civic Centre for children aged five and over.
On Saturday 15th August, Jay will explain how paleoartists create dinosaur illustrations before inviting visitors to draw their own. The event is free, but places should be reserved here.
Warminster has become Roarminster, with five dinosaur models installed around the town, a dinosaur trail featuring local shops, and a range of additional activities.
Download a trail map from the Warminster Town Council website, or pick one up from Warminster Civic Centre, Sambourne Road, Warminster BA12 8LB; Athenaeum Warminster, 18-20 High St, Warminster BA12 9AE; or Warminster Library & Museum, Three Horseshoes Walk, Warminster BA12 9BT.
Local shops across the town centre are displaying letters in their windows. Find all 12, solve the scramble, and hand in your entry at Warminster Civic Centre for a chance to win a LEGO 3-in-1 dinosaur set. Visitors can also enter the Civic Centre’s ‘Name the Dino’ competition and ‘Guess How Many Sweets in the Jar’ challenge at reception.
Warminster Business Network is working with local shops, restaurants, pubs and cafés to support the town and raise business visibility through the Roarminster loyalty card.
Spend £10 with a participating business to receive a stamp. Collect 10 stamps and hand in your completed card at Warminster Civic Centre for a chance to win a £500 voucher. Terms and conditions apply.
For the full list of Roarminster activities, visit the Roarminster page on the Warminster Town Council website or follow Warminster Town Council and Warminster Civic Centre on social media.
Photo credit: Hay Book Festival
Last modified: 4 August 2026
