Name: Fossils Galore
Rating: 5.0

Fossils Galore

Fossils Galore, High Street, March, Cambridgeshire, UK

1-99 Years

Description

Fossils Galore is an exciting archaeology and palaeontology museum category attraction in the heart of March. It is widely considered one of the best things to do with kids in March because it allows children to get hands-on with ancient history through fossil hunting and cleaning. The centre serves as both a museum and a working laboratory where real dinosaur bones are prepared.

A visit here is very budget-friendly for a family morning or afternoon. Entry is free, though there are small charges for specific activities like the fossil hunting pits or gold panning. This approach allows you to browse the impressive collections for free before deciding which hands-on experiences your kids want to try.

If you are looking for the best place for a day out with family and kids that mixes science with actual adventure, this is it. It provides a unique educational day out where children don't just look at bones behind glass but actually learn how to find and identify them. It is a fantastic way to spark a lifelong interest in geology and history in a relaxed, friendly environment.

Features

Free
Host birthday parties: Yes

Features

Key Features

Interactive Exhibits: The centre features interactive exhibits such as the fossil hunting sandpits where children can dig for their own prehistoric treasures.
Educational Day Out: Staffed by experts, it offers a premier educational day out where kids can watch real dinosaur bones being cleaned in the prep lab.
Sensory Play: Visual and tactile sensory play is everywhere, from the rough texture of raw fossils to the shimmering "gold" in the panning sluice.
Active Learning: Children are encouraged to bring in their own finds from home for a free identification service by the resident palaeontologists.

Top 5 Highlights

The Dinosaur Prep Lab: Watch through the glass as experts use fine tools to remove stone from actual dinosaur remains. It’s a "Helpful Peer" favourite because it shows kids that being a scientist is a real, active job they could do one day.
The Fossil Hunting Pit: A specially prepared area where kids use brushes and trowels to find shark teeth and crystals. It's great because they get to keep what they find, making the history feel personal.
Gold Panning Station: Use traditional pans to sift through sand and water for "fools gold." It’s highly engaging for kids because it requires focus and rewards them with a little pouch of treasure to take home.
The Woolly Mammoth Display: See impressive tusks and teeth found right here in the UK. It helps children understand that massive, exotic-looking animals once roamed the very ground they are standing on.
Cretaceous Sea Life Gallery: A collection of ammonites and marine reptiles from when Britain was under a tropical sea. The spiral shapes of the fossils are fascinating for younger children to examine and draw.

Facilities

Toilets: On-site facilities available for visitors.
Buggy Parking: There is room within the shop and museum area to keep buggies while kids are digging.
Food & Drink: No café on-site, but the High Street location means you are seconds away from family-friendly bakeries and tea rooms.

Pro-Tips for Parents

Dress for Digging: If your kids are doing the fossil pit or gold panning, they might get a bit dusty or damp, so don't wear their Sunday best.
Visit Mid-Week: To see the laboratory in full swing with the most activity, try to visit during a weekday when the preparation team is most active.
Ask for an ID: If your child has found an interesting "stone" in the garden, bring it along; the experts here love to help identify local finds.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it worth it for toddlers? Toddlers usually enjoy the sensory experience of the sandpits and seeing the large mammoth tusks, though the activities are best suited for children aged 4+.
How long does a visit take? Most families spend about 2 hours here if they participate in the digging and panning activities.
Where is the best place to park? The City Road car park is the most convenient for a longer visit, as it is only a few minutes' walk and offers more time than the High Street bays.
Are there cheap indoor activities in March? Fossils Galore is the top choice for a cheap indoor activity, offering free museum entry and very low-cost interactive experiences.

The Visitor Verdict: What Parents Really Think
What Visitors Love

The passion of the staff is incredible; they take the time to talk to every child and explain the science.
It is one of the few places where kids can actually touch and keep prehistoric items.
The value for money is excellent, as you only pay for the specific activities you want to do.

What Visitors Don't Like

The shop and museum area is quite compact, so it can get very busy on rainy Saturday afternoons.
Some activities have a wait time during peak hours as they limit the number of children in the digging pits.

What to see

Detailed Inventory

Indie the Iguanodon: Specific remains of a dinosaur discovered by the Fossils Galore team.
Mammoth Molars: Large, ridged teeth from the Ice Age found in local pits.
Plesiosaur Vertebrae: Backbones from ancient marine reptiles.
Ammonite Wall: A display of various sized spiral shells from the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods.
Ichthyosaur Skull: A specific, well-preserved head of a "fish-lizard."
Petrified Wood Samples: Ancient trees that have literally turned to stone over millions of years.
Megalodon Teeth: Massive, serrated teeth from the famous giant prehistoric shark.
Triceratops Bone Fragments: Specific pieces of the well-known three-horned dinosaur.
Copal and Amber: Ancient tree resin that sometimes contains prehistoric insects.
Iron Pyrite Crystals: Shiny "fools gold" samples used for educational demonstrations.

Beyond the Main Attraction

March Town Centre: Explore the local independent shops and the historic St Wendreda’s Church, known for its famous angel roof.
West End Park: A short walk away, offering a large playground, river views, and plenty of space for a family picnic.
River Nene: Take a family stroll along the riverbanks to spot local water birds and narrowboats.
The Octagonal Church: Visit the nearby St John's Church, a unique architectural landmark in the town.

New for 2026

The 2026 'Indie's Journey' Interactive Trail: A brand-new digital and physical trail for 2026 that follows the life story of the museum's famous Iguanodon discovery.
Expanded Jurassic Coast Exhibit: A 2026 update featuring recently excavated marine fossils from the South Coast, now on permanent display in March.

Events: For more upcoming events please visit here.

Website

Contact

Video

Price

Price: Free

Birthday Parties

Offer Birthday Parties: Yes

Birthday Party Details

Birthday party details

Maximum of 15 children
Choose from activity bundles
Museum tour included
Meet Ruby the T-Rex: £25
Meet the baby dinos: £10
Bring your own cake
Parties last for 2 hours

Price:

Baby Dino Bundle: £10 per person
Paleo Bundle: £15 per person
Skill Bundle: £18 per person
Gem Bundle: £20 per person
Geo Bundle: £28 per person
Roarsome Bundle: £30 per person
All In Bundle: £40 per person

For more information please visit: https://www.fossilsgalore.com/birthday-parties/

Wednesday - Saturday: 10am - 4:30pm

Address: Fossils Galore, High Street, March, Cambridgeshire, UK

Post Code: PE15 9LD

Council: Fenland

County: Cambridgeshire

By Train: March Railway Station is on the Ely-to-Peterborough line. It is a flat, 15-minute walk to the High Street.
By Bus: Local services from Wisbech and Peterborough stop on the High Street nearby.
By Car: March is easily reached via the A141. Use postcode PE15 9JE.
Parking: There is short-stay parking on the High Street and larger long-stay car parks at City Road and Darthill Road within a 5-minute walk.