The new exhibition at the British Library is subtitled “Science Fiction but not as you know it” and aims to demonstrate the genre’s often overlooked breadth and depth.

Breadth is represented by the range of authors, including writers from 2nd century Roman Empire to 21st century China by way of the Brontë sisters, and topics, everything from first contact with aliens to the end of the world, from cyberpunk to steampunk. Depth comes from the examination of such themes as what it means to be human and how we relate to the universe around us and the technology we use.

The emphasis is on the written word – mostly prose fiction but also graphic novels, comic books, manga and poetry – with original authors’ manuscripts sitting alongside mass-market editions. There are film clips and science fiction inspired music, and should you be inspired, or just think you can do better, you can design your own alien.

In the middle of the exhibition you’ll  find a TARDIS , which when added to the one at the Doctor Who Experience, the one at the The London Film Museum and the real police box at Earl’s Court means London must currently be a nexus in the space-time continuum. Or something like that.

Science fiction fans and newcomers alike will come away with a lengthy list of books they want to read.

Out of this World is on at the British Library until 25 September 2011. Free admission to the exhibition itself. Tickets to the surrounding programme of talks and screenings are £7.50, £5.00 concessions.

As Visit London’s official dinosaur correspondent, I can announce that from today, there are Dinosaurs Unleashed on Oxford Street (just across the road from Selfridges!)

Last night, I was lucky enough to get a preview of what’s been brought from the Mesozoic to the 21st century.

There are 24 life-size dinosaurs, ranging from the small Velociraptors to the huge Diplodocus, taking in all the favourites such as Stegosaurus, Triceratops and, of course, T. rex.

They are arranged into three zones, one each for the Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous as well as a virtual aquarium which uses CGI to bring the ancient seas to life.

The Jurassic area, the largest, is outside and has transformed part of central London into a primeval jungle. It isn’t hard to imagine the dinosaurs breaking down the walls and going shopping in Primark… Don’t forget to keep you eyes open for the Deinosuchus — that’s a giant crocodile — just before you leave the jungle and head into the aquarium.

It’s fascinating for dinosaur fans of any age. There’s more photos in the Visit London Flickr pool.

Dinosaurs Unleashed is open until 30 April 2010 at Parklife Oxford Street. You can book Dinosaurs Unleashed tickets here.

It’s turning into Dinosaur week in London. Which, as any six year old, or any grown up dino-nut (guilty as charged), will tell you is only right and proper.

Last night saw the first London performance of Walking with Dinosaurs at The O2. It’s on there until Sunday and then comes to Wembley Arena at the end of the month.

Huxley the paleontologist narrates the journey from the first dinosaur eggs in the triassic through to the meteor impact at the close of the cretaceous (was that a spoiler?). He does the science bit, covering evolution and plate tectonics to tell how the world and its animals and plants have changed over millions of years. But the stars are, of course, the dinosaurs themselves – nine different species, plus one pterosaur.

T. rex is, as in all dino-films, a shameless scene stealer, stomping and roaring as she defends her child from a pair of (justifiably) upset herbivores.

For me the stars were the Brachiosaurs. When Huxley describes the beast towering over him as a youngster and goes on to tell how much bigger he will grow (as tall as a three storey building, as long as two buses, as heavy as ten adult elephants “give or take an adult elephant”) you may think “ah, that’s why they made a small one, there’s no way they could do an adult”, but then a full grown titan joins him in the arena!

The dinosaurs are wonderful creations – they look, move and sound like living animals. For anyone who loves, or even just likes a little bit, dinos, this is probably the closest we’ll come to seeing them in life.

Tickets are selling out fast so book now or enter our competition to win a family ticket.