10+ Best Immersive Experiences In London To Try Out This August 2022
The Style Diary is supported by its readers. We may earn an affiliate commission when you buy through links on this website. Learn more.If you live in or around London, you’ll know that the UK’s capital or hub of arts & culture is full of exciting things to do, especially this time of year!
And of course, you want to soak up the sun as much as possible before those notoriously British showers hit again but there are so many indoor immersive experiences you won’t want to miss this August either.
From solving puzzles in scary and claustrophobia-inducing escape rooms to sinking yourself into art masterpieces, there’s a little something for everyone!
1. Jurassic World Exhibition, Excel London, Royal Victoria Dock, E16 1XL
This will be your one and only chance to take a walk behind the lens of the iconic Jurassic World franchise and into the land of giants coming face to face with the life-sized dinosaurs.
Audiences of all ages will be immersed in scenes inspired by these beloved films in this awe-inspiring exhibition.
Get up-close and personal with a towering Brachiosaurus, a peripatetic Velociraptor, and one of the most vicious dinosaurs of all, a Tyrannosaurus Rex!
2. Stranger Things: The Experience, Tilling Road Troubadour, Brent Cross, London NW2 1LW
Stranger Things has easily become of the most popular shows on Netflix - EVER!
But now is your chance to venture inside Hawkins labs with Eleven, Dustin, Mike, Lucas, Max, and Will for a 1-hour immersive experience as well as explore an 80’s-themed Mix-Tape medley, enjoy food & drinks, browse special merchandise, photo ops, and much more.
3. Van Gogh Experience, 106 Commercial St, London E1 6LZ
Visual storytelling just got a cutting-edge technology upgrade!
Discover Van Gogh's most compelling works through two-story projections in this 20,000 sq ft light and sound spectacle.
If you are a big fan of VR - good news! You can also walk alongside Van Gogh on a visually rich journey discovering the inspiration behind 8 of his most iconic works including Vincent's Bedroom at Arles & Starry Night Over The Rhone.
4. Billy Bonker And The Cocktail Factory, 79 Stoke Newington Rd, London N16 8AD
Inspired by the sweet sensations of the nation's favourite children’s book, Billy Bonker and the Cocktail Factory is a hilarious parody which transports those lucky enough to get their hands on a Golden Packet into an immersive theatrical experience.
Hosted by previous Golden Packet winners and their very own Lumpy Dumpies, you'll be treated to a 'Fizzy Lifting Cocktail' upon arrival and invited to indulge in Bonker's latest creations fresh from his 'Inventing Bar-room'.
Hopefully, Billy Bonker won't wander into the factory while you're there...
5. Dopamine Land, 83 Old Brompton Rd, South Kensington, London SW7 3LD
Dopamine Land was created to trigger the feel-good hormone we've all been missing lately through multisensory experiences. With 5 interactive rooms to choose from, you can channel your inner child's limitless imagination and bring it to life.
The interactive museum Dopamine Land combines traditional media and technology to create a blissful experience packed with bubbles, crafts, meditative fire lanterns, stunning landscapes, and much more.
Through colourful installations, you can reconnect with your emotions and disconnect from everyday life.
6. Mexican Geniuses: A Frida & Diego Experience, Retail Park Unit 1 Canada Water, Surrey Quays Rd Dock X, London SE16 2XU
Over 300 digital projections will surround you as you explore Frida Kahlo’s and Diego Rivera’s most captivating works.
Through their state-of-the-art VR, you'll walk in the footsteps of Frida and Diego on a visually rich adventure through Mexico. There, you’ll explore a world inspired by their works of art and celebrate the Day of the Dead.
Immerse yourself in the world of Frida and Diego. The exhibition features a unique storytelling technique, cutting-edge technology, and recreations of paintings and props, including Frida's wheelchair and corset.
7. Alcotraz: Cell Block Two-One-Two, 212 Brick Ln, London E1 6SA
Taking inspiration from Hollywood movies and TV that depict America's most infamous prison, Alcotraz is London's first immersive theatrical cocktail bar.
But you probably wouldn't mind doing time in this prison! Behind some unassuming shutters on London's Brick Lane lies a secret prison Cell Block Two-One-Two!
With other serving cell inmates as your bartender and crooked guards wandering about, you have the difficult task of trying to smuggle your liquor past the warden and get it into the hands of the longest-serving inmates.
8. Immersive Gamebox, Arch 3, 83 Scoresby Street, Southwark, SE1 0XN
Love retro games? With the Electric Gamebox, you can relive the glory days of the 1980s arcade.
Immerse yourself in an interactive room with games like James Bunny, Block Smash Mania, and Psychedelic Mansion and upgrade your leisure time with friends.
And if you’re a big fan of the hit Netflix series Squid Game, you pre-book an experience to play all six challenges at Gamebox from September 21st.
9. Otherworld, 85 Buckingham Palace Road, London, SW1W 0QJ
Otherworld is an award-winning virtual island paradise, home to sixteen unique VR experiences including surviving a zombie apocalypse deep in the desert, soaring around the globe, exploring the open seas, or swinging from tree to tree and discovering the secrets of the ancients.
To maximise your journey into immersive virtual reality, you and your friends will step into your own sense-hacking immersion pod, which combines a VR headset with dynamic heat, wind, and rumble effects.
When you enter the virtual world, you'll be able to see and hear your friends' avatars as if they were right next to you.
10. The Great Gatsby, 56 Davies St, London W1K 5HR
Olivier Award-winning producers Louis Hartshorn & Brian Hook from Immersive Everywhere have brought back London’s longest-running immersive theatrical production, The Great Gatsby.
Take a trip back in time to the roaring twenties! You have the hottest ticket in town to attend one of Jay Gatsby's infamous parties.
There will be champagne flowing and the man himself will be the perfect host as the drama unfolds. Red hot rhythms meet bootleg liquor and self-indulgent jazz age self-indulgence in this hedonistic world.
11. ABQ at Hackney Funhouse, 18 Bohemia Place, E8 1DU
Opened in 2015, ABQ London (which is a part of Hackney Funhouse) is the world's first immersive molecular cocktail bar where you get to dress up like a scientist and “cook” your own molecular cocktails in an RV (Motorhome).
This very quickly and interactive experience includes disposable masks, acids, hazmats, alcohol, loads of fun, amazing music and much more.
But before you chug down your DIY cocktail, line your stomach with some delicious award-winning artisan pizza at Saint Sourdough which is also located in the Hackney Funhouse.
12. Hyper Reality, 67 Mile End Road, E1 4TT, London, UK
Another one for the gamers! This self-proclaimed Premier Cyberpunk VR and Bar appears to be something of a Fifth Element and Ghost in the Shell movie mash-up!
This experience promises award-winning drinks, Tokyo lights, retro gaming and karaoke nights!
Play a selection of VR games such as Revolvr, Tower Tag, and Burning Descent plus more with your friends or as a lone wolf.
Or get hyped on one of their many rollercoaster experiences like The Great Wall of China or Korean Haunted House!
13. Jeff Wayne's The War Of The Worlds, 56 Leadenhall Street, London, EC3A 2BJ
Enjoy an experience that is out of this world at Jeff Wayne's The War of The Worlds!
You will be immersed in the action through 24 interactive scenes with live actors, virtual reality, and sensational 5D effects in this brand-new, completely unique event.
Featuring Jeff Wayne's multi-award-winning musical version of The War of The Worlds as your soundtrack, you'll visit the Royal Observatory, sneak into a deserted house, escape London by boat as 300-foot Martian Fighting Machines attack Westminster, and even fly to Mars in a hot air balloon!
14. Fitz’s Bar: The Theory Of Colour, Russell Square, Bloomsbury, WC1B 5BE
The menu was inspired by manager Scott Gavin’s interest in colour psychology and the impact it has on food and drinks choices.
In this collection of cocktails, the team has reimagined 14 altered versions of Nicolaes van Verendael's 1660 artwork 'Still Life of a Vase of Flowers'.
From the menu, you can choose the altered version that most appeals to you, and you'll be served a cocktail that matches the image's colour scheme. But that’s not all though, use a UV light and shine it over your menu to reveal hidden secrets about the drinks and your personality.
15. The Gunpowder Plot, 8-12 Tower Hill, London EC3N 4EE
Get a glimpse of London in 1605 when you travel back in time during one of the most daring conspiracies in history
Live theatre and digital technology combine to create an immersive experience that immerses you in an exciting story. You'll be immersed in a 360-degree immersive environment that captures the mood of the plotters.
It is up to you as the protagonist to discover the deception at the hands of the traitors, but who will you trust when surrounded by them?
16. The Klimt Experience, 152 Brick Ln, London E1 6RU
"Cutting-edge technology" and "exquisite storytelling" have been used to recreate Gustav Klimt's most compelling works such as "The Kiss" and "The Tree of Life".
Klimt’s works are digitally projected into a 20,000 square foot light and sound spectacular that stretches from floor to ceiling, and you can also experience separate galleries that chronicle his life, influence and techniques through interactive and informative panels.
The most immersive component of the exhibition is the unique ten-minute VR experience, affectionately named “A day in the life of the Artist”, where you’ll the chance to ‘walk alongside Klimt’ to discover the inspiration behind eight of his iconic works.
17. The Murdér Express Part Deux: Jewel of the Empire, Arch 63 Pedley Street, E1 5BW
A renowned archaeologist, Dr Errol Earhart, unearthed the Pearl of the Empire in 1937 and transported it to Von Cleethorpes by Murdér Express at Pedley Street station during the height of the British Empire.
The Diamond of the Empire disappears soon after, and bodies pile up as the clock ticks towards catching the killer and reclaiming it. However, all is not as it seems, and everybody is suspect - even you!
18. Tomb Raider: The Live Experience, The Stables Market, Lower Basement & Upper Basement Atrium NW1 8AH
Jump into the action by following Lara Croft on a high-octane, thrill-seeking adventure!
You'll solve thorny puzzles, grapple with physical challenges and swing across the jungle on a zip wire. This all-immersive adventure encourages you to engage both your brain and brawn!
19. Phantom Peak: An Open World Adventure, Surrey Quays Rd, London SE16 7PJ
Explore Phantom Peak, a western-style steampunk town with its own waterfall, lake, and residents. In this immersive 5-hour experience, you will discover the mysteries hidden around every corner of the town as prospective new citizens.
There are more than 100 adventures, games and stories to discover at Phantom Peak, as well as premium bars and restaurants.
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