Immersive museums and galleries are reshaping how we experience culture, transforming visits into sensory journeys that captivate the imagination. London, ever the trailblazer, leads the charge this winter with experiences that span time, art and even the magic of numbers. Sam Rogg Reports.
The Moonwalkers A Journey With Tom Hanks © Justin Sutcliffe
At Lightroom, the worlds of art, music, film and science converge in immersive experiences that blur the boundaries between storytelling and spectacle. Its flagship venue near King’s Cross is currently showcasing two must-see exhibitions, both running until 25 January. Narrated by actor Damian Lewis, Prehistoric Planet: Discovering Dinosaurs transports visitors 66 million years back in time with life-size dinosaurs, stunning CGI sequences and a haunting original score by Hans Zimmer. Meanwhile, The Moonwalkers: A Journey with Tom Hanks lands audiences on the lunar surface from a room almost the size of NASA’s Apollo Mission Control. Using Apollo footage, remastered photography and a 360-degree set, the experience pairs Hanks’ narration with an original score by Anne Nikitin and audio from Apollo and Artemis astronauts, offering a rare glimpse into humanity’s enduring fascination with the Moon.
For those seeking a sensory feast of art, Frameless remains an unmissable destination. Spanning 30,000 square feet, this gallery uses state-of-the-art projection technology to surround visitors with high-definition imagery, inviting them to step inside some of the world’s greatest masterpieces across four zones. Beyond Reality blurs dream and waking life through Dalí, Klimt and Munch; Colour in Motion animates Monet’s lilies and Van Gogh’s self-portraits in sweeping motion; The World Around Us travels through seas and skylines; and The Art of Abstraction celebrates Kandinsky and Mondrian, to name a few. This winter, visitors can also experience In Bloom: An Emotional Topography, an ongoing residency by artist Cem Hasimi with a soundscape by Woody Cook. Launched on World Mental Health Day, it transforms inner worlds into cinematic landscapes, exploring emotion through sound and shifting imagery. For an after-dark culture fix, Frameless Lates (Fri & Sat) fills the galleries with music and drinks, while The Art of You photo experience lets visitors become the art themselves – an ideal keepsake or gift.
And finally, London’s first permanent mathematics discovery centre, MathsWorld, is now open near the South Bank. Housed beneath a railway arch in Southwark, this interactive space brings numbers to life through hands-on exhibits and mind-bending challenges – doing for maths what the Science Museum does for science. Visitors can explore themed zones devoted to code-breaking, AI and algorithms, problem-solving, shapes and space, and even a dedicated area for under-eights. From mirrors that turn your head upside down to bubbles you can climb inside, this innovative new museum proves that maths is endlessly surprising, inspiring and downright fun. SAM ROGG
See listings for further details
S1: From ashes to awe
Now open at Immerse LDN, The Last Days of Pompeii: The Immersive Exhibition transports visitors 2,000 years into the past with jaw-dropping realism (to 15 Mar). Through 360-degree projections spanning eight-metre-high walls, virtual reality and an extraordinary metaverse reconstruction, the ancient city is reborn in vivid detail. Stroll its sunlit streets, explore the frescoed Villa of Mysteries and witness the drama of the Roman amphitheatre before Mount Vesuvius darkens the skies. This cutting-edge exhibition weaves together history and technology to capture Pompeii’s final moments – from daily life and gladiatorial spectacle to the devastating eruption that preserved it. Roman artefacts and interactive exhibits ground the spectacle in real archaeology, connecting you to the people and places lost to the eruption. Whether you’re a history lover or intrigued by how technology can resurrect the past, this exhibition offers a fascinating encounter with one of civilisation’s most haunting stories. www.pompeii-experience.com | SAM ROGG
