I had a sneak peek at Tutankhamun: The Immersive Experience at Birmingham NEC and visitors will be blown away.
Tutankhamun: The Immersive Experience opens at the NEC Campus on Friday, June 19, for a limited 12-week run.
What to Expect
Have you ever wondered what it was like to sail down the River Nile? Or to wake up inside a tomb and walk through the Valley of the Kings? Well, you are in luck! The incredible Tutankhamun: The Immersive Exhibition has opened at Birmingham's NEC for a 12-week run today (Friday, June 19) and I was invited down for a sneak peek ahead of its opening. Brummies are in for a treat, and it is one experience you will not want to miss this summer.
Housed inside Hall 11 at Birmingham's NEC, Tutankhamun: The Immersive Experience is a 2,000 square metre exhibition that allows visitors to step back in time to Ancient Egypt and uncover the history of Pharaoh Tutankhamun. As well as amazing artefacts and replicas from inside the tomb, there are immersive video mapping rooms and two virtual reality experiences.
As you weave your way through the maze of the exhibition, there are plenty of artefacts to feast your eyes upon. One of the most impressive is a replica of Tutankhamun's gold funerary mask. The original gold mask, now on display in Cairo, weighed over 10 kilograms, but the replica here in Birmingham is just as impressive. Howard Carter was not lying when he said 'everywhere the glint of gold'.
There is also a replica of one of the coffins, his golden throne, statues, jewellery, and more to explore. A huge 360-degree immersive video mapping room is a sight to behold. Sitting on a little stool can make you feel like you are floating down the River Nile or entering a hidden tomb. The experience recounts the rich history of Egypt, its natural landscapes, cultural heritage, the life of Tutankhamun, his tomb, and its groundbreaking discovery. The moment of the discovery is described in a recorded interview of Howard Carter, adding an extraordinary layer of authenticity.
Virtual Reality Experiences
But the best is yet to come. You take your seat for the first virtual reality experience, journeying through the Egyptian afterlife. You wake up as Tutankhamun in his coffin, before leaving his tomb and out into the Valley of the Kings. It is an experience not to be missed, and you feel like you are right there. However, it might not be best for anyone with sensory issues.
A second experience has you literally exploring Tutankhamun's tomb and Howard Carter's basecamp as you walk around with your headset on, using your hands as a torch or reaching out for spots to enhance the event further. Just watch out for other visitors or Howard Carter's as you wander around.
The experience ends with visitors being able to picture themselves as an Ancient Egyptian with the help of a clever AI photobooth. If anything, it will provide you with a good laugh.
Why You Should Visit
Tutankhamun: The Immersive Experience is an amazing addition to the Birmingham NEC line-up this summer and one not to be missed. It is perfect for families and history buffs, and it is clear to see why it welcomed more than 300,000 visitors during runs in London and Glasgow.
How to Get Tickets
Tutankhamun: The Immersive Exhibition will run at Birmingham's NEC Campus between Friday, June 19, and Sunday, September 13. Tickets start from £22 for adults and £15.50 for children, while family bundles are available from £16.50 per person. All tickets are subject to a £2 booking fee. A special Pharaoh Package is priced from £47 and includes entry to the exhibition and a range of merchandise.
