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’re 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.
And Brummies are in for a treat! And it is one experience you won’t want to miss this summer.
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Housed inside Hall 11 at Birmingham’s NEC, Tutankhamun: The Immersive Experience, the 2,000 square metre exhibition 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’s immersive video mapping rooms as well as two virtual reality experiences.
As you weave your way through the maze of the exhibition, there’s plenty of artefacts to feast your eyes upon. Of the most impressive, of course, 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 – and Howard Carter wasn’t lying when he said ‘everywhere the glint of gold’.
Tutankhamun: The Immersive Experience features dozens of amazing artefacts and replicas from inside the famous tomb -Credit:Dayna Farrington
There’s also a replica of one of the coffins, as well as his golden throne, plus statues, jewellery and more to explore.
A huge 360-degree immersive video mapping room is also a sight to behold. Who knew sitting on a little stool could make you feel like you’re 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 of the tomb is described in a recorded interview of Howard Carter, the famous British archaeologist, adding an extraordinary layer of authenticity to the experience.
The 360 degree video mapping room takes you on a journey through Ancient Egypt -Credit:Dayna Farrington
But the best is yet to come, as 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. It might not best for anyone with sensory issues however.
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.
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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!
Tutankhamun: The Immersive Experience is an amazing addition to the Birmingham NEC line-up this summer – and one not to be missed! It’s perfect for families and history buffs – and it’s clear to see why it welcomed more than 300,000 visitors during runs in London and Glasgow.
How to get tickets to Tutankhamun: The Immersive Experience
Tutankhamun: The Immersive Exhibition will run at Birmingham’s NEC Campus between Friday, June 19, and Sunday, September 13.
Tickets will start from £22 for adults and £15.50 for children, while family bundles will be available from £16.50 per person. All tickets will be subject to a £2 booking fee. You can book tickets directly through Fever, here.
A special Pharaoh Package will be priced from £47 which includes entry to exhibition and a range of merchandise.