Tucked away beneath the City’s skyscrapers is an apocalyptic world where Martians rule the earth.  Jeff Wayne’s The War of the Worlds: The Immersive Experience is an adrenaline-fuelled rollercoaster where you never know what’s coming next.  If you’re seeking a team-bonding day like no other or simply need a couple of hours of sheer escapism, look no further.

Where is Jeff Wayne’s The War of the Worlds: The Immersive experience located?

It’s located at 56 Leadenhall Street – a two-minute walk from Aldgate Tube on the Metropolitan Line. But despite the obvious signs outside, the uninitiated would simply walk past it.  I worked in the City for seven years and never even knew it existed. As always, London never fails to surprise me with what’s around every corner.

What to wear to the experience?

It’s an active experience with plenty of crawling, sliding, clambering and squeezing through a staggering 24 interactive scenes.  So comfortable, practical clothing is a must – dresses, skirts and wide-legged trousers are best avoided. And trainers are the most practical footwear. Lockers are also available on-site to store bags and other personal belongings.

How long does the experience last and how much does it cost?

It lasts one hour fifty minutes with a twenty-minute breather where you can enjoy a fortifying refreshment before doing battle again.  Tickets cost from £43.00 per person or £40.00 per person if you are in a group of four.   (Children must be aged 10+). If you have mobility problems, read here for accessibility guidance.

War of the Worlds: The Immersive Experience Accolades

I’ve never been a sci-fi fan so had no clue what to expect. However, I was impressed that it’s won a string of TripAdvisor Travellers Choice Awards including London’s number one Immersive Night Out. This may well be due to Jeff Wayne’s influence on every aspect of the experience from the scripts through to the set costumes. Furthermore, his iconic album, “The Musical Version of the War of Worlds” has been specially remastered and is only available here. 

Spirit of Man Restaurant and Bar

With all these accolades, the show had a lot to live up to.  With bated breath, I shuffle in to be met by a Martian fighting machine glaring down at me – all on message so far. The Spirit of Man bar and restaurant has a distinctly Steampunk feel – all dark, wooden panels juxtaposed with futuristic steel pipes and curious gadgets. The Fighting Machine’s “eyes” flash into life intermittently as plumes of smoke suddenly appear – reminding me that this’s no ordinary bar. 

What happens during the Immersive Experience?

Summoned by a lantern-wielding guide, we plunge into a dark, Victorian passageway to begin our adventure. Sight, sound, smell and touch are all in use to build tension and create a clawing sense of claustrophobia. Actors and holograms weave seamlessly to create a gripping narrative to the soundtrack of nine of Jeff Wayne’s finest musical masterpieces.

Events gather pace through the lens of a telescope which gives us our first glimpse of the mysterious objects colliding with Earth.   The pace quickens as we stumble through passageways snatching brief views of our enemy through clever visual effects.  Later, we encounter one of the first human victims of the attack lying in a perilous state on the ground.

But it’s when we sit down in a Victorian parlour that things really come to a head. Plunged into darkness, deafening bangs fill me with dread as full-scale war breaks out all around us.  The brush of an arm on my back sends a shiver down my spine. And it’s with great relief that the tension finally breaks as we move on to the next room.

Brief respite comes when we later don headsets and drift along leafy canals to the rousing strings of Forever Autumn. But, lulled into a false sense of security, I turn a bend to face Martian fighting machines towering over the Houses of Parliament. Next, we’re out at sea battling Martians in crashing waves while clutching onto a stomach-churning heaving boat.  (Beware those with weak sea legs!) This is just one of several amazing Virtual Reality experiences which last no more than ten minutes but which have the power to transport you to an alternate reality where the incredible becomes real.

Faithfully following the book’s plot, the experience thankfully ends on a positive.  Peace is restored as we find ourselves triumphantly soaring through the sky in a hot air balloon. Before we leave, we’re obviously de-fumigated before posing for a photo which can be purchased from the venue.

What others thought of the experience

During our break, I ask my fellow companions for their thoughts on the experience. “It’s a hoot.”  “The experience is like an escape room on steroids.” “Now I know what it’s really like to experience a zombie Apocalypse.”  We’re all in thrall to an experience which clearly lives up to its many accolades. I feel in equal measure exhausted and exhilarated by the last two hours. And the real world suddenly seems disappointingly beige in comparison. Faced with the grim prospect of grappling with Excel spreadsheets, I know I’d far rather be here slaying Martians.

Disclaimer: I was invited to review this experience by Layered Reality on behalf of Jeff Wayne’s The War of the Worlds: The Immersive Experience.