Many years ago I came face-to-face with the mask of Tutankhamun. Housed in what was then the archaic Egyptian Museum in Cairo, the mask is the familiar emblem of a collection which was quite simply mind-blowing.

The craft which had gone into the seemingly endless array of objects including ornaments packed with multicoloured jewels, golden furniture, artwork and huge sarcophagi, all of which had lain under the sand for centuries, was staggering. These were items never intended to be viewed by people on earth and yet no detail had been spared.

When Howard Carter discovered the tomb of the boy pharaoh in Egypt’s Valley of the Kings in 1922 he famously talked of ’everywhere the glint of gold’ and ‘wonderful things’ - and he certainly spoke the truth on that subject.

Carter’s discovery was international headline news and kicked off a fascination with Tutankhamun and his treasure which continues to this day. And so with the rise in immersive and three-dimensional historical experiences, it is little surprise new technology is being used to shine a light on the discovery and the mysterious Egyptian pharaoh at the heart of it all.

Using a range of hi-tech, Tutankhamun: The Immersive Experience takes us back in time, allowing us to walk in the footsteps of Carter and the ancient Egyptians so that we enter temples, fly over the desert and explore the tomb full of treasures – all without stepping outside the confines of the exhibition hall.

The initial rooms feature replicas of Tutankhamun’s famous mask and other treasures alongside a cabinet of genuine ancient artefacts. There is lots of information about the discovery and the tomb within its historical context so people new to the subject can quickly pick up the story.

But it is really the technological experiences which are the highlight of this exhibition.

First you enter a huge four-sided hall-type construction in which a series of short films are projected. Standing in the middle and turning a full 360 degrees, you are surrounded by different moving images so you are travelling along waterways, stepping inside temples and meeting the pharaoh.

The minutiae of the projections bring the scenes alive - from intricate hieroglyphics and hands writing them to flame-lit halls and sky-high columns. It makes for an endlessly shifting and changing kaleidoscope of colour and images. The detail even extends to the floor where lizards, spiders and scarabs are projected and run around so you suddenly jump as one approaches.

Watching every projections (and I would thoroughly recommend viewing them all once if not more times) takes roughly half an hour and it’s then into the 3D headset.

In a swivel chair so you can move and see from all angles, you are transported into the tomb – in fact you are Tutankhamun who now embarks on his final journey into the afterlife. It’s fantastical as you meet your descendants and fly over pyramids with molten lava splashing on all sides – it’s great fun, if a little dizzying.

The next room recreates Carter’s tent and features some of his original documents and drawings as well as an explanation of the importance of the discovery.

It’s then into a ‘metaverse’ where, with another headset strapped over your eyes, you can walk around an imaginary world which encompasses you. Beginning in the desert, you come across Carter’s camp and can take a peek inside. Touching pulsing blue lights takes you to other destinations and in seconds I descended below ground into Tutankhamun’s tomb before it was discovered.

There I could wander around the different chambers, seeing the treasures which are now so famous piled up against walls, ready for the afterlife. It is hard to describe the feeling as you know you are not there and yet it feels very real.

Before leaving there is the opportunity to have your photo taken and digitally captured as an ancient Egyptian - mine was a little weird, who knew ancient Egyptians wore glasses?

The recommended time for viewing the exhibition is 90 minutes but you could easily take a lot longer. There is so much to take in and I could certainly have watched the 360-degree projections again and again, spotting different elements each time.

The incredible aspect of the visit is that despite nearly everything being artificial, the exhibition nevertheless creates a way of experiencing ancient Egypt and the story of Tutankhamun with authenticity. The research alongside Egyptologists and historians ensures the elements feel recognisable as what they are purporting to be - even when you are aware there is nothing in front of you but space.

Whether you are an Egyptian aficionado or just slightly interested, Tutankhamun: The Immersive Experience is an entertaining trip into the distant past while also ensuring visitors learn more about the pharaoh’s world. I loved it.

Reviewed by Diane Parkes

Tutankhamun: The Immersive Experience continues to show at NEC, Birmingham, until Sunday 13 September 2026