Layered Reality - "Jeff Wayne's The War of the Worlds: The Immersive Experience"

Updated: 24 hours ago

LOCATION:  London, United Kingdom

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Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers

📝 ETR DECODER

🔑 GAME: Jeff Wayne's The War of the Worlds: The Immersive Experience
📅 DATE PLAYED: March 7, 2024
🎬 GENRE: Sci-Fi, Aliens
👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS: Up to 12 ppl
🕒 LENGTH OF TIME: 1 hr. 50 Mins. (including 20 Min. intermission)
💰 PRICE: from £40/ pp (depending on date/time/group size; packages & add-ons available)
☎️ BOOKING TYPE: Public
🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED?: N/A

📖 THE STORY

You are back in the late 1800s, and thrown headlong into the story of Wells’ War of the Worlds. You’ve heard strange rumors of the appearance of unusual creatures…could they be true? And, if so, what does this mean for your future?!

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🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE

This is a fantastical combination of interactive theater, musical theater, special effects, and virtual reality. It was hard for me to envision how this would all come together in advance, but as you progress through the experience, moving from scene to scene (24 total), this wild mix of components somehow works!
The immersion here comes in so many forms. The smells are intense, the sets well-crafted, and there’s a ton of tech - from pyrotechnics to visual projections and sound effects. They also have you actively participating in actions fitting to the various scenes. There’s even a sing-along at one point, of a song I’d never heard but everyone else seemed to know!
For the most part, the actors (and there were a bunch) were excellent at both playing their roles and responding to audience interactions.
If you’re traveling solo, unlike many escape rooms, this is totally something you can go do on your own! You’ll likely be put in a group with other folks (up to 12 per session), and there’s definite bonding that occurs as you (hopefully) survive the alien invasion.

🧩 MISSED THE MARK

As someone with an Oculus at home, the VR here was lower resolution and not always as successful (though a few scenes worked well). Those who haven’t done much VR before may not notice this.
There was one particular scene (not involving VR) that was very movement heavy and made me a bit nauseous, but didn’t really seem to have much of a point in the story. If you do start feeling sick (either at this point or with the VR, which also simulates movement at times), you can always close your eyes for a bit! Or, if you’re prone to it, consider taking some anti-nausea meds in advance.
I read the original book just before I participated (there’s also a movie version), but the details of the story might be a bit more confusing to those unfamiliar with it. Though, the specifics are not critical to the overarching storyline and enjoyment of the experience.

🏹 TAKE A SHOT?

I had an absolute blast at War of the Worlds, and definitely recommend it for almost anyone looking for a unique, immersive, multi-faceted experience. It is unfortunately not wheelchair accessible. While they note that some specific effects (e.g., strobe lights) can be avoided if you let them know in advance, I wouldn’t advise bringing small children (10+ recommended) or those sensitive to loud noises, strong smells, etc. However, aside from these caveats, if you’re ever in London, go check it out! I’ve never had an experience like this one…it was a LOT, in the best possible way. Just beware…you never know what might happen!

ℹ️ ADDITIONAL INFO

There is a super cool bar at the entrance, with drinks and food. It perfectly sets the vibe for your upcoming adventure. You also will spend the intermission at another thematic bar, where you can grab a drink and use the bathroom. There are free lockers to store your things, as well as a gift shop and counter to buy your official photos after your experience. You make be asked to get in line 5-10 minutes before your official start time, so be sure you’re ready to go.

Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers

BOOK NOW

(If you do decide to try this game, give us a shoutout or tag us on social media so we know you heard it from "ESCAPETHEROOMers"!)

Disclosure: We thank Layered Reality for comping our tickets for this game. Although complimentary admission was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion on the review whatsoever.