Immersive exhibitions are a fun and dynamic way for families to explore an artist’s works.
These experiences can be more engaging than traditional gallery settings. Kids can discover the mood and colours of famous paintings, while older children and parents can learn more about the art and the artist.
Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience has attractions suitable for all ages, including a 360° digital show, VR experience, and the opportunity to create your own artwork.
In the following article, we’re going to take a look at an honest, in-person review from mum @therealbabybulmers, who visited the exhibition with her family.
We’ve included everything you need to know about Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience so you can decide whether it’s right for you and your little ones.
What is Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience?
Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience is a walk-through gallery featuring giant projected images and a VR exploration of Van Gogh’s most famous paintings.
The event has four main parts: the 360° digital show, a VR experience, an exhibit detailing the artist’s life, and a Studio where you can create your own artwork.
In the 360° digital show, there are projections of Van Gogh’s work that fill the room with light, video and sound. Each projection cycle lasts about 20-30 minutes.
The space holds benches and deckchairs, so you can relax here for as long as you like.
In the VR experience, you learn about the inspiration behind eight of Van Gogh’s most iconic works. Entry to this costs £3 and isn’t included in the price of a standard ticket.
The exhibit uses storytelling and props to teach visitors about Van Gogh’s life. Near the beginning, for example, there’s a recreation of his famous bedroom painting with real furniture.
At the end of the trail is the Studio, where children can create their own version of a Van Gogh painting.
Summary of Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience
Minimum age requirement: All ages are welcome and entry is free for under 4’s
Recommended ages: We recommend 6 years+ for this exhibition
Location: Spitalfields, E1
Exhibition duration: 90 minutes
Prices: From £16.00
Honest Review of Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience by Alexandra Bulmer
Mom of three @therealbabybulmers visited Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience with Loopla and shared her thoughts afterwards.
Book from £16.00: Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience
What were the highlights of your Van Gogh visit?
We really enjoyed the immersive and theatrical nature of the exhibit. My kids loved the Studio room in particular, where they could colour in their own version of a Van Gogh painting.
Is the Van Gogh Immersive Exhibition worth it?
This event might be worth the regular ticket price (£19.90), so I would consider purchasing tickets at this price in the future.
What could have been better?
The only downside was that this experience wasn’t so suitable for younger kids. There were lots of steps and uneven levels, and the biographical aspect of the exhibition wasn’t fun for them.
How would you sum up the Van Gogh Immersive Exhibition?
I would say the Van Gogh Immersive Exhibition is best for children aged 6 years and over.
Book from £16.00: Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience
How would you rate the Van Gogh Immersive Exhibition?
I would rate the Van Gogh exhibition at 7 out of 10 stars.
Book from £16.00: Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience
How would your child rate the Van Gogh Immersive Exhibition?
My kids would give the Van Gogh exhibition 7 out of 10 stars.
Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience had some pros and cons, including:
| Pros | Cons |
| My kids really enjoyed the immersive, theatrical elements of the experience. | Accessibility wasn’t great for younger kids – there were lots of steps and uneven levels. |
| The Studio room was interactive for young children. | The factual and biographical aspects weren’t fun for younger children. |
Virtual reality experience at Van Gogh
A Loopla team member also attended the Van Gogh experience and tried the virtual reality add-on. This is a 3D show that you view through virtual reality headsets and is sold at an extra cost of £3 per person. She had the following to share about the experience.
The virtual reality experience at Van Gogh was one of the highlights of the exhibition.
When you put the 3D headset on, you start to move through landscapes of fields, along streets, and into buildings, which are all from Van Gogh’s paintings or in the same style. You can look all around you, and everywhere, you see scenes from his paintings.
The thick brushstrokes he uses in paintings like The Starry Night come to life and move in swirls or waves, which has a beautiful effect.
I highly recommend the virtual reality experience as it is very immersive, and you feel like you have stepped inside one of Van Gogh’s paintings. It was an exhibition favourite for the children as well.
What other reviewers said about Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience
Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience scored 4.7/5 stars on Facebook.
Many reviewers mention how relaxing the immersive experience is. There are plenty of good seating options—including deckchairs—in the 360° room, making it easy to lose yourself in the paintings.
Families generally recommended this event, saying the VR experience and Studio room were favourites.
However, reviews also mentioned that this isn’t a very accessible venue. The indoor exhibition can get quite dark, and there are lots of stairs and steps you need to navigate.
Best prices for Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience
You can find tickets for the exhibition from £16 on the Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience website.
Children’s tickets cost £9 (4 – 12 years), and children under four go free. There’s also a Family Bundle available, with tickets at £10 for two adults and two children.
It’s worth noting that the venue is closed on Tuesdays.
How long does the Van Gogh experience take?
On their website, Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience advises putting aside 90 minutes for your visit.
The add-on VR experience lasts about 10 minutes, and the 360° immersion room runs on a 20- to 30-minute cycle.
Is Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience suitable for kids?
While all ages are allowed, we recommend Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience for children aged 6 years and over. The colourful, animated projections on the walls will likely entertain toddlers and teenagers.
Younger children might enjoy the Studio, where they can colour in one of Van Gogh’s famous paintings. After they’re done, they can put their finished picture on display.
The VR experience runs you through the story behind eight of Van Gogh’s art pieces, including Vincent’s Bedroom at Arles and Starry Night Over The Rhone. It’s worth noting that entry to this costs £3 and isn’t included in the price of a standard ticket.
The exhibition space is not very easy to use with pushchairs, and it doesn’t have baby-changing facilities on site, so it may not be ideal for babies and toddlers.
The exhibition space is also not accessible for pushchairs.
If you do need to store your pushchair during your time at the exhibition, the venue has some storage space. However, this can fill up during peak periods and the school holidays.
Book from £16.00: Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience
What does the Van Gogh VIP package include?
VIP access includes entry to the exhibit, access to the VR experience with skip-the-line and a poster of Van Gogh’s Starry Night.
Tickets start at £25.90 for an adult and £17 for a child (4 – 12 years).
It’s worth noting that the venue is closed on Tuesdays.
Is Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience worth it?
Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience is worth it for families who want to explore a more interactive, dynamic art exhibition. Unlike in a standard art gallery, the projections make it easier for people of all ages to appreciate and enjoy Van Gogh’s artworks.
Visitors have said it’s fun to get lost in the colours and sounds of Van Gogh’s paintings in the 360° room. Older visitors enjoyed learning more about the famous artist through the exhibit and VR experience.
We think Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience would be best for families with children aged 6 years and over.
The colourful projections will likely entertain younger kids, who might enjoy the opportunity to colour and display their Van Gogh picture.
The VR experience might also appeal to older children and adults who want to learn more about Van Gogh’s life and work.
The event is generally good value for money, and tickets are reasonably affordable: £16 for an adult and £9 for a child (4-12 years).
Family Bundle tickets cost £10 per person and are a good option for families of two adults and two children.
However, some visitors were disappointed that the VR experience wasn’t included in the price of a standard ticket.
Book from £16.00: Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience
Follow @loopla_uk for more event reviews
FAQs
What time do I need to arrive for my scheduled session?
The venue recommends arriving within the time stated on your ticket. However, you can still enter if you arrive within the next 30 minutes.
If you arrive late, you can still use your ticket, but you will be required to wait until there is space to enter the venue.
What facilities will be available at the venue?
Food, drinks and merchandise
The gift shop offers plenty of Van Gogh-printed merchandise, including posters, headphone cases, umbrellas and more.
Although food and drink aren’t available to buy on-site, there are plenty of food vendors in and around Spitalfields Market.
Toilets
The venue has step-free toilets. If you require wheelchair-friendly facilities, the accessible toilet is opposite the venue, in Spitalfields Market.
There are no baby-changing facilities on-site, so we do not recommend this event for families with babies.
Cloakroom and pushchairs
There isn’t a cloakroom at the venue.
However, there is a space to store pushchairs. It’s worth noting that this can fill up quickly during the school holidays and peak periods.
What is the accessibility like at Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience?
Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience is only wheelchair accessible on the ground floor, which gives visitors access to the VR experience, immersive 360° room and tea station.
The nearest accessible toilet is across the road, in Spitalfields Market.
Can I take photos or record the experience?
Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience encourages visitors to take photos and share them. Just make sure you don’t disturb the other customers!
Professional equipment and tripods are not permitted.
