Fun immersive family experiences to try in Birmingham before the summer holidays end

With the summer holidays slowly coming to an end, I’ve been trying to make the most of the final weeks by finding family activities that feel a little more special than the usual day out.

Over the weekend, we experienced two completely different immersive experiences in Birmingham – one taking us thousands of years back to Ancient Egypt, and the other offering a very different adventure, this time into a world filled with dinosaurs.

What they had in common? They were both incredibly immersive experiences that made us feel like we were actually part of the adventure. 

Tutankhamun: The Immersive Exhibition

Our first stop was Tutankhamun: The Immersive Exhibition at the NEC Birmingham.

If you're looking for a family activity that combines history, technology and a bit of a wow factor, this is definitely one to consider.

The exhibition brings the world of Tutankhamun to life through a mix of historical storytelling, 360-degree projections, virtual reality and interactive digital experiences. Rather than simply reading about Ancient Egypt, you get the chance to step into it and explore it in a much more engaging way.

I particularly enjoyed the VR experience, which took us on a mystical journey through the Egyptian afterlife. It was a completely different way of experiencing the history, and being surrounded by the virtual environment made everything feel much more immediate.

The interactive Metaverse room was another fun part of the experience. Here, we could take on the role of archaeologist Howard Carter, explore his base camp and then head into a virtual Valley of the Kings, using a torch to uncover artefacts along the way.

I liked that this was something we could explore together as a team rather than everyone simply doing their own thing.

Then there was the immersive projection experience, featuring 360-degree video mapping with visuals reaching around eight metres high. It was beautiful and quite eye-opening, particularly when the scenes transported us along the Nile towards the pyramids. That was one of my favourite parts.

There is also a more traditional exhibition element, which I thought worked really well alongside all the technology. The treasure chamber features original ancient Egyptian artefacts as well as high-quality replicas, giving you the opportunity to see some of the objects associated with this fascinating period up close.

So while the VR and interactive elements are likely to appeal to children, there is still plenty for adults to stop and look at and learn about too.

The exhibition has travelled to cities across three continents and welcomed more than 2.5 million visitors before arriving in Birmingham for its limited run.

If you haven't managed to visit yet, Tutankhamun: The Immersive Exhibition is at the NEC Birmingham until 13 September 2026, so there is still a little time to catch it before the exhibition leaves Birmingham.

Meet the dinosaurs at Sandbox VR

The following day, we swapped Ancient Egypt for something completely different.

Age of Dinosaurs at Sandbox VR Birmingham immediately catches the whole family’s attention because it offers something very different from simply watching a dinosaur film or playing a traditional video game for all ages.

Created in partnership with the Natural History Museum, the experience takes participants into a prehistoric world where they become part of the adventure.

Sandbox VR combines full-body motion capture technology with a headset and handheld wand controller, allowing players to move around and interact with the virtual world.

Instead of sitting back and watching the action, players explore the Jurassic landscape, duck as dinosaurs come towards them and work together to complete different parts of the adventure.

I think that is what makes the experience particularly appealing. There is something much more exciting about having dinosaurs appear around you rather than simply seeing them on a screen.

The experience also uses precision tracking and haptic vests, which add another layer to the adventure. To feel things such as ground tremors and the heavy footsteps of dinosaurs, helping to make the prehistoric world feel even more realistic.

And while the idea of a dinosaur suddenly appearing in front of you sounds like it could be frightening, Age of Dinosaurs strikes more of a balance between excitement and fear.

For me, that makes it particularly appealing for families. There can be a few happy screams when a dinosaur gets too close, without the experience becoming too scary for younger players.

The experience can accommodate up to six people, making it a good option for families or groups of friends.

Each person gets their own character within the VR world, with players able to choose their character, colour and name.

There is also a competitive element, with progress and scores connected to a leaderboard. For anyone who enjoys a bit of friendly competition, that could provide an extra reason to return and try to beat an earlier score.

The experience lasts around 30 minutes, but there is plenty packed into that time; exploring a Jurassic world, encountering prehistoric creatures and work together on a mission to help save the future of Earth.

While being guided through the adventure by a character from the future and her robot dog, who help them navigate the prehistoric world and work out what they need to do next.

I also like that there is an educational side to the experience.

Age of Dinosaurs was developed with the Natural History Museum, including palaeontologist Dr Darren Naish, with the dinosaurs and prehistoric environments informed by current scientific understanding.

That means children can have fun exploring a prehistoric world while also learning about the creatures that once lived on Earth and how scientists understand them today.

What I love about these immersive experiences for families

What I love about experiences like this is the fact that they can turn a family day out into something everyone can get involved in.

One day, you could be exploring Ancient Egypt, travelling through the afterlife, discovering artefacts and journeying along the Nile towards the pyramids.

The next, you could be transported into a prehistoric world, ducking away from dinosaurs and trying not to get eaten by a T. rex!

Despite being completely different, both experiences have the same thing going for them: you're not just watching. You're part of the story.

You can explore, interact and experience the adventure together, which I think makes these types of experiences much more memorable than simply watching something unfold in front of you.

For families, that combination of entertainment, interaction and learning is a big attraction. Children get the excitement, adults have something to enjoy too, and, most importantly, everyone has something to talk about afterwards.