We love living in Bristol – from cider pubs to colouful houses – there’s so much to see, taste and do everywhere you step. But even the glamorous can begin to become mundane when experienced too often. That’s why it’s a good idea to switch up your surroundings ever so often and step into a world of new sensations. These perception-altering immersive experiences in Bristol are like nothing you’ve faced before.
1. Let your tastebuds guide as you dine in the dark
We’ve all heard the expression ‘you eat with your eyes first’. But what if that sense was taken away from you? It’s time to let your other senses lead for a change, as you taste your way through a sublime three-course meal completely blindfolded. It might sound strange, but this immersive experience intensifies your other senses; it allows for interesting textures and superb scents to come out of your food.
Dining In The Dark experience comes to MUSE Brasserie on September 12, with this unconventional culinary experience. There are three colour-coded three menus to choose from: Red (Meat), Blue (Seafood) and Green (Vegan). But other than that, you won’t know what’s coming. You’ll just have to rely on your taste, smell and touch (potentially even your hearing. Get your tickets to this tasty immersive experience in Bristol here.
2. Step into the parallel world of Wake The Tiger
Described as “the world’s first amazement park”, Wake The Tiger is a whole new world for you to discover. It’s been created by the team behind Boomtown and will make you completely forget you are in the industrialised area of St Philips. Built for all ages, this immersive adventure blurs the lines between an experimental art gallery, interactive theme park and detailed film set.
Visitors must step through the secret portal to go to this immersive experience in Bristol. On the other side, they will discover the amazing parallel world of Meridia. Here you’ll find a highly detailed, multi-layered maze of environments, secret passageways, hidden forests, temples, ice caves and so much more. There are 27 distinct areas to explore – all centred around the concept of reconnecting people with their environment and community.
3. Bask in the gentle glow of a Candlelight concert
A beautiful immersive experience isn’t always about overloading the senses. Some are so mesmerising they can whisk you away with something so simple. Such as a gorgeously exclusive venue, thousands of gentle candles and a four-string quartet playing classical music.
Candlelight provides something for everyone to enjoy at these concerts too. You’ll find a Candlelight concert for you from classical to modern music. Just relax into these multi-sensory, immersive experiences like no other in Bristol! Check out all the Candlelight concerts available in Bristol here.
4. Take a psychedelic trip through light, space and sound
Until the end of August, a Cheltenham-based art collective has taken over Propyard and brought together its award-winning artworks for the first time as Beyond Submergence. Squidsoup is celebrated for creating immersive experiences that invite an emotional response from audiences, which first shared its artwork in Bristol almost 20 years ago.
Five of the collective’s biggest pieces come together for the very first time. Offering an immersive and psychedelic trip. Guests are welcome to explore the works in any sequence, as they are designed to be seen alone or in groups, from any angle. Just expect a colourful, sensory overload that utilises light, space, sound, scale, movement and technology.
5. See Bristol city centre glow-up
The annual Bristol Light Festival won’t return until February. But when it does expect one of the most colourful immersive experiences to take over all of Bristol. It turns the city into a dazzling sight to behold. As both internationally renowned artists and some of the South West’s best artistic talent bring luminous interactive installations to Bristol’s most iconic spots.
Some of the festival’s previously most striking installations included Scream the House Down by Marcus Lyall. The light installation was activated by people’s voices. Interpreting everyone’s voice differently and creating unique responses in a sea of colour over The Corn Exchange. At the same time, Illumaphonium’s Continuum invited visitors to traverse a maze of mirrored monoliths at the recently renovated and historic Temple Church. We can’t wait to see what comes next time!
6. Plug in and play at Vertigo VR
Strap in and step into a new reality at Vertigo VR. Offering a room-scale gaming environment – with enough space to shoot arrows, dodge bullets or unwind on vacation – this virtual reality centre is a world away from Bristol. While still sitting right in the heart of the city centre.
There are over 50 gaming titles to play during your stay, which can last anywhere between 30 mins to two hours. You can try them all to as you flick between them throughout your session. You can even try out multiplayer with family or friends if you hire multiple arenas.
7. Head through the looking glass with this cocktail experience
Following up on the success of the previous Alice in Wonderland-themed cocktail experience, these immersive experiences are back in Bristol for the sequel. Head through the looking glass, where The Alice Cocktail Experience has found an ‘Eat Me’ cake and grown bigger and better than ever. Are you ready to return to Wonderland?
Until the end of the year, you’re invited to join The White Queen at this exclusive party. Where you’ll drink from giant smoking cocktail concoctions, play some croquet, participate in human-sized chess, solve riddles and discover plenty of hidden secrets. Plus, there will be plenty of other surprises along the way!