New installation promises a journey through time, nature and humanity’s role in shaping the planet
Sir David Attenborough is set to captivate audiences once again, this time in a wholly immersive format, as he presents a brand-new experience at London’s Natural History Museum. The legendary broadcaster and naturalist, who celebrates his 99th birthday in May, will guide visitors through the story of humankind in a 360-degree cinematic experience, opening this June.
Entitled Our Story With David Attenborough, the experience will be hosted within the museum’s Jerwood Gallery and promises to be a landmark moment in the museum’s history. Through state-of-the-art projection technology, the gallery’s walls and floors will be transformed into vivid, moving landscapes showcasing the wonders of the natural world – from prehistoric oceans to lush rainforests, and even imagined futures.
Reflecting on his involvement, Sir David said:
“Humanity is the most influential species on Earth. We depend entirely on this magnificent planet, yet its future is in our hands. My hope is that visitors of all ages will experience our extraordinary journey at the Natural History Museum and come away feeling inspired, informed and most of all, empowered about their integral role in our world. This is our story and we can all play a significant role.”
The 50-minute experience will begin over four billion years ago at the dawn of Earth’s history and take viewers on an emotional and thought-provoking journey through time. Sir David, drawing from his decades-long career chronicling the natural world, will offer personal insights, charting not only humanity’s rise but also the environmental challenges we now face – and the solutions that lie within our grasp.
Doug Gurr, Director of the Natural History Museum, spoke of the excitement surrounding the project:
“Our Jerwood Gallery has played host to some of our most unique experiences. Our Story With David Attenborough will certainly be one of its most special, as the gallery will be transformed into an immersive escape where the story of our species will come to life around us.”
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The experience has been developed in collaboration with Open Planet Studios, a production company known for its innovative storytelling methods. Jonnie Hughes, co-founder and director at Open Planet Studios, expressed his admiration for Sir David and the project:
“It’s always a pleasure working with Sir David. He is forever eager to explore new ways of engaging people with the natural world, and it was no surprise that he embraced the idea of a 360 immersive experience. By surrounding the audience with powerful imagery, music and sound, we can take them anywhere – from the ocean floor billions of years ago to a future where we’ve learned to live sustainably.”
This new offering follows closely on the heels of the museum’s recently launched Fixing Our Broken Planet exhibit in April, and precedes Space: Could Life Exist Beyond Earth?, which opens on 16 May.
Our Story With David Attenborough opens at the Natural History Museum on 19 June 2025, with tickets available from 22 May. Given the iconic status of Sir David and the pioneering nature of the installation, demand is expected to be high.
For anyone who’s ever been moved by a whisper from Planet Earth, this promises to be an unforgettable opportunity to witness Sir David’s legacy – and the future of our planet – unfold in spectacular fashion.
