Disclosure: I may earn a small commission from the companies or products mentioned in this post.
Immersive theatre has become a hot new trend in London over the last few years, with audiences no longer being satisfied with simply watching a show, but would rather play an active part it in.
Instead of sitting removed from the action, audiences can now step into a real-life adventure and be fully immersed like never before. Rather than just being able to see and hear a production, we can now touch, taste and smell it too.
And nowhere is this truer than in the rise of immersive dining experiences.
Immersive dining experiences combine dinner and theatre into one all-around amazing experience where the food becomes a part of the performance.
There’s certainly no shortage of immersive dining experiences in London, especially with great offers available from sites such as encore tickets.
Here are some of the best immersive dining experiences London has to offer…
THE LONDON CABARET CLUB: LONDON NEVER DIES
Nearest Station: Holborn.
Relaunching in 2021, London Never Dies is a thrilling immersive dining experience by The London Cabaret Club that encourages guests to channel their inner ‘super-spy’ and be transported into the glamorous world of 007.
The fantastic cabaret show features some of London’s most talented West-End performers. The show sees singers, dancers and even gravity-defying acrobats perform amazingly choreographed routines to iconic tracks from the Bond movies. All while you’re sat right in the heart of the action in the glamorous ballroom enjoying a 3-course dinner and a few martinis – shaken not stirred.
Find out more and book tickets here.
DINNER TIME STORY: LE PETIT CHEF
Nearest station: Old Street/Shoreditch High Street
A multisensory-guided culinary experience that uses 3D technology and creative storytelling to immerse guests in an evening of suburb food and fantastic entertainment.
In this high-tech and extremely unique immersive dining experience, an enthusiastic 4-inch French Chef is projected onto your plate to take you on an exciting gastronomic journey down the Silk Road, with delicious dishes and paired drinks arriving on the table with each new destination you visit.
Dinner Time Story has to be the most unusual yet special dining experience London has on right now.
Find out more and book tickets here.
BUNGA BUNGA COVENT GARDEN
Nearest station: Covent Garden/Holborn
Bunga Bunga is one of my absolute favourite immersive dinner experiences in London to go to with a group of friends for a unique and fun night out.
The underground restaurant is only accessible through a secret entrance from above, a perfect start to the craziness of the rest of the night.
While guests enjoy metre-long pizzas, quirky cocktails and other Italian treats, the talented entertainers make their way around the room putting their own cheeky spin onto a variety of well-known songs from different genres.
Later in the night, you can even join in yourself with on-stage karaoke (get a few cocktails down first).
Note: There are different themed shows each night from Wednesday to Saturday so check which one you want to go to. Bunga the Musical on Wednesday nights is my favourite!
Read more about Bunga Bunga here.
DIVINE PROPORTIONS AT THE VAULTS
Nearest station: Waterloo
A dinner invitation that comes with warnings of nudity, strong language and fire… what more could you want from an immersive dining experience?
Held at The Vaults and produced by female-led production company Shotgun Carousel, Divine Proportions is a debaucherous evening of food and fun, where guests are transported on a journey between heaven and hell with the most notorious of the Greek deities.
Be prepared to enjoy your meal along with an array of alluring songs, erotic dancing, sensual stripteases and even a splash of hot candle wax.
Find out more and book tickets here.
FAULTY TOWERS THE DINING EXPERIENCE
Nearest station: Tottenham Court Road
A critically acclaimed immersive theatrical experience created by Australian company ‘Interactive Theatre International’ where guests are invited to join Basil and Sybil Faulty, and their (not so) trusty Spanish waiter Manuel, for an evening of comedy, mayhem and maybe even some food – if you’re lucky!
A great experience for fans of the iconic TV show, with a brilliant cast who interact with guests over dinner while perfectly portraying the personalities and mannerisms of the original characters to a tee.
Read my full review | Book your tickets here.
ONLY FOOLS, THE (CUSHTY) DINING EXPERIENCE
Nearest station: Warren Street
From the same creators of the Faulty Towers dining experience comes London’s new immersive dinner show ‘Only Fools, the (Cushty) Dining Experience’.
Guests are welcomed to the Nags Head in Peckham for a night of classic pub grub and mischief with Del Boy, Rodney and other popular characters from the British TV hit, Only Fools and Horses.
A fun immersive dining experience whether you’re an Only Fools superfan or you’ve never watched an episode.
Read my full review | Book your tickets here
THE MEDIEVAL BANQUET
Nearest station: Tower Hill
Step back in time to Medieval England and enjoy a feast fit for a king while being entertained by an impressive host of musicians, troubadours, minstrels, contortionists and jugglers.
Everything about the Medieval Banquet is immersive, from the costumes you can hire the minute you walk into the themed underground venue, to the dancing wenches serving platters of roast chicken, cheeses, vegetables and jugs of wine and ale during the performances.
THE MURDER EXPRESS PART DEUX
Nearest station: Bethnal Green/Whitechapel/Shoreditch High Street
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This is the second immersive dinner show by award-winning production company Funicular Productions.
Head to historic Pedley Street Station and step onboard the luxurious train known as the ‘The Murdér Express’. Guests are transported back to the 1930s for an immersive murder mystery alongside a delicious themed dinner specially crafted by Chef Louisa Ellis.
A great London immersive dining experience for fans of a classic Agatha Christie ‘whodunnit’.
THE 90s BRUNCH
Nearest station: Secret location which changes every week
Photo from 90s Brunch
90’s brunch is a weekly brunch experience held every Saturday in a secret location around London. Guests can enjoy a 3 course 90’s inspired lunch and bottomless cocktails while being fully immersed back into the 90s with lip sync battles to classic hits, glitter and transfer tattoos, musical statues, a live hula hoop show and roller skating.
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Emily is a born and raised London girl, starting life in the north of the capital then moving down to Fulham in the southwest. She has a master’s degree in Social and Cultural Anthropology from University College London and now works full-time running this blog and as a freelance travel writer, splitting her life between London and travelling the world as a digital nomad.
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Lovely to see many you attended was via myself Love Pop Ups London.
Even though I loved all the immersive / interactive dining experiences which I have done (Dinner Time Story, Only Fools, Faulty Towers and Divine Proportions) my best is still Dinner Time Story as visually stunning and very unique.