AS I stepped ‘on board’ the SS Titanic, a shiver rippled down my spine.
I wasn’t on the actual ill-fated liner - of course - but instead had stepped into the UK’s latest immersive experience called The Legend of the Titanic: The Exhibition.
The exhibition immediately transported me back in time, unveiling the gripping story of the iconic ocean liner before its tragic demise.
I began by exploring a room full of fascinating artefacts before venturing into one of the exhibition’s cutting-edge VR experiences.
In front of me stood a grand hall, full of projections on each wall and across the floor; I had been dropped straight into the scene of the Titanic’s final hours.
For 30 minutes, I witnessed the tragic story of the Titanic unfold.
Personally, I found the story of the experience - which follows a daughter and father on the ship - a little gimmicky and it took away from the overall impact the projections had.
However, when the ship collided with the iceberg, I found it gut-wrenching.
The entire room ‘shattered’ as the ice tore through the ship’s metal hull and waves lapped onboard.
The room plunged into darkness and the ship’s decks quickly disappeared beneath the ice water.
Even the iconic Grand Staircase turned from a once vibrant focal point to a grave at the bottom of the ocean.
As the ship sank to the ocean floor, I couldn’t help but let out a sigh of relief, knowing I remained on dry land.
And I was then hit with a second ‘wow’ moment when I headed into another hat simply took my breath away.
In reality, I was navigating around a large empty room.
But for me with my headset on, I was in a virtual world exploring the Titanic’s various decks and cabins.
Glowing red squares marked real-life walls to avoid, and other participants appeared as green figures.
But for 10 to 15 minutes I got a real taste of what every corner of the Titanic was like, including the wreck that sits today.
Crossing a number of virtual gantries hovering above the ship’s engines felt as if a single misstep could lead me to falling into the machinery below.
Finally standing beside the Titanic’s captain, I removed my headset to reveal a slightly comical room of people wandering around like ghosts.
Other parts of the exhibition include information boards detailing the background of the Titanic and how it was built.
And there is also a room full of fascinating artefacts and personal stories for the ship.
The multitude of perspectives from first, second and third-class passengers was striking - highlighting how each passenger had a different experience onboard the ill-fated ocean liner.
While all the items on display are from the Olympic - the Titanic’s sister ship - the collection showcases how everyday life operated onboard.
There are items from the 1997 film too, sharing how impactful the story of the Titanic has been throughout history.
One of the shorter VR experiences in the exhibition involves chairs that pivot 360-degrees.
Donning a VR headset, I was transported into a seven-minute adventure featuring music and imagery.
The music throughout the VR experience and exhibition as a whole has been meticulously crafted by 50 musicians and offers an eerie reminder of the that played as the ship sank.
Following the VR experience, even more information is shared about the behind-the-scenes of the Titanic and the cold waters that claimed so many lives.
I was surprised to learn that if it wasn’t for the efforts of men battling a fire in the belly of the ship, the Titanic would have sunk an hour earlier.
There were a couple of let-downs for me, though.
Notably, there are few elements of the exhibition that cater to children, but instead, it felt like they were a tad insensitive.
Think: a pool-like table with a screen, where you play a game to break up an iceberg before a ship hits it.
However, looking at the exhibition as a whole - many elements are a testament to how technology can bridge the gap between us and historical events.
It was as if I was mere centimetres away from the reality experienced by the 2,224 passengers onboard the Titanic’s maiden voyage - and not many people can say today they have experienced something like that.
The Legend of the Titanic: The Exhibition opens July 25 at Dock X in Canada Water
Tickets cost from £24 for adults and £16 for children.
