London’s Peaky Blinders: Underworld immersive experience opens near London Bridge, offering fans a free pub and paid interactive journey through 1920s Birmingham’s Shelby gang world.
Fans of the BBC series can now step into the fictional underworld of the Shelby family at a new immersive experience near London Bridge, blending a free pub with a ticketed interactive adventure. The attraction features the Garrison Tavern—a recreation of the show’s iconic gang HQ—and a timed, 60-minute exploration of 1920s Birmingham’s streets, complete with missions, character interactions, and evolving storylines.
A Gateway to the Shelby World
The experience begins at the Garrison Tavern, a free-to-enter pub that serves as the entrance to the immersive world. Visitors can enjoy live music, themed drinks, and interactions with actors portraying characters. We’ve got singing, we’ve got speeches, we are introducing the overarching story in there from these actors and from these characters to the guests,
says performance director Kieron Smith, describing the tavern as a “gateway” to the experience.
The pub’s design, located in the London Bridge arches, includes period-appropriate details like wooden boards and a costumed bar staff.
The Paid Underworld: Missions and Mystery
Those who pay to enter the “underworld” portion of the experience are transported into a recreated 1920s Birmingham, featuring locations like Garrison Lane, a bookies, and a fairground. You meet characters along the way.
You're given storylines and missions, and it's a whole world,
says Wood, emphasizing the interactive nature of the narrative.
However, the missions have drawn mixed reactions. A critic notes their straightforward
design, noting that completing them does not significantly impact the world or its characters. It’s a baffling creative decision considering this is an interactive experience with a cast full of capable performers,
the review states. Despite this, the experience includes side activities like fairground games and opportunities to interact with roaming actors, offering a mix of puzzle-solving and atmospheric immersion.
Evolving World, Constant Updates
The creators emphasize that the experience is not static. It won’t be that this is static, new characters, new stories can be brought in and the world can constantly evolve,
says Wood. This approach aligns with the show’s legacy of dynamic storytelling, allowing the immersive experience to adapt over time.
The experience also includes subtle nods to the TV series, such as a phone call from Winston Churchill and appearances by original characters. We’ve got lots of little titbits from the series that sort of guests can discover,
says Smith, highlighting the attention to detail that appeals to dedicated fans.
Ticket Prices and Accessibility
Tickets for the immersive experience are priced at around £25 for a one-hour timeslot, with some critics calling the cost “steep” for a “few rooms” but noting that the prospect of winning a drink
softens the price. The free pub, while not a full immersive experience, offers a casual setting for fans to enjoy themed drinks and live entertainment, with the option to upgrade to the paid experience.
The attraction, located near London Bridge station, follows a growing trend of immersive experiences based on popular media. It also has the backing of creator Steven Knight, distinguishing it from earlier attempts like Peaky Blinders: The Rise.
