We visited The Gunpowder Plot immersive experience in London

London welcomed a new and thrilling tourist attraction right next to the Tower of London back in May: The Gunpowder Plot immersive experience.

The combination of live action performances, virtual reality, and special effects transports audiences into the heart of the story and makes them the protagonists. In the experience, Harry Potter actor Tom Felton portrays the infamous plotter Guy Fawkes, in the digital cast.

The Gunpowder Plot has become a huge success since its inauguration with most tickets selling out every day. Something that we witnessed first hand when we visited the venue a few days ago.

Our story with The Gunpowder Plot

Back in november 2021 we were introduced by our partners at ELS to the brilliant team behind The Gunpowder Plot as they were in the midst of bringing the project to life.

In order to achieve this, the initiative required the latest and most powerful technology, resulting in a significant financial investment. As a new company, they also had difficulties obtaining credit clearance and favorable interest rates.

That’s why ELS introduced us, they knew that, through our multiple funders, we would be able to find a financial solution…and they were right.

But don’t think it was easy…we even ended up calling it The Funding Plot.

The Funding Plot

Getting credit clearance was complicated, to say the least. While The Gunpowder Plot was a subsidiary company, credit-wise, banks treated it as a new business with all its restrictions.

After many conversations with our different funders, we were able to get credit clearance with one of our banks, but the interest rate was not favorable, compared to a regular bank loan.

Could we improve it? Truth be told, during that time we met with The Gunpowder Plot team on several occasions, they showed us the project, how it was coming together, and we really believed in it.

So we went the extra mile…trying again with another of our funding banks, we decided to put our own guarantee in place to obtain a better rate and were able to provide a financial solution to fund the technology behind The Gunpowder Plot, from the AV equipment, sound blasters to 75 high-spec PCs that operate the whole experience, and the actual fit out of the venue as well.

Once it was all up and running, it was so important to have our funder bank experience it with us and have the chance to make the numbers they once saw on paper turn into a living, breathing and successful business.

Our Gunpowder Plot Experience

So, on a Friday we headed from our office near St Paul Cathedral towards the Tower of London. Right before where the tower tickets booth are, you’ll see the entrance to The Gunpowder Plot

Let’s just say that if you played spy games as a kid…you’ll be in heaven here. Once we walked through the doors of The Gunpowder Plot we were invited down the stairs to a waiting area and told that once the lights turned colour it was our turn to start.

Soon we were in front of table-map of the city of london where we were greeted by a host that explained to us what we were about to experience and gave us piece of mind that we were not going to be asked to do anything dangerous…👀

Good thing she mentioned that, as a few moments later we found ourselves in a gloomy and cold cell of the Tower of London in the 1600s. Hearing prisoners stories and hurrying through narrow corridors to escape danger.

We were then challenged to decipher an important secret message, be part of an escape and rescue mission that mixed VR with real life and asked to choose a side in the Gunpowder Plot: Crown or Barrel.

What do you think we chose?

A small break followed to hatch our plan at the infamous Duck and Drake pub. And the adventure continued with a VR journey through the Thames towards the Houses of Parliament, where the consequences of our choice seem to draw nearer and…we really can’t say anymore, you’ll have to experience it yourself.

The Gunpowder Plot is located right next to the Tower of London, at 8-12 Tower Hill Vaults London EC3N 4EE and operates from Thursday to Sunday. You can get tickets here