A UK attraction based on the medieval anthology, The Canterbury Tales, has reopened with immersive technology at its centre.
Six years after its closure during the Covid-19 pandemic in April 2020, The Canterbury Tales has operated since the 1980s, and now reopens in the heart of Canterbury, UK, putting immersive technology at its centre.
The experience centres on an immersive retelling of The Canterbury Tales, an anthology of short stories written in the late 14th to early 15th century.
Hologram technology sits at the centre of the newly reopened attraction, allowing visitors to experience a medieval pilgrimage from Southwark to Canterbury.
Visitors can walk through rooms in groups tailored to their own needs, with the venue’s system altering the soundtrack and language as they progress through the experience.
Hologram depictions of The Canterbury Tales author, Geoffrey Chaucer and historic pilgrims feature in the cast, alongside real actors that guide visitors through the experience.
The experience’s new owners, Lewis Hunt and Mica Dougan, utilised their experience in special effects to overhaul and redesign the attraction.
Speaking to the BBC, Hunt commented: "I think we set a new benchmark here as we're showing that education can be done differently, (and) that museums can be done differently through experience, immersion and interactivity.
"We want it to be show-stopping and to show other visitor attractions what can be achieved using state of the art technology to create an immersive visitor experience. I think we set a new benchmark here as we're showing that education can be done differently, [and] that museums can be done differently through experience, immersion and interactivity."