A gateway into the pages of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland has now opened at Canada Water’s Dock X, taking visitors on a journey through 10 immersive chapters that whisk you far away from reality – and perhaps, sanity. From the creative minds at Cité Immersive, Alice Immersive Wonderland is a brand-new experience that just made its global debut in London, transforming a 26,000-square-foot warehouse into a playful warren of intriguing rooms.
We headed over for a willing tumble down the rabbit hole, following Alice through violet-hued forests, secret passageways and chaotic tea parties. Here’s our review…
Where it all began
Charles Dodgson (better known as Lewis Carroll) first told his fantastical tale of a certain bored heroine and a flustered white rabbit to a young Lorina, Alice and Edith while rowing down a river in July 1862. When a spellbound Alice asked him to write it down for her, he created a hand-lettered manuscript and gifted it to her for Christmas, then later, after encouragement from friends, expanded the story for publication. The rest, as they say, is history. Now, after decades of reinventions and reimaginings, you can happily get lost in its magical world once again with this new experience.
What can you expect?
Who said curiosity killed the cat? One thing is for sure: in this experience, it will feel like your best friend. From the moment we plonked down on toadstool seats among a scattering of upturned books and receive the lowdown from a nostalgia-inducing (well, at least for us millennials) projector presentation, to when we emerged from a labyrinth of meticulously manicured hedges to see a giant red dress fit for a queen, we were treated to all manner of illusions, riddles, hidden wonders and on-screen adventures. Alice Immersive Wonderland makes use of every nook and cranny in its sprawling space to pique the imagination and bring the surreal tale to life around you.
Inside the experience
Entering through a giant top hat is no doubt a fitting introduction to Wonderland. And there’s plenty more whimsy where that came from. Think big teacup chairs with cushioned tea spilling out, Russian Doll-reminiscent doors which lead to a glittering reef inhabited by singing sea creatures (it makes sense when you see it) and secret passages hidden inside oversized mushrooms. The creators have clearly let their imagination run riot and embraced Caroll’s nonsensical playbook.
The immersive sets are one of its strongest features. Successfully transforming the blank canvas that is the Dock X warehouse into an oddity-filled journey where you wander through a vortex of floral cushions, Victorian cabinets and antique rugs one moment, and find yourself crawling through hidden passageways or talking into a floral version of a tin-can telephone the next. I would typically pick a favourite room, but as someone who is a sucker for mystical worlds and vintage decor, I was spoilt for choice.
I relished exploring the Den of the Caterpillar – a bamboozling Bowie-esque land of philosophical riddles, fringed mushroom lamps, towering toadstools and ultraviolet lighting – while The Forest of the Cheshire Cat was delightfully disorienting; a purple-drenched place where moss-cloaked branches stretch from corners like crooked claws and that famous toothy grin appears in the shadows out of nowhere. A special mention also for the precariously stacked china (it’s all fixed in place, don’t worry) and fanciful spread in the Mad Tea Party. Delicate teacups, tiny milk jugs, sugar-frosted strawberries, dollops of meringue, golden macarons…it felt plucked directly from the pages of the 1865 novel.
The journey ahead
At first, the prospect of a 120-minute experience did feel kind of daunting. Could we really spend that long just exploring 10 immersive rooms? But it’s not just peculiar props and projections; there are plenty of interactive elements and historical scoops to discover along the way. So, unlike the white rabbit, time was not at the top of our minds.
You also receive headphones at the start, and are prompted when to stick them on (typically, when the big screens in each space come to life). The short films reveal snippets of Alice’s extraordinary journey, serving as a handy refresher, or for younger visitors unfamiliar with the tale, a fun bit of context. Make sure to keep an eye on the actor’s costumes also, as later you get the chance to admire every detail of the impressive creations up close.
Method behind the madness
For those who like to dig a little deeper, each chapter delves into key themes of Caroll’s work, pondering the likes of identity, dreams, madness, rules, and reality. When you consider them in the rigid Victorian era when the story was penned, they were no doubt divisive topics at the time.
While the kids will be sure to delight in the touch screen quizzes, fairground-style games (a top hat ring toss, for example) and unique photo ops, you might find yourself getting caught up in the realities of madness or illusion of etiquette in Victorian Britain. There’s one particular corner dedicated to the shudder-worthy ramifications of being diagnosed with insanity at the time, which felt like a sobering pit stop amidst the flights of fancy. You can also learn more about the life of Lewis Caroll inside an exhibition-style corner designated ‘Carroll’s Castle’.
Of course, the climax of the experience takes place in The Court of the Queen, where you can try out your best malevolent cackle by trying on a grand, and I mean that in all senses of the word, red velvet dress. It’s easy to lose track of time here as there’s something to do round every corner. Yes, this includes the flamingolf for the competitive among you – it is on the smaller side though so I would forget any notions of a Happy Gilmore-style hit.
For the more creative bunch, there’s adding a splash of colour to some bizarre creatures and seeing them pop up on screen or soaking up fashion inspo from costumes on display. A personal highlight in the area had to be the tiny hedgehog sculptures poking their heads out of teacups on a banquet table and sitting at the feet of a mannequin dressed in the periwinkle blue dress of Alice. Oh yes, and the chess room. Not just because it was a chance for us to act out that fantastically over-dramatic moment from Harry Potter. You know the one I mean.
By the time we reached the wrap-around visuals of the 360-degree ‘Hall of Dreams’, it felt like we’d well and truly stumbled through a daydream. Then came the giant projections of fluorescent snakes twisting through toadstools, spiralling branches reminiscent of hypnotic eyes, and lobsters in Elizabethan ruffs dancing on the ocean floor…
So, yes, absurdity runs riot through pretty much every inch of the place – and I would expect nothing less when it comes to Wonderland.
