Londoners, prepare to be completely transported. 🐫🏺
While the capital is certainly no stranger to world-class history, an absolute powerhouse of an event has just landed right on our doorstep.
Direct from the Egyptian Museum in Cairo, Ramses and the Pharaohs’ Gold brings a staggering wealth of ancient treasures straight to the Thames (and the country for that matter) for the very first time.
19 July 2026 10:00 + more dates
Forget booking a flight; the golden age of the pharaohs is now waiting to be explored right inside a colossal new space at Battersea Power Station.
Here are all the details and why it’s quickly becoming London’s best-kept summer secret.
Why this is a once-in-a-lifetime moment for London
To truly understand the staggering weight of this exhibition, you have to look at both the legendary man behind the gold and the fleeting nature of this display.
Reigning for an unprecedented 66 years during the 13th century B.C.E., Ramses II—universally known as Ramses the Great—was ancient Egypt’s ultimate titan, responsible for a golden age of peace, the world’s first recorded peace treaty, and colossal monument-building from Abu Simbel to Luxor.
There is a spine-tingling synergy in placing the relics of history’s greatest builder inside Battersea Power Station, London’s own Grade II* listed cathedral of power.
But what makes securing a ticket so urgent right now is that this tour is effectively a grand farewell.
With the monumental Grand Egyptian Museum now open in Giza, Egypt’s Supreme Council of Antiquities has indicated that once this tour concludes, these 180 priceless artefacts will return home to their permanent galleries—meaning many of them will likely never leave Egyptian soil again.
For Londoners, this isn’t just an afternoon exhibition; it is quite literally your only chance to stand face-to-face with ancient immortality before the vault doors close forever.
A modern engineering marvel meets ancient immortality
Bringing a 3,300-year-old royal sarcophagus into a former coal-fired power station is a staggering logistical feat in its own right.
The centerpiece of the exhibition—the pristine cedarwood coffin of Ramses II—rarely leaves Egyptian soil and required museum-grade, climate-controlled security vaults custom-built directly inside Battersea’s turbine walls.
Because the newly opened Grand Egyptian Museum in Giza is actively recalling its royal antiquities for permanent display, historians believe this will be the final time this specific sarcophagus ever travels to the UK.
It creates an unforgettable architectural contrast: standing before the immortal gold and craftsmanship of Egypt’s greatest builder while surrounded by the soaring Art Deco brickwork of London’s most iconic industrial cathedral.
Step inside the world of Ramses the Great
The sheer scale of this exhibition is completely mind-blowing as well.
Featuring 180 priceless artefacts on loan from Egypt’s Supreme Council of Antiquities, the showcase lets you come face to face with objects that have entirely shaped world history.
You will wander past towering stone sculptures, beautifully preserved animal mummies, and dazzling jewellery that looks just as pristine as it did thousands of years ago.
To give you an idea of the staggering historical weight inside the venue, here are just a few of the legendary highlights you will encounter:
- The Coffin of Ramses II: A stunningly preserved wooden sarcophagus depicting the legendary pharaoh in the guise of Osiris.
- The Mask of King Amenemope: An incredible sheet-gold mask meticulously detailed with carnelian and lapis lazuli.
- The Limestone Colossus: A towering, intricate depiction of Ramses II sporting his royal headdress and false beard.
- The Funerary Mask of General Wendjebauendjed: A breathtaking gold mask created to preserve the commander’s idealised portrait for eternity.
Next-level virtual reality and immersive tech
Beyond the ancient physical artefacts, NEON at Battersea Power Station has completely transformed its massive event space into a brilliant multimedia experience.
Visitors can strap into cinematic motion chairs for an immersive VR journey that flies you right through the magnificent ruins of Abu Simbel and Queen Nefertari’s tomb in incredible 360-degree detail.
There is even a high-tech robot ready to write your name in hieroglyphics on authentic Egyptian papyrus, alongside an exclusive ‘Horrible Histories’ audio guide created especially for families.
It’s a fantastic blend of ancient relics and cutting-edge storytelling that keeps everyone entirely hooked from start to finish.
How to secure your entry
This is easily the blockbuster exhibition of the year in London.
It’s currently booking right through to the 30th of August 2026, but because it has already seen millions of visitors worldwide, you can bet locals are snapping up time slots incredibly fast.
Grab your tickets for Ramses and the Pharaohs’ Gold here and get ready for an unforgettable journey into the ancient world. ⚱️
