Titanic Exhibition at Birmingham NEC

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Sat 27 Jul 2024 - Sun 25 Aug 2024

Jaw-dropping footage of the Titanic wreck on the sea bed is among enthralling exhibits in a new show in Birmingham for the Summer. Here's a first look at what to expect.

White Star Heritage is behind Titanic Exhibition in Hall 10 at Birmingham NEC. It stays in Birmingham until August 25.

Visitors have the chance to "experience the story of the Titanic as never before". There's everything from new colour photos to detailed videos as divers explore the ship on the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean. There are even precious artefacts from the ship - among the few that have survived is the amazing wooden fragment from the Grand Staircase bannister, shown below.



There's timed entry with each ticket and everyone gets a boarding card as they enter with a name on it relating to a real passenger. That becomes even more poignant at the end when you are able to check whether they died or survived after the fateful collision with an iceberg on 14th April 1912. It's next to a wall filled with the faces of those on board making the tragedy have even more impact.

Interactive sections include a virtual reality area that recreates being in a lifeboat after the iceberg hit some of the 'ship's crew' wandering around. There's a touch of irony when you are welcomed on board by a crew member saying 'Nothing to worry about, it's the safest ship in the world and unsinkable'.

The journey starts by taking visitors back to Belfast at the Harland and Wolff Shipyard where Titanic was built. There are fascinating colour photos from here but also links to Birmingham and the manufacturers who supplied the ship dotted around the exhibition too. This includes the story of the ship’s anchor, which was forged near Dudley, as well as details on passengers and crew connected to the Midlands.



Venturing into an area that shows what it would have been like on board, newly coloured photos are on display from White Star's similar cruise liner at the time, the Olympic. Dining rooms for each class level are shown along with what they would have eaten. Then there's the gym, Turkish baths, lounge and grand staircase to find out more about.

There's lots to see and read from letters to newspaper front pages on the disaster and even photos from on-board the ship by a survivor. Clergyman Father Browne luckily got off the ship before it headed over the Atlantic.

Blockbuster movie Titanic even gets its own section with some costumes and props from the film and the famous 'Heart of the Ocean' necklace on display.



It's the final section with footage from the wreckage that is the most hard-hitting. A recreation of the hull, shown above, as it remains under the water stands menacingly, but make sure you take time to watch the wreckage video as it is truly unforgettable.

To see everything properly takes two hours at least and around three hours if you watch everything in full.

It's memorable and fascinating and those interested in history or the Titanic will love it.

Get tickets and more information on the Titanic Exhibition here .

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