London: The Moonwalkers: A Journey with Tom Hanks Exhibition

The Moonwalkers turns Lightroom’s huge projection space into a cinema aimed at the moon. Tom Hanks narrates the Apollo story, while new interviews with Artemis astronauts point toward the next era of crewed lunar missions. It is a polished, serious show with real scale.

I like the clear human story and the way old Apollo footage is paired with the future Artemis programme. I also like the original score by Anne Nikitin, which gives the film an emotional lift without needing a live guide. The main drawback is simple: this is a 50-minute audio-visual screening, so the price may feel high if you expect a hands-on museum or live attraction.

Key points to know

• Tom Hanks provides the narration: His familiar voice carries the story from the Apollo missions toward Artemis.
• Apollo is shown at giant scale: Lightroom’s projection system fills the space with mission footage and lunar imagery.
• Artemis adds a modern viewpoint: Interviews with astronauts explain the planned return of crewed surface missions.
• Christopher Riley helped write the show: The double BAFTA-nominated writer-director has worked on major space films and television programmes.
• The experience lasts 50 minutes: Allow about an hour at the venue, including getting seated and settled.
• Seating may be basic: One visitor enjoyed the show but wanted seats with backrests, a useful point if comfort matters to you.

A moon mission told through film, sound, and scale

The Moonwalkers is not a planetarium talk, a museum display, or a live stage play. It is a fixed audio-visual presentation built for Lightroom, where powerful projectors cover the walls and floor of a large room.

That format matters. Apollo footage can feel familiar on a small screen. Here, the images are designed to occupy your whole field of view. The effect is less like looking at a collection of historic clips and more like sitting inside a carefully edited film about human spaceflight.

Tom Hanks narrates the experience. His voice gives the programme a calm, accessible tone, and his long association with space stories makes him a natural choice for the subject. He also co-wrote the production with Christopher Riley, whose work includes space films and television programmes for the BBC, Netflix, and PBS.

I would set your expectations correctly before you book. The show tells the Apollo missions through film, narration, music, and projections. You will not be walking through recreated spacecraft or handling objects. There are no food, drinks, or merchandise items included, and no live guide is listed as part of the experience.

Apollo footage given room to breathe

The first major part of The Moonwalkers focuses on the Apollo missions. The show tells these missions in intimate detail, but presents them on a spectacular scale. That combination is its central appeal.

You can expect the familiar ingredients of the Apollo story: the missions, the people behind them, and the technology that carried them toward the moon. The production is designed to connect the large public story with the human effort behind it. The available information does not give a mission-by-mission running order, so I would not book this expecting a detailed timetable of Apollo 11, Apollo 12, and later flights.

Instead, think of the Apollo section as a broad cinematic account. The giant images help you grasp the danger and size of the undertaking, while Hanks keeps the story personal and easy to follow.

The sound matters as much as the pictures. Anne Nikitin wrote an original score for the production, and music gives the footage its rhythm and emotional shape. If you enjoy film music, this is one of the stronger reasons to choose the show over a standard documentary screening.

Still, the format will not suit everyone. One person rated the experience positively but felt it was essentially a 50-minute cinema screening made up of older clips. That is a fair warning. If your idea of a good attraction involves interactive displays, physical exhibits, or a long visit, you may find the ticket expensive for what you receive.

From Apollo history to the Artemis programme

The show does not stop with the first moon landings. It also looks ahead to Artemis, the programme connected with the planned return of crewed surface missions.

This gives The Moonwalkers a useful second half. Apollo is history, while Artemis is an active effort aimed at bringing people back to the lunar surface. The production links the two periods and asks you to consider how the next stage of lunar exploration may differ from the first.

A key feature is the behind-the-scenes look at Artemis, including interviews between Tom Hanks and Artemis astronauts. Those conversations give the future section a direct human voice. You are not only watching archival footage from decades ago. You are also hearing from people connected with the current generation of lunar missions.

The Artemis section is especially useful if you already know the basic Apollo story. It gives the visit a reason to look forward rather than simply backward. If you are bringing a child or teenager who finds old black-and-white space footage remote, the modern interviews may provide a stronger point of connection.

The material supplied for the experience does not promise a technical briefing on every Artemis vehicle, launch date, or mission stage. I would expect a broad introduction to the programme and its purpose, not a specialist aerospace lecture.

What the Lightroom setting adds

Lightroom’s main contribution is the room itself. Projection and audio technology transform a large indoor space into a setting for a film that surrounds you with images and sound.

This is where the ticket differs from watching a space documentary at home. At home, you control the pause button and the volume. At Lightroom, the scale and shared timing create a more focused presentation. The room is built for large images, so lunar surfaces, spacecraft, and mission footage can fill the view rather than sit inside a small rectangular frame.

The benefit is strongest when the visual material is made for scale. You may find the Apollo scenes more powerful when they appear across the room instead of on a television. The downside is that the experience remains passive. You sit and watch from beginning to end.

Seating deserves attention. A visitor enjoyed the show but wished the seats had backrests. That suggests you should not assume cinema-style comfort. If you have back or mobility concerns, wheelchair accessibility is listed, but it is sensible to confirm the seating arrangement with the venue before booking.

The show is also described as a small-group activity, limited to nine participants. That is an unusually small number for a large projection venue. It may help the presentation feel orderly and less crowded, but the listing does not explain the precise seating layout or how this limit is handled inside the room.

A concise one-hour visit in London

The audio-visual programme lasts 50 minutes, and the full activity is described as taking about one hour. That makes it easy to fit into a London day.

You do not need to set aside half a day. I would place it between nearby plans, before dinner, or during a weather-soaked afternoon when an indoor attraction makes sense. The fixed running time also helps if you are building a tight schedule, though you should check the available starting times before booking.

The show is presented at Lightroom in Greater London. No transport service is included, and the ticket covers entry to The Moonwalkers only. Food, drinks, and merchandise are separate, so plan those around the visit rather than expecting a full attraction complex.

Flash photography is not allowed. That rule is common in projection spaces, where bright flashes can disturb the presentation and other people. You can enjoy the show without taking photographs, and the room’s changing images may not photograph well anyway.

Is the ticket price fair?

The listed price is $33.67 per person. A separate price reference from a purchaser puts the cost at about £25, so the exact amount may vary by booking date, currency, or sales channel.

At that level, I would judge the ticket against the type of experience you want. You are paying for a short, carefully produced film in a purpose-built projection room, with Tom Hanks as narrator, a new score, and material linking Apollo with Artemis.

That is reasonable if you value large-scale presentation and want a focused space-themed outing. The production has more ambition than an ordinary documentary, and the combination of Hanks, Christopher Riley, Anne Nikitin, and Lightroom’s technology gives it a clear creative identity.

The value is weaker if you measure attractions by hours spent inside. Fifty minutes is not a long visit, and the show does not include a collection, workshop, refreshments, or merchandise. One person felt that £25 was too much for what amounted to a short screening and would have preferred a price closer to £10.

I would make the decision based on your priorities. A dedicated space fan may find the scale and narration worth the cost. Someone looking for the most sightseeing per pound may prefer a larger museum or a longer London attraction.

Who will enjoy The Moonwalkers most?

I would recommend it first to people who already enjoy space history, documentary film, or large-format cinema. The Apollo missions provide a strong subject, and the Artemis material gives the show a current angle.

It should also work well for families, provided everyone is happy to sit quietly through a 50-minute film. The simple structure makes it easier to follow than a technical exhibition, and Tom Hanks’s narration gives the story a familiar guide.

Film and music fans have extra reasons to go. The production was co-written by Hanks and Christopher Riley, and Nikitin’s score is an important part of the experience. You are seeing a designed film presentation, not just a room covered with random archive footage.

I would think twice if you need padded cinema seats, dislike passive presentations, or want to examine real space hardware. I would also be cautious if your budget is tight and you are likely to compare the visit with a full day at a major museum.

Planning tips for a smoother visit

Check the starting times before you commit, because the experience runs at set times rather than operating as a walk-through display. Arrive ready to take your seat and remain in the room for the full 50-minute programme.

If seating comfort is important, ask about backrests and the exact arrangement before booking. The experience is wheelchair accessible, but accessibility covers more than entry, so it is worth confirming any particular seating needs.

Keep your camera flash switched off. Since the show relies on projection and sound, the best way to enjoy it is to treat it like a film screening and give it your full attention.

The activity permits cancellation up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. You can also reserve now and pay later, which is useful if your London plans may shift.

Should you book The Moonwalkers?

Book it if you want a short, polished space film with giant projections, Tom Hanks narration, a new score, and a clear connection between Apollo and Artemis. The interviews with Artemis astronauts add a useful present-day thread, while the Lightroom room gives the historic footage room to make an impact.

Skip it if you expect interactive exhibits, a live presentation, comfortable cinema seating, or a longer visit for the price. The most honest description is a high-production 50-minute screening, not a full museum experience.

For a dedicated space fan, a family with an hour to spare, or anyone who enjoys documentary film presented at large scale, it is a sensible London booking. For everyone else, compare the cost with the length of the visit before you pay.

FAQ

How long does The Moonwalkers experience last?

The audio-visual experience lasts 50 minutes. The activity duration is listed as one hour, so allow roughly that amount of time for the visit.

Who narrates The Moonwalkers?

Tom Hanks provides the voiceover. He also co-wrote the production with Christopher Riley.

What subjects does the show cover?

The show tells the story of the Apollo missions and looks ahead to the Artemis programme. It includes interviews between Tom Hanks and Artemis astronauts.

Is the experience live or pre-recorded?

It is a 50-minute audio-visual experience using projection, sound, archive material, narration, and an original score. It is not described as a live stage performance.

Who composed the music?

Anne Nikitin composed the original score for The Moonwalkers.

Is The Moonwalkers wheelchair accessible?

Yes. The experience is listed as wheelchair accessible.

Can I cancel my booking?

Yes. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. The booking option also allows you to reserve now and pay later.