Like many, I have always had an interest in the sinking of the Titanic.
This Summer, the Birmingham NEC has been running a Titanic Exhibition in Hall 10 during July and August. A couple of weeks ago, I was able to grab a ticket for the last weekend of this event. As the event was popular, I understand that most dates and times sold out.
When checking reviews online, the feedback was mixed. In part this was due to attendees comparing the experience with the Belfast exhibition. As I will have only attended this event, I will have no comparison and hope it will be interesting. As this review is being posted so late before the exhibition closes, it will likely be over by the time you read this.
The staff were very well organised which included those checking you in and a couple of actors.
The captain greeted you before embarking and an opportunity also arose to buy an official souvenir guide for £5.
To help manage the queues, the exhibition has staggered entry to manage entry. You are allowed access to the event by the time on your ticket and you are presented with a passenger ticket that has a real traveller name of a passenger.
On entry, a welcome video talks you through what to expect and a massive model of the ship is on view. The model is impressive and is 1:48 in scale.
The first area that you visit shows video, artefacts and picture boards to view and read about the building of the ship.
An actor then plays the part of a Titanic staff member who greets you, checking your Titanic replica ticket. All tickets have a real passenger name and class of travel. I was Mr Frank Goldsmith and in third class. At the end, a remembrance wall allows you to find out if you survived.
The second main area was discovering the ship. This area has some recovered artefacts, reconstructed items and similar items off the older sister ship Olympia.
The third part of the exhibition explored the tragedy, followed by the present day.
The present day gives a nod to the explorations that had visited the Titanic, the movies and of course the longest living survivor – Elizabeth Gladys Dean.
At the end I discovered that Mr Frank John Goldsmith, the name on my ticket died. RIP Frank – a nice way to keep the names alive of those onboard and paid an unwitting part of history.
You are also greeted with the usual gift shop experience that you knew would happen. Tea towels, magnets and books etc.
Overall, I found it interesting. Despite a staggered entrance, the timed entry does create bottlenecks making it hard to view and read some of the displays. It is not a massive an event and it took me an hour to view. Overall I enjoyed but it would have been good to have seen more salvaged items from the wreckage.
I am glad I bought the guide as it contains most of the same information and pictures that you viewed. A good memento and an opportunity to review anything I missed. I can see why the reviews are mixed but I did enjoy it.
If you would like to know more, the site below is excellent with many photos of artefacts.
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