Overview

This review was written after attending the private preview of Smoke and Mirrors: The Psychology of Magic, the new Wellcome Collection exhibition which is on until 15 September 2019. The exhibition explores psychology and magical entertainment. It's fascinating and strongly recommend visiting. Wellcome Collection was Euan's Guide's venue of the Year 2018 so there's excellent access.

Transport & Parking

The Wellcome Collection is centrally located on Euston Road. It's almost opposite Euston Station and also nearby is Euston Square, Warren Street and King's Cross stations. There are a number of buses that stop very close by.

Access

There's automated doors at the entrance. Then immediately in front of you is a staircase and a platform lift to take you to the main floor. The exhibition is on the same floor as reception, the café and bookshop. The exhibition space has manual entrance and exit doors. The exhibition is divided into 3 sections. The Medium, which looks at the late 1800s and early 1900s interest in communicating with the spirit world and seances. Misdirection about magic and deception. Mentalism with mind reading and mind control stunts. The exhibition has lots of fascinating items on display, including Houdini's handcuffs, Tommy Cooper’s fez and Paul Daniels’s sawing-in-half box. The exhibition is well laid out and is spacious. However, from the entrance you have to walk through all The Medium and most of the Misdirection sections to the furthest wall before there is any seating. When you do arrive at the seating there is a lot of it. I raised it with staff on the night, as I thought for the preview they might have wanted to create extra space to accommodate the visitor numbers. I was told that is how the exhibition is but they would raise it and see if the seating inside could be improved. There are fold up stools you can collect at the exhibition entrance, but for some of us a firm fixed seat is best for our transfers. I'm sure the Wellcome will work quickly to address this. there are 2 other places when there is the opportunity to sit. All the seating is bench style without back support but some have arms. Overall the lighting levels are quite low. There are a number of videos to watch some on small screens and others on large ones, all have subtitles. I thought the sound levels were about right, and I didn't find the noise levels of the videos too loud but that might feel differently when the gallery is less busy.

Toilets

There's disabled accessible toilets on each floor and these are clearly signposted. They are spacious, clean and with alarm and grab rails.

Staff

Staff as always lived up to their name of being welcoming, friendly and approachable.

Anything else you wish to tell us?

Loved it, loved it, loved it. This is a brilliant exhibition can't recommend it enough, there's lots of interesting an fun things to see. The exhibition is free. Photos are permitted except where stated. For planning your visit you might be interested to know. "An accompanying live performance programme explores what magic reveals about the nature of perception and how psychologists have used conjuring to understand the appeal of the ‘supernatural’. Performances will take place: Tuesdays 13.30 and 14.30 Thursdays 18.30 and 19.30 Saturdays 11.30 and 12.30"

Photos