Exploring history through VR and AR at Norwich Castle
As part of Norwich Castle’s £13.5 million redevelopment, Norfolk Museums Service wanted to trial immersive ways of telling history. We created four experiences – from a VR medieval siege to an AR treasure hunt – installed for a special event. Visitors explored the castle’s stories through cutting-edge technology, showing how digital tools can bring heritage to life.
The challenge
Norwich Castle has a rich history dating back nearly a thousand years. During its redevelopment, Norfolk Museums Service wanted to host a ‘taster event’ showcasing how immersive technology could enhance interpretation of historical stories and displays. The challenge was to design experiences that were engaging, varied and practical to deliver within the castle environment. Each experience had to feel authentic while making use of the latest digital tools, encouraging visitors to see the potential of VR and AR as part of museum storytelling. The task was not just to entertain, but to inspire future thinking about visitor engagement.
The process
We developed four distinct digital ‘tasters’: a VR re-enactment of a medieval siege, a VR reconstruction of the castle basement, an AR medieval feast and an AR treasure hunt to uncover artefacts and unlock animations. Bringing these to life required a wide range of technologies – from photogrammetry and 3D modelling to animation, motion capture and 360º video. Content was designed to work across multiple platforms, including VR headsets, iPads and smartphones. By combining different formats, we ensured the experiences catered to a broad audience, offering both spectacle and interactivity within the castle setting.
The outcome
The event proved to be a huge success. Over four hours, around 800 visitors explored the castle through immersive storytelling, with long queues for each of the experiences and glowing feedback throughout. By blending VR and AR, we showed how technology can unlock history in new, engaging ways – from reliving a siege to sitting at a medieval banquet table. For Norfolk Museums Service, the tasters provided inspiration for future projects, demonstrating the appetite for interactive experiences and the role digital innovation can play in heritage spaces. It marked a strong step forward in reimagining the museum visit.
PROJECT GALLERY
OUR PORTFOLIO
Discover how we can help
Contact us
What’s your challenge?
