There’s something quite surreal about standing in the middle of Manchester and finding yourself transported 4,500 years back in time to the heart of ancient Egypt. That’s exactly what happened when my wife and I tried the Horizons of Khufu virtual reality experience.
Now, I’ll admit, I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect. I’ve seen my fair share of documentaries on the pyramids over the years, and like most people, I’ve always been fascinated by how on earth they managed to build something so vast, so precise, and so enduring. But watching something on a screen and actually feeling like you’re inside the Great Pyramid are two very different things.
The experience begins innocently enough, but within moments you’re no longer in Manchester—you’re standing on the Giza Plateau, staring up at the Great Pyramid itself and being guided by Egyptologist Mona.
Built for Pharaoh Khufu around 2560 BC, this is the largest of the three pyramids and the only one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World still standing. It’s an extraordinary feat of engineering, made from an estimated 2.3 million stone blocks, each weighing several tonnes. Even today, there’s still debate about exactly how it was constructed.
What the VR experience does brilliantly is take all of that theory and bring it to life.
We were guided—quite calmly at first—through the outer structure and then into the internal corridors. These are the very passageways that have puzzled archaeologists for decades: narrow shafts, ascending galleries, and chambers hidden deep within the core of the pyramid. Seeing how these spaces fit together, and how they may have been constructed, gave a completely new perspective. It’s one thing to hear about the Grand Gallery; it’s another to stand inside it, even virtually, and appreciate the scale and precision.
And then, just as you’re settling into what feels like a serious historical exploration, along comes an animated cat to take over the tour. Her name is Bastet, a talking cat that appears as an incarnation of the Egyptian goddess of the hearth and protection with a fluorescent green collar.
It sounds odd—and it is—but somehow it works. The cat adds a slightly lighter touch to what could otherwise be a very dense subject. It keeps things engaging without dumbing anything down, and before you know it, you’re learning about ancient burial practices, construction theories, and the cultural significance of the pyramid without feeling like you’re back in a classroom.
What struck me most was how immersive it all felt. You’re not just observing—you’re moving through the pyramid, looking around, peering into spaces that are either inaccessible or simply impossible to visualise properly from books or TV. It gives you a genuine sense of the complexity involved in building something like this over four millennia ago.
Khufu himself remains a bit of an enigma. Despite commissioning the largest pyramid ever built, relatively little is known about him compared to other pharaohs. There are no grand inscriptions inside the pyramid telling his story, which adds to the mystery. The VR experience touches on this too, giving a sense of the man behind the monument without pretending to have all the answers.
By the time it finished, we both came away feeling like we’d experienced something genuinely different. It wasn’t just entertaining—it was informative in a way that sticks with you. You start to appreciate not just the scale of the pyramids, but the ingenuity, organisation, and sheer determination of the people who built them.
If you’ve ever had even a passing interest in ancient Egypt, it’s well worth doing. And if you haven’t, this might just change your mind.
Not bad for an afternoon in Manchester.
You can find out more about The Horizon of Khufu here.
