By Rachel Anderson – London-based journalist and copywriter who has spent more than two decades writing about science, food and the environment.
London has no shortage of quirky and creative attractions, and the Torsion Museum It’s one of the newest places vying for attention. It promises colorful rooms, clever illusions and interactive installations that play with the way the brain processes what it sees.
But with so many immersive experiences popping up around town (and so many ways to spend your hard-earned money) it’s fair to wonder if the Twist Museum really lives up to the hype. Here’s a closer look at what the museum offers, what to expect inside, and whether it’s worth adding to your London itinerary.
What is the Twist Museum about?
The Twist Museum is an immersive attraction in London that plays with the way people see and make sense of the world. Instead of traditional exhibits, it’s filled with hands-on rooms, mind-bending illusions, and wacky visual tricks designed to make visitors stop and say, “Wait…how does that work?”
Each space highlights a different aspect of perception, from color and perspective to movement and scale, showing how easily the senses can be fooled. It’s part art installation, part science lesson, and part playful experience for anyone curious about how the mind interprets reality.
Is the Twist Museum in London worth visiting?
Yes, but not if you’re looking for a shallow, dopamine-hit-style immersive experience, the kind you’re used to going to just to keep your kids busy over the holidays and take some cool photos to show the world you did something “exciting” during the semester.
More often than not, these types of immersive experiences end up overloading your senses, teaching you and your kids very little, and leaving you and your wallet a little empty inside. The Twist Museum is not like that.
a pleasant surprise
I cynically hoped the Twist Museum London would be exactly like that, so, anticipating sensory overload, I packed my headache pills just in case. Luckily I didn’t need them.
While it does have some “selfie-inspired” features, like a kaleidoscopic walk-in tunnel, it turns out that Twist Museum London is surprisingly educational (keeping the attention of even the most frazzled 40-something perimenopausal mom) and calming.
I learned that Twist is, in fact, an acronym for the phrase “The Way I See Things.”
This is perfect for an exhibition whose main goal is to educate you about exactly this: how your mind and eyes together perceive images and objects, and how they sometimes see things that don’t really exist.
We are encouraged to learn more about optical illusions, both through the physics of the human body (the brain, the eye, and how they interpret information) and through physics in general.
Interactive learning
So Twist Museum London is a fantastic, interactive way to learn a bit about physics, biology and art. For example, we are taught some of the ways our brains and eyes interpret (and sometimes misinterpret) the type of colors, lines and patterns seen in optical illusions that resemble the artworks of the famous optical art artist (born in London). Bridget Riley CBE.
Physics was always my worst subject in school, but if it had been explained and demonstrated to me as intelligently as Twist did, I definitely would have been able to better explain (in my work as an environmental journalist) how indoor crops are grown and illuminated using different wavelengths of light to influence specific aspects of growth and development.
Take Twist’s room full of umbrellas, for example. When the room is filled with only yellow light, the umbrellas reflect or absorb this yellow light, making them appear yellow or black. But when the room is filled with “normal” white light, which contains many different wavelengths, umbrellas reflect this broader range of light wavelengths and appear in all the colors of the rainbow.
Putting the senses to the test
Other senses such as smell, hearing and touch are also tested. The exhibition explains through some of the pieces how the mind can sometimes play tricks on us and, sometimes, even give us almost a sixth sense. Did you know, for example, that 90% of people (without looking) can tell the difference between the sound of hot water and the sound of cold water running, based solely on life experience?
The museum explains that when water is heated, it becomes less viscous, which affects the way the water splashes when it enters the cup and the noise it makes.*
And, speaking of cups of tea… I thought I might be in desperate need of a cup of tea after visiting this museum (which doesn’t have a cafe but, being located in the heart of the consumerist cacophony that is Oxford Street, you could say it doesn’t really need one).
Surprisingly, a visit to this museum has the same calming effect as a tea break. The “twist” of this plot is that the inviting atmosphere of the Twist Museum London makes you feel completely calm, inspired and a little more informed than before.
It’s good to know
P.S. The staff members are very helpful and friendly, the bathrooms are clean and well marked, and the free lockers for your coats are very useful.
Frequently asked questions
How much time do you spend at the Twist Museum?
Most visitors spend around 60 to 90 minutes Inside the Twist Museum. If you like taking photographs, reading the explanations or interacting with each installation, you can spend more than two hours.
The Twist Museum is generally a self-paced experience, so you can move as fast or slow as you like.
Is the Twist or Paradox Museum better?
Both attractions focus on illusions and perception, but offer slightly different vibes. The Paradox Museum is more like a traditional illusion museum with an emphasis on photo opportunities. Twist Museum, on the other hand, leans more towards art and science, with rooms that encourage exploration, touch and experimentation, with a more structured environment.
Both attractions offer fun illusion-based experiences, but each has a different style. He Torsion Museum It tends to feel more creative and immersive, combining art, science and hands-on installations in a way that encourages you to explore rather than simply pose for photographs. The spaces are more varied, and many visitors find that Twist offers a deeper look at how perception works, not just a series of photographs.
The Paradox Museum is also fun, especially if you’re mainly looking for quirky photography, but it’s a more predictable tour.
If you choose between the two, Twist Museum generally seems like the more unique and stimulating experience, especially for anyone who enjoys interactive art, sensory play, or learning how the mind interprets the world, and generally has better reviews online.
What age group is the Twist museum suitable for?
The Twist Museum is suitable for all ages, but tends to be most appealing to children, teenagers and adults who can understand and appreciate the perceptual concepts demonstrated.
Much younger children will really enjoy the colorful rooms and illusions, but some facilities may be overlooked. It’s family-friendly, but not designed specifically for young children.
Do you need to make a reservation at the Twist Museum?
Advance booking is strongly recommended, especially on weekends, school holidays and peak travel seasons. There are sometimes walk-ins, but time slots can fill up quickly.
Booking in advance guarantees your preferred entry time and usually helps you avoid waiting. The best way to buy tickets is through the museum’s official website here: https://twistmuseum.com/book-tickets/.
Prices start from £20 for children and £24.50 for adults. The museum is free for young children from 0 to 3 years old. Tip: Online discounts of around 15% to 20% are often available if you book directly on their website.
*This is based on research carried out in 2013 by a team of scientists working at the University of Oxford and the London advertising company Condiment Junkie.
