London Mithraeum Bloomberg SPACE — Attraction in London

The London Mithraeum, also known as Bloomberg SPACE, is a cultural hub in the heart of the City of London that showcases the reconstructed Roman Temple of Mithras. Discovered during post-World War II excavations, the temple has been meticulously restored to its original site beneath Bloomberg's European headquarters. Visitors can explore the ancient temple remains, view a selection of Roman artefacts unearthed during recent excavations, and experience contemporary art installations inspired by this significant archaeological site.

Admission to the London Mithraeum is free, but pre-booking is recommended to ensure entry. The venue operates from Tuesday to Saturday between 10:00 and 18:00, and on Sundays from 12:00 to 17:00. It is closed on Mondays.

Visitor experiences at the Mithraeum are generally positive. Many appreciate the immersive nature of the temple reconstruction, which employs lighting, fog effects, and ambient sounds to recreate the atmosphere of ancient Mithraic ceremonies.

The venue also displays a variety of Roman artefacts, providing insight into daily life in ancient Londinium. Interactive exhibits and contemporary art installations complement the historical displays, offering a multifaceted cultural experience. The presentation of information has been lauded as "brilliant," making it suitable for both quick visits and more in-depth exploration.

Accessibility is a key consideration at the Mithraeum. The building is fully step-free, with lifts connecting all floors. An accessible toilet equipped with grab rails and an emergency alarm cord is available on the ground floor. However, visitors should be aware that the temple area is dimly lit with hazy conditions during the immersive experience, which may not be suitable for everyone.

While many visitors find the experience enriching, some have reported feeling underwhelmed, suggesting that it may be best appreciated by those already in the area rather than as a primary destination.

In summary, the London Mithraeum offers a unique glimpse into Roman London's religious practices, enhanced by modern interpretive techniques. Its free admission and central location make it a worthwhile stop for history enthusiasts and casual...

A really interesting small museum in the heart of London, literally adjacent to an exit to Bank tube station and only a short walk from the main exits and Cannon Street too. The museum itself isn't huge, with a small display of all the many artefacts found on site. There were captions for a few giving some insight and of the ones labeled they were all very interesting - however that was 9 out of probably 60 or so. There were tablets next to this which may have had more detail but I didn't see anyone using them so I wasn't sure. You then descend downstairs into a waiting room with a couple of small things to look at. There are some projections on the wall and, even when a little busy, the place has seating and a nice atmosphere. You can view the temple once every 20 minutes - there is a short show in which they play a variety of sounds and use light to make you feel as though you are back in ancient Roman times, before the lights turn on and you can see the temple in full. It is very small, but you can still see the bases of the columns, the shape of the apses, the very well-preserved brickwork at the far end, and where some of the artefacts may have been found. You get another 15 minutes or so to look around - plenty of time as it is very small, before you are ushered back to the waiting room and can look more around the rest. The 20 minute slots help keep it quite empty inside the temple, and as it isn't a busy place the rest is quite spacious too. All in all, it's a very interesting little place - allow 45 minutes to an hour to see it all and use the nice loos - down some winding corridors but nice and very clean. I wouldn't travel to this area of London just to see this from afar - if you go then have a look at other things in the area too to make...

An exhibition comprised of three parts based around a Roman temple - at ground floor level, there are a number of items found during the building work that recently took place on the site. One floor down is the waiting room before you are allowed in to see the temple itself - in this waiting room, there are four or five interactive displays that explain important elements of the Mithraeum in more detail. It must be said that, from what can be gathered from these exhibits, there is a great deal of guesswork about the rituals of the temple - a case of "nobody knows who they were or what they were doing". One of the other exhibits here explains that the Tauroctony, the main marble relief that was originally pride of place on the altar, now resides in the Museum of London rather than here - that seems a shame. Finally, at 20 minute intervals, groups are admitted to the lowest level, and treated to a sound and light show to add atmosphere to what is a ultimately revealed to be an underwhelming ruin, when the lights are brought up. Given all the stones have been moved twice and rebuilt in a new position due to building work over the last few decades, it makes it even more difficult to fully engage with the experience of seeing them. It's an interesting diversion if you have 20 minutes spare (although you will need to book in advance), but it's not worth a special trip in my view. Admission was free at the...