A major immersive experience narrated by Sir David Attenborough is heading north for the first time, with Our Story with David Attenborough opening at Chester Zoo this autumn.
The acclaimed production will open on 17 October 2026, making Chester Zoo the first venue outside London to host the full-scale experience following its hugely successful run at the Natural History Museum.
More than 245,000 people have already experienced Our Story in London. The production originally opened in June 2025 and was extended following a string of sell-out performances.
Created in collaboration with Sir David Attenborough and the award-winning team at Open Planet Studios, the 50-minute experience combines extraordinary footage of the natural world with animation and 360-degree projections across the walls and floors.
Audiences are taken through two interconnected stories – the epic four-billion-year history of Earth and the much more recent story of humankind.
Along the way, Our Story explores the profound impact people have had on the planet and looks at how humans can work with nature rather than against it.
Narrated by Sir David, whose lifetime spent exploring and documenting the natural world has helped shape the experience, the production ends with a message of hope and encourages audiences to consider the part they can play in the planet’s future.
For its first run outside London, the full original-scale version of Our Story with David Attenborough will transform Chester Zoo’s former Ape House into an immersive exhibition space.
The experience also closely aligns with Chester Zoo’s work as a conservation and education charity, with the zoo working around the world to prevent extinction and protect wildlife.
Dom Strange, Chief Operating Officer at Chester Zoo, said:
“Our Story is about the biggest story there is – the story of our planet and our place within it.
“That makes Chester Zoo a natural home for this extraordinary experience. We’re hugely excited to bring it to Chester, and particularly proud that we’re the first place outside London where people can experience the full exhibition.
“We want people to leave feeling inspired by the incredible world we’re part of – but also empowered to play their own role in protecting it. That’s at the heart of everything we do at Chester Zoo.”
Open Planet Studios developed Our Story with David Attenborough as an experience designed to surround audiences with the interconnected story of people and the planet.
Rather than simply watching a film or walking through a traditional exhibition, visitors travel through time and space as imagery fills the environment around them.
The original Natural History Museum production featured 17 projectors and 50 speakers, bringing together cinematography, animation and storytelling alongside an original score by Tony Award and Olivier Award-nominated composer Nick Powell.
Dr Doug Gurr, Director of the Natural History Museum, said:
“Our Story with David Attenborough has been one of the museum’s most successful experiences, immersing audiences in a wondrous exploration into our relationship with planet Earth.
“The museum’s mission is to create advocates for our planet and we and Open Planet Studios are keen to take the experience to as many people as possible. We are delighted that Chester Zoo is joining us on that journey to share this cinematic story with their visitors.”
Our Story with David Attenborough opens at Chester Zoo on 17 October 2026.
Tickets and further information are available from the Chester Zoo website.
