Jeff Wayne’s The War of the Worlds: The Immersive Experience sets Guinness World Record

Photo: Jack Hall/PA Media Assignments

Jeff Wayne’s The War of The Worlds: The Immersive Experience has officially entered the history books as a Guinness World Record holder for the longest theatrical run of a musical immersive theatre production, with more than 31,000 performances (and counting) since its launch in 2019. 

Created by immersive producers Layered Reality in partnership with legendary composer Jeff Wayne and executive producer Damian Collier, the experience blends live actors, virtual reality, holograms, 5D effects, and a groundbreaking soundscape across 24 scenes to bring Wayne’s iconic musical version of HG Wells’ novel to vivid life. 

The certificate was presented during a special ceremony at the production’s home on Leadenhall Street in the City of London on Monday, 29th September 2025.

Since opening, the experience has had over 300,000 visitors, more than 20,000 five-star reviews across all platforms (including over 6,000 on Tripadvisor), and won 14 major awards. These accolades include five consecutive TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice Awards and the prestigious Thea Award, considered the Oscars of the interactive industry. 

Photo: Jack Hall/PA Media Assignments

Speaking on receiving the Guinness World Record, Jeff Wayne said:

When we first launched The War of The Worlds: The Immersive Experience, it was one of the very first truly original immersive productions of its kind. We hoped it would run for around six months, but never imagined it would still be running over six years later, winning so many awards, and welcoming over 300,000 people through its doors. To now achieve a Guinness World Record title is historic and a testament to the creativity, innovation and passion of everyone involved. This title cements the legacy of a show that has always pushed the boundaries of what live entertainment can be. And we’re already planning our next iteration of this wonderful entertainment

Andrew McGuinness, CEO of Layered Reality, added:

Setting a Guinness World Record title is the ultimate recognition of this production's scale and impact. From the cast and crew to the creative team and, most importantly, our audiences, this production has been a labour of love that has set new standards for immersive entertainment. This title celebrates the enduring power of the show and its place as a true original in the immersive world. We could not be more thrilled to see it recognised on a global stage.

Blending live actors who engage with audiences, virtual reality, holograms, 5D effects, and Wayne’s iconic music, the production has consistently been hailed as one of the world’s most innovative immersive experiences.

The show features vocal performances from Justin Hayward (The Moody Blues), Ricky Wilson (Kaiser Chiefs), Nathan James (Inglorious), and holographic performances by Carrie Hope Fletcher, Tom Brittney, Anna-Marie Wayne and others, combined with state-of-the-art technologies that plunge audiences into the heart of HG Wells’ classic Martian invasion story.

Photos: Jeff Wayne's The War of The Worlds: The Immersive Experience

Review: Jeff Wayne’s The War of the Worlds: The Immersive Experience

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Jeff Wayne's The War of the Worlds: The Immersive Experience is currently booking until 30th December 2025 at 56 Leadenhall Street near Aldgate. Tickets start at £43.00 and can be purchased via feverup.com