Our Story with David Attenborough at the Natural History Museum London

Now, I’m sure you already know this about me, but I’m an animal lover through and through — and an activist at heart. Which basically means one thing: I’m a full-blown David Attenborough fan. Honestly, how could you not be? The man is everything I aspire to be: kind, generous, endlessly curious, and deeply respectful of the planet and the people on it. A true gentleman in every sense of the word.

Before I even get into the experience itself, I feel like David deserves his flowers. When he first started working for the BBC, there was only one channel — and it was black and white. Colour TV wouldn’t arrive for another 15 years. Fast forward to now, and here he is, narrating a fully immersive, 360-degree experience where you quite literally stand inside a nature documentary. Oh, and just casually doing all of this at 99 years old. Iconic behaviour, honestly.

David Attenborough has achieved more after retirement age than most of us will in our entire lives. Our Story is his second major project since turning 99, following his more traditional documentary Ocean. And once again, he manages to educate, inspire, and gently shake us awake — without ever talking down to us.

I went to see Our Story with my mum, which felt very full-circle. Growing up, her go-to activity was always taking me to the Natural History Museum. I haven’t been in a while, and truth be told, I went so much as a kid that I was slightly traumatised for a phase… lol. But this felt like the right way to return.

Immersive experiences are definitely having a moment right now, and while this one didn’t completely blow my mind, it also didn’t disappoint. The Jerwood Gallery has been transformed into a projection-based space, similar to the Lightroom at King’s Cross. The walls (and floor) are taken over by powerful projectors and layered sound, meaning wherever you look, something is happening. You really are immersed.

Over the course of 50 minutes, Attenborough takes us from the birth of the universe to the present day — roughly four billion years of history compressed into less time than an episode of Come Dine With Me. We start in space, surrounded by constellations, supernovas and cosmic dust, before Earth slowly drifts into view. From there, it’s full speed ahead: microbes, mass extinctions, rebirths, jungles, oceans, insects, animals — life constantly adapting, surviving, and reinventing itself.

The human chapter, covering roughly the last 300,000 years, is where the message really lands. Attenborough doesn’t shy away from the damage we’ve caused, but climate change is treated as part of our story — not shouted at us, not dramatised to the point of despair. And I appreciated that. The focus isn’t just on what we’ve done wrong, but on what we can still do right.

One of the most hopeful moments comes near the end, using whales as an example of what happens when humans actually decide to act. Once hunted to near extinction, their populations have recovered thanks to global intervention. There’s also a projected vision of a low-carbon future London — a quiet reminder that change isn’t some abstract idea, it’s possible.

The visuals are stunning, the original score is emotional and sweeping, but as always, it’s David’s voice that holds everything together. Calm, nostalgic, reassuring. There’s something incredibly powerful about hearing someone who has witnessed almost a century of change still speak with hope.

The final image really got me. Instead of ending on a dramatic shot of Earth or space, we see a life-sized Attenborough sitting in his study, as if he’s right there in the room with us. It’s comforting… but also a little haunting. The whole thing feels like a time capsule — wisdom designed to live on long after he’s gone.

So, was it slightly underwhelming at times? Maybe. But was it a necessary reminder, a moment to pause, reflect, and reconnect with why protecting this planet matters? Absolutely. And honestly, any experience that leaves you feeling more hopeful than helpless is one worth having — especially for younger audiences.

David Attenborough remains proof that storytelling can change the world. And if this really is part of the legacy he’s leaving behind, then we should all be paying attention.

You can see my sneak peak here.