I’m sitting on the prettiest pink and yellow armchair you ever did see, in a wood-panelled practice carriage straight out of a Golden Age fever dream. I’m working my means by way of a plate of elegantly organized lamb rump – my third course, every with its personal wine pairing – as a lady in a teal swimsuit makes an attempt to solicit a man in tweed to homicide her husband. No, it’s not how I usually spend my Wednesdays, thanks for asking.
I’m in the course of homicide thriller practice expertise One Approach Ticket, the brand new crème de la crème of the immersive craze that’s had the nation in a chokehold for years. It’s a growth that appeared to start out after Covid-19 lockdowns ended, valued at $114.37bn (£90bn) globally in 2024 and expected to grow more than 25 per cent by 2030.
From the violently twee Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience exhibition to stalwarts like The Crystal Maze (beloved of sadists and company awayday organisers), our urge for food for all-encompassing sensation-seeking appears to know no limits in 2025. And whereas most immersive experiences require attendees to cough up way over typical pastimes (Taskmaster: The Live Experience tickets are as much as £100), the worth of One Approach Ticket is bound to make even probably the most devoted immerser wince.
For £585 per individual (or £1,170 every, in order for you a non-public carriage for 2), One Approach Ticket is a round practice journey from London’s Victoria Station with a five-course meal, served whereas a homicide thriller unfolds within the aisles. Who killed starlet Vivian Moreau on the gala final night time? Effectively, one factor’s for positive: they’re on this practice! And this practice is the opulent British Pullman – a Belmond practice, sister to the legendary Orient Categorical – a wonderfully luxurious setting for our day of cosplay homicide on wheels.
In true immersive vogue, the expertise begins earlier than we step foot on the practice itself. Distinguished by their conspicuously anachronistic outfits – good Thirties cartoons come to life, no cheesy fancy costume right here – actors are strolling among the many potential passengers, each on the platform and within the devoted British Pullman lounge, the place stewards in stunning fits serve stunning bellinis. Having emerged from the crowded tube, sweaty and sooty as a Dickensian orphan, it’s one thing of a shock to the system to hitch the shiny, “spot the Birkin bag” crowds.
Settling into our elegant seats and accepting a prime up of champagne – Avanti, this ain’t – we’re invited to peruse copies of the Arcadia Chronicle, a newspaper from the universe of the play, filled with stories on the dying of “Miss Moreau”. Who was the final to see her? With the practice supposedly sure for Arcadia – the utopian imaginative and prescient of ruthless scientist Ambrose Valkerne – may Moreau’s position because the colony’s spokeswoman have been the motive for her homicide? Fortunately – and I imply this in a great way – the story itself is much less taxing than ambiently diverting: the right accompaniment to sipping, chatting, and letting the excessive camp wash over you.
It is likely to be simple watching, however I’m assured that the method of co-ordinating the manufacturing throughout eight carriages was something however easy. “We’ve a fairly critical spreadsheet,” says Adam Blackwood, inventive director of the present’s manufacturing firm Personal Drama Occasions, who’s sitting throughout from me. I can solely think about – fortunately, probably the most critical factor I’ve to cope with proper now could be which set of cutlery to make use of as the primary course is about down (Cornish hake, with “Windsor” beans, darling).
The appearing that unfolds as I eat is good-naturedly melodramatic, with every character embodying a Golden Age archetype: from femme fatale Candice “Sweet” Rose (Chloe Walshe, the manufacturing’s undisputed star) and her gangster husband Vince, to obsessive film director Renee Venderheuvel.
All are wearing their very own signature color à la Cluedo – which the entire expertise surreally recollects – and every course is accompanied by a brand new slice of drama. The spinach soup, as an illustration, comes with the revelation that Sweet is having an affair with MP Reginald Asquith-Mobley. And with one other glass of wine – it should be, oh, 1pm by now – we’re handled to a brand new villain: Valkerne’s ruthless enforcer Harland Graves.
Punters are pulled into the dramatics sometimes, too – I’m requested by an officious ticket inspector character if I’ve seen something suspicious. Fortunately, although, that’s probably the most we’re requested to take part. And after almost 4 hours, we’re lastly handled to the large whodunnit. No spoilers, however there’s a satisfying twist earlier than the reveal – which does make sense (nearly), particularly with the assistance of some last-minute exposition. In the event you like your drama divisive or experimental, you is likely to be greatest giving One Approach Ticket a miss. However when you prefer it very, very cosy: step proper up.
It is smart that we’re drawn in direction of experiences like these, in digital occasions like these. With ever-larger components of our lives shifting on-line, tradition is experiencing an equal and reverse demand for decidedly non-digital distractions – younger persons are taking on crochet, switching from streaming music to vinyls, and taking pictures on actual movie cameras of their droves. And if we aren’t indulging in analogue pastimes ourselves, we’re watching people who find themselves – simply consider the rampant success of The Traitors, mainly a souped-up, televised parlour recreation.
Unable to prise our units out of our personal palms by way of willpower alone, an immersive expertise supplies a uncommon alternative to have it forcibly locked away from us, too, permitting us to have interaction with the current slightly than an countless stream of notifications. And what’s extra reliably diverting (and extra comfortingly retro) than a homicide thriller – particularly one we all know can be tied up with a bow earlier than the day’s over?
Look, One Approach Ticket’s story isn’t going to shatter any style conventions. However it’s whole, enveloping security – a universe the place a well dressed steward addresses your each whim, the place the drinks by no means cease flowing, and other people carry out unchallenging however properly diverting drama to your leisure. It’s the closest I’ve felt to blissfully checked-out for some time. Regardless of my internal class warrior (I’m afraid I can’t cease eager about how two of the most affordable seats value almost as a lot because the average UK rent, or per week’s vacation by the seaside), one thing about sitting amid the motion makes the entire thing completely absorbing. And hey, if the world is on fireplace, we’d as properly reside it up whereas we’re right here.
In contrast with extra run-of-the-mill immersive experiences – which regularly quantity to an hour in a chilly warehouse taking part in much more primary variations of already foolish video games, cough, Taskmaster, cough – there’s little question that One Approach Ticket is in its personal league. As somebody who’s constitutionally allergic to organised enjoyable, I feared that I may need to become involved with “cracking the case” or one thing equally cringey – fortunately, One Approach Ticket asks exactly nothing of me, which is simply the best way I like my leisure.
The practice by no means made it to Arcadia, however One Approach Ticket definitely delivered on its utopian promise – from the second I stepped on board, I knew neither poverty nor strife, neither struggle nor woe. I knew solely wine, good meals, and delightful wooden panelling. (Did I point out there was a literal mosaic on the ground within the bathroom?) Have I ever, in my 31 years on earth, met somebody who I can think about truly paying for the expertise? Er, no, however in case you are fortunate sufficient to be in possession of money to burn, you can do so much worse for a big day out than One Approach Ticket – bonkers, charming, womb-like: a completely completely different world in each sense.
One Way Ticket is out there to ebook now
