Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel London Review

This week I went to Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel: The Exhibit. Fever is an app where you can purchase tickets for exhibitions all over London but they’re notorious for not releasing the location until pretty much the week before it takes place. Slightly annoying for someone who likes their weeks to be super organised in advance. Anyway, I digress.

So this exhibition is located in Cannon Factory. Where?? you may be thinking, and don’t worry I was the exact same. It’s actually a short walk from Tottenham Hale station. You do have to follow Google Maps quite closely because it seems to be in the middle of an industrial estate and the signage to get there wasn’t great.

We eventually made it and joined the queue. Now here’s where it gets more annoying. When you get to the front of the queue and show them your tickets, you’ll be asked whether you want to purchase an audio guide. It’s pretty pointless without an audioguide so of course we said yes. We were then presented with 2 options, you either pay a slightly higher price for the museum style audio guide or you can use your phone and pay around £2. Of course we opted for using our phones but it was frustrating as I was conscious of my battery running out and only one of us had headphones.

I just checked their website and there is no mention of audioguides at all – very frustrating! So if you’re planning on going, be prepared!

The exhibition itself is essentially a large hall and an adjoining room which has Michelangelo’s work blown up for you to look at. I don’t know what I was expecting but perhaps not this.

Each photo has an audio which lasts between 5-10 minutes. The websites states that the whole exhibition should last 60-90 minutes but if you’re going to listen to every single of the 100 videos then you’re going to be there a lot longer. I tried to get as much out of the exhibition that I could but honestly we didn’t get through all the videos. I suppose the plus side of having it on your phone is that you can watch the rest of the videos at a later date if you wanted.

There are a few benches where you can take a seat if you get tired but I do think they could have done with a few more. In the second room, along with some more photos there is a video playing which seems it’s aimed at secondary school aged kids to explain the story behind Michelangelo and the Sistine Chapel.

Personally, I think the exhibition was underwhelming and I wouldn’t really recommend it. It’s a nice day out but there are much better exhibitions on. Its priced at £11 per adult which seems pricey for what you’re getting and the hidden and added charge of the audio guide just seems really cheeky.

Is it suitable for kids? You could definitely bring them, there is nothing to stop you from bringing them but there is nothing for them to do. No interactive parts at all so they will get very bored very quickly.

Where: Cannon Factory. Ashley Rd, London N17 9LH, UK

Would I go again? I would not.