How many hours of your life have you spent watching Friends? And how many of those hours did you fantasise about sitting on that orange ‘Central Perk’ sofa for a coffee with the gang or living across the hallway from your best pals in an apartment that due to rent control was a freakin’ steal?
If the answer is anything close to or exceeding many many many timesthen you’ll be able to live out some of these wishes over at the Friends immersive experience, which is landing in London just in time to coincide with the 30th anniversary of the show first hitting screens. It’s the launch of the show’s first flagship location in the UK, and the fun all kicks off in August.
The FRIENDS™ Experience: The One in London
Could that name for the experience be any more perfect? Invoking an iconic episode where the gang hit up London, you’ll be travelling over to the ExCeL Centre to transport yourself into their world. Taking inspiration from The One With Ross’ Wedding Parts 1&2you’ll be able to step into a recreation of the semi-demolished church where Ross gets married to Emily, and even check out the 3D version of Joey’s London map.
Back in the New York setting of the experience, there’ll be plenty of photograph opportunities, including in front of the iconic purple door of Monica and Rachel’s apartment, as well as the chance to relax on the Joey and Chandler recliners (though we can’t confirm if the chick and the duck will join you). Plus, you won’t need to worry about getting peckish. You can just waltz in and try the themed food and drink made for the show before stepping into ‘Central Perk’, the coffee shop synonymous with the show, where you can take a seat on the famous orange sofa. While we’re on the subject of sofas, you can also expect a ‘PIVOOOOT’ moment to pop up at some point…
Speaking on the experience, Stacy Moscatelli, Chief Executive Officer of Original X Productions, said: “The FRIENDS™ Experience: The One in London marks a significant milestone as our second global flagship, continuing our expansion of this beloved attraction.
“As we celebrate the 5th anniversary of this much-loved experience and the 30th anniversary of the series, we’re thrilled to offer Londoners and visitors the chance to step inside the world of FRIENDS™ and relive their favourite moments. We can’t wait to see everyone in the UK celebrate their FRIENDS™ fandom.”
Insight from the show’s creators will also form a large part of the experience, with guests having the chance to head behind the scenes and hear stories from the costume designer. Talking of clothing, you’ll also be able to get your hands on some exclusive merchandise that can only be found at the London leg of the Friends experience.
Find The FRIENDS™ Experience: The One in London at the ExCeL Centre, Royal Victoria Docks, 1 Western Gateway, E16 1XL (nearest station is Custom House). You can sign up to the waitlist and priority access via this link now, with the pre-sale kicking off on June 17 and the general sale following on June 18. Could we be any more excited?
