It’s notoriously difficult to see the stars if you live in London, so it’s no surprise that there was a stream of people pouring into last night’s opening of Space by Luxmuralis. Following a sold-out tour of the UK, this sound and light show has landed in St Martin-in-the-Fields church on Trafalgar square for five nights only.
Luxmuralis is an artistic collaboration between Peter Walker (sculptor) and David Harper (composer) creating large-scale art, light and sound installations, designed to bring cathedrals and sacred spaces to life and transform the way we interact with them. In Space, the creators have used humanity’s curiosity about the cosmos as a basis for their immersive show.
The experience begins outside the church, where Renaissance drawings of the heavens and calculations of the movements of the planets light up the surrounding walls in an eye-catching display of colour. Downstairs in the crypt, visitors see familiar footage of man’s journey to the moon, before entering a room filled with pinpricks of light, like looking up at a sky full of stars. This was lovely to walk into, but waiting in the queue for the next section, I found myself wanting a bit more to hold my interest.
Filing up into the church, everyone took seats in pews to watch the main section of the show – a 15-minute exploration of space projected onto the wall and vaulted ceiling. A shuttle launch is followed by a flight past planets and tumbling asteroids, taking us deep into the universe. Stars whizz past as we float through swirling galaxies, accompanied by music that varies from dramatic to serene. Time, as well as space, flew by, as we were dazzled with lights and sound. I really enjoyed this part of the installation, although I recommend sitting in the middle of the church if you can, as I found the front a bit neck breaking.
The whole experience lasts roughly half an hour, and there are frequent pauses as you move from one section to another, to prevent over-crowding. You can take longer if you want, watching the loop more than once, or enjoying the projections outside while you have a drink at the outdoor bar, next to a patio heater.
All in all, Space is a great way to spend a cold February evening, especially if you’re looking for a way to keep children entertained this half-term.
Space by Luxmuralis runs till the 21st of February at St Martin-in –the-Fields Church, Trafalgar Square. Tickets are available here: https://www.stmartin-in-the-fields.org/whats-on/
Reviewer: Charlotte Mansfield
Reviewed: 17th February 2026
North West End UK Rating: