Star Trek: The Adventure

Sunday February 23, 2003.

Star Trek: The Adventure landed in Hyde Park on December 2, 2002 and was due to end on January 31st, but it was extended due to its popularity. Luckily myself and some friends managed to get some tickets, following the extension, so off we went.

My ticket.

The exhibition consisted of a massive climate-controlled exhibit, which covered over 7,000 square feet, making it the largest exhibition in Hyde Park, since the Great Exhibition of 1851. The exhibit consisted of props and memorabilia, worth over £20 million, covering the five Star Trek series and ten movies and was also the venue for the after-show party, following the premiere of Star Trek Nemesis.

Star Trek: The Adventure.

As we passed along the covered walkway, on your way in to the massive, hangar-like, building, banners hung from the roof, with a different Star Trek character on each of them. Then, as we entered the hall proper, we were greeted by an enormous model of the USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-A). She was intricately detailed and truly majestic as she hung at a slight angle from the ceiling. There were also models of the USS Excelsior (NCC-2000), the Negh'Var, a type-15 shuttlepod and a Borg Cube, which was 1.5 metres in size. There was also a Scorpion, that had survived the destruction of the Scimitar, in Star Trek Nemesis,

USS Enterprise NCC-1701-A

IKS Negh'Var.

My friend Keda, with a Scorpion from Star Trek: Nemesis.

All around the hall there were actual costumes and uniforms, masks and models, weapons and gadgets. There was Picard's chair from his ready room, aboard the USS Enterprise NCC-1701-E, and Shinzon's chair, from the Scimitar in Star Trek Nemesis.

Captain Picard's chair and desk, from the USS Enterprise NCC-1701-E.

A nice bunch of...

Klingon Weaponry.

There were 'energetic' flight simulators, which took us on a calm journey around the solar system, before thrusting us violently through a worm hole into the middle of an attack, by the Borg. 

Shuttlepod flight simulators.

We even stood on a USS Enterprise transporter pad and were 'beamed' to the planet from 'The City on the Edge of Forever', where we 'materialised' in front of the 'Guardian of Forever', with Kirk and Spock.

Transporter pad.

Lara and I 'beam' down as part of the away team.

'Ten Forward' was open, so we popped in for a drink. It was here that we could purchase 'Romulan Ale', 'Klingon Export' and 'Château Picard'. All very nice and all very alcoholic and all very expensive.

Ten Forward.

Then, there was the set of the bridge. The Bridge. The bridge of the USS Enterprise. No bloody, A, B, C, D or E. Unfortunately, she was cordoned off, but she was there.

The Bridge.

The bridge of the USS Enterprise.

The bridge of the USS Enterprise. No bloody, A, B, C, D or E.

Then, just when we thought 'It can't get any better,' It did! Ahead of us were doors, straight from the USS Enterprise NCC-1701-D, and as they 'hissed' open we passed through and into engineering. It was perfect. The consoles and MSD were all there and... you could touch them! Bonus! Then there was the warp core itself, pulsing in a hypnotic blue. 

Warp core.

Everything was going so well, until the alarms went off, and we were suddenly herded toward a tubolift. Even though the turbolift never actually moved, although I would have sworn that it did, when the doors opened we were on the bridge. We were on the bridge of the USS Enterprise NCC-1701-D and the ship was under attack, from the Borg. Once the Borg were defeated, the lights returned to normal and we were left to explore the bridge for a good ten minutes, before we were ushered out, so that the next group could have their adventure.

The viewscreen aboard the USS Enterprise NCC-1701-D.

Consoles on the bridge of the USS Enterprise NCC-1701-D.

Me on the bridge of the USS Enterprise NCC-1701-D.

Command seats on the bridge of the USS Enterprise NCC-1701-D.

Lara, Daisy and myself: The Next Generation.

Leaving the bridge brought you to the shop, selling everything Star Trek related that you could think of. And there was a giant, and I do mean giant, Tribble,

Lara and I with an overfed Tribble.

Apologies for the quality of the photos, but they were taken on a 35mm camera that used 'film'.