LONDON CITY NIGHTS

Review: 'Space by Luxmuralis' at St Martin-in-the-Fields, 17 February 2026

Space by Luxmuralis reviewed by David James
Rating: 

Central London's many churches are, quietly, one of the city's greatest features. In an urban landscape in which glass and steel skyscrapers sprout and wither in the blink of an eye, their permanence connects us to generations of Londoners who came before us.

Wander inside any random London church, and you'll find a peaceful history lesson, the walls studded with the names of long-forgotten dignitaries and each with some unique historical nugget on or in it, be it a surviving Anglo-Saxon arch, a detailed model of Old London Bridge, or (my fave) a stretch of genuine Roman pavement in a crypt.

There's only one problem. Come Sunday, nobody's in the pews. So, if these churches are no longer for worshipping God, what are they for? Well, something has to be worshipped, and Space by Luxmuralis decides humanity's ingenuity and intelligence fit the bill.

This is a light and sound show that takes place on, under, and inside St Martin-in-the-Fields church on Trafalgar Square - a building I've strolled past countless times but never been into. It's an old, old building that's been a site of worship for centuries. I mean, when was the last time this part of London was a field?

Anyhow, Luxmuralis bill themselves as one of the world's "leading exponents of fine art, light and sound installations", promising "immersive fine art experiences which combine the qualities of light and sound through contemporary media".

Space proves to be a fairly loosely defined meditation on humanity's exploration of the stars, taking us through the Apollo landings and into a psychedelic show projected over the altar. 

Judging by last night, anyone attending should prepare themselves for quite a bit of queuing to get in. The organisers are clearly fully aware of that, as much of the show is a stealthy way to keep visitors engaged as they're slowly funneled towards the interior of the church itself for the main event.

Once sat in a pew, it's worth the wait. There's clear inspiration from 2001: A Space Odyssey here, from a score that feels like it's taking cues from Strauss' Blue Danube Waltz over majestic space footage. This eventually progresses into what feels like a modernized take on the "Star Gate" sequence at the film's end, with the church transformed into a swirling kaleidoscope of colours as we're rushed through a wormhole.

It doesn't take a lot to make me happy, so sitting in a beautiful historic building watching pretty colors fly about and listening to nice music was fundamentally a good time. Is it immersive? Nah, not really. But what does that word even mean these days?

Space is abstract stuff that focuses on vibes, so don't go into this expecting to come out actually knowing anything new about space travel. In fact, the children I saw who'd been brought along by their well-meaning parents got a bit bored after ten minutes of classical music and swirling lights.

Archaeologists think St Martin-in-the-Fields was built on the site of what was once a pagan temple, which became a Roman burial ground, then a Christian church by the 11th century. Events like this underline that Christianity may also soon have to relinquish this space, just as the pagans, Anglo-Saxons, and Romans did before them. 

But hey, if we're worshipping science now, this architecture absolutely provides the appropriate level of awe for man's achievements.

Space by Luxmuralis is at St Martin-in-the-Fields until 21 February. Tickets here.