Inside the Millennium Dome (2000) Exhibition

At the dawn of the 21st century, few national projects were as ambitious or controversial as the Millennium Dome. Opened on New Year’s Day 2000, it celebrated Britain’s optimism and hope for the future through a vast exhibition of art, science, and imagination. Millions visited, eager to discover what lay inside the Millennium Dome.

Located on the Meridian Line at Greenwich in London, the Dome promoted a forward-looking, modern Britain. However, for Prime Minister Tony Blair, it also symbolised New Labour’s Cool Britannia ethos of innovation, inclusivity, and economic renewal.

In this post, I take you on a rare visual tour of the zones and attractions inside the Millennium Dome exhibition, using photos I took while visiting in January 2000. Whether you’re nostalgic for the Millennium Dome Experience—or discovering it for the first time—this photo essay brings its story to life.

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What Was the Millennium Dome?

The Millennium Dome was a large-scale exhibition space and the UK’s flagship project to celebrate the third millennium. Designed by architect Richard Rogers and engineered by Buro Happold, the dome-shaped building is undeniably a remarkable feat of engineering.

But did you know the Dome’s architecture symbolises the passage of time in several ways? Firstly, the diameter of the Millennium Dome is 365 metres (one for each day of the year). Additionally, its height is 52 metres (weeks in a year). Finally, 12 masts (representing the months) support its vast tensile canopy.

The Dome was purpose-built to house the year-long Millennium Dome Experience. This Great Exhibition was divided into 14 themed zones, exploring everything from identity and faith to technology and the environment. Despite political wranglings, over six million people visited, making the Millennium Dome exhibition one of the UK’s biggest indoor visitor attractions.

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When Did the Millennium Dome Open and Close?

The Millennium Dome opened on 1 January 2000 and closed on 31 December 2000. Though short-lived, it remains a striking reminder of Britain’s hopes and anxieties at the turn of the new millennium.

I visited on a grey January morning. Dark clouds loomed over the white fabric roof—a metaphor for the storm of criticism the project received. Yet once inside, I discovered something unexpected: an inventive and imaginative vision of Britain’s future.

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Exhibition Zones Inside the Millennium Dome

Inside one of the world’s largest enclosed spaces, three broad themes structured visitors’ experience, each encompassing several of the fourteen exhibition zones. Specifically:

1. Who We Are – Body, Faith, Mind, and Self-Portrait.
2. What We Do – Work, Learning, Rest, Play, Talk, Money, and Journey.
3. Where We Live – Shared Ground, Living Island, and Home Planet.

Let’s go inside the Millennium Dome and explore what made this national exhibition unique and memorable.

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Inside the Millennium Dome: Who We Are

This theme explored what it means to be human.

Body Zone

The Body Zone instilled a sense of wonder in human biology. It was perhaps the most memorable structure: shaped like two reclining figures, shimmering with 80,000 lenticular tiles. Inside, visitors could walk through the body, discovering how it worked through exhibits, such as:

• A giant model of a beating heart, showing how much power our blood vessels need to keep pumping.
• A model of dancing brains wearing hats, offering a comedic take on emotional processing.

Beyond our bodies, visitors could also discover health choices shaping our future well-being.

Mind Zone

Through multimedia installations and interactive exhibits, the Mind Zone explored how the brain works and plays tricks on us. In particular, visitors could look at various aspects of the mind: Intelligence, Perception and Illusion, Language, and The Potential of the Mind.

Ironically, I took no photos in this area—a bizarre oversight given my expertise in psychology.

Faith Zone

Inside the Faith Zone, striking photo stories on tall pillars portrayed key life stages (e.g., Birth, Initiation, Family, Alive & Wonder, Learning, Death, Awakening, Marriage, and Community) from the perspective of nine major religions.

Consequently, this contemplative, almost sacred space urged visitors to pause and reflect on life’s universal experiences.

Self-Portrait Zone

The Self-Portrait Zone celebrated what it meant to be British in 2000. Over 400 images submitted by the public—from the Brown Betty teapot to the Union Jack—lit up and rotated around a huge glowing drum. Hence, a miniature portrait of Britain.

The standout exhibits for me? Grotesque sculptures by political cartoonist Gerald Scarfe. They mocked racism, football hooliganism, and media addiction—satirical, bold, and unforgettable. These sculptures also countered the positive aspects of the Dome.

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Inside the Millennium Dome: What We Do

This theme looked at how we live.

Work Zone

Gone was the idea of a “job for life.” Instead, the Work Zone promoted six core skills for success in the modern workforce (e.g., Communication, Numeracy, Problem-solving, IT skills, Hand-eye coordination, and Teamwork).

Another favourite exhibit, for example, was a giant table football game promoting teamwork. In addition, a display of five thousand Post-It Notes relayed messages about work practices.

Above all, this zone warned against boredom in the workplace, emphasising the importance of continuous skill development.

Learning Zone

The Learning Zone stressed lifelong education as key to opening new job opportunities through three oversized areas. For example:

• School Corridor – recreated school life through authentic sights, sounds and smells.
• School Hall – featured The Magic Seed, a BBC short film showing how learning can transform lives.
• Infinite Orchard – captured visitors’ images and placed them centre-stage in an interactive adventure.

These immersive spaces championed education not as a phase but as a pursuit of life’s goals, especially in a changing job market where adaptability is key.

Rest Zone

With soothing lights, calming sounds, and refreshing scents, the Rest Zone provided a tranquil space for visitors to relax, besides stressing (no pun intended) the importance of slowing down.

Its centrepiece, Longplayer, was a musical composition designed to last 1,000 years, with no two moments ever the same.

Play Zone

From sports to leisure, music to arts, and hobbies to games, the Play Zone highlighted the evolution of recreation. It also challenged visitors to discover things they didn’t know. Consequently, it was a hit with kids and adults alike.

In short, this fun zone reminded us of the lost value of real-world play in sparking creativity, problem-solving, and genuine relationships—elements increasingly overlooked in today’s digital-dependent and social media-absorbed society.

Talk Zone

The Talk Zone foresaw the human value of communication and new technologies, which appeared futuristic back then. At the entrance, a timeline traced our journey from 4000 BC to the digital age, from smoke signals to the Internet.

Upstairs, videophones and other innovations demonstrated the future of communication, hinting at how we share information and knowledge today.

Money Zone

Perhaps the most striking exhibit was a real £1 million in £50 notes behind glass in the Money Zone, which dealt with society’s fascination with wealth and spending.

Additionally, visitors could “spend” a virtual fortune in 60 seconds and then reflect on the consequences of global consumption if everyone did the same.

Journey Zone

The Journey Zone chronicled the evolution of human transportation—from ancient methods to futuristic concepts. Sponsored by Ford, this area explored potential innovations across land, sea, and air (e.g., high-speed trains, carbon-fibre yachts, and space tourism).

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Inside the Millennium Dome: Where We Live

This theme explored how we live together.

Shared Ground

Made from recycled cardboard, Shared Ground explored the importance of neighbourhood and community (i.e., the idea of social connectedness). It highlighted how diverse societies shape Britain’s identity, promoting unity through understanding and tolerance.

Here, visitors could also record messages for a time capsule—many of which played aloud as you moved through this eco-conscious zone.

Living Island

Based on a traditional seaside resort with cliffs, a lighthouse, and a beach, Living Island promoted environmental and sustainability themes.

Besides the light-hearted interior, visitors entered this area through the “Tunnel of Love,” setting a playful, welcoming tone.

Home Planet

Home Planet explored our planet’s uniqueness and place in the universe. Furthermore, a simulated journey through inner and outer space—guided by animated aliens—brought big questions down to Earth.

Nearby, floating above it all, was a 12-metre model of Earth—a striking landmark on the Millennium Dome map.

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Other Attractions Inside the Millennium Dome

These contributed to the Millennium Dome’s overarching theme. Namely, celebrating everyday life in Britain in 2000.

Timekeepers of the Millennium

This futuristic exhibit explored the concept of time with alien guides Coggs and Sprinx. Behind the Stonehenge entrance, it contained things collected on their travels (e.g., Da Vinci’s flying bicycle).

The Millennium Show

A stunning aerial performance by gymnasts, dancers, and actors, with music by Peter Gabriel. The show told a Romeo & Juliet-inspired love story, which performers played out in the central arena, under the Millennium Dome’s roof. In essence, the show was part theatre, part circus, and pure spectacle.

Our Town Stage

A nationwide project bringing together hundreds of local communities for grassroots performances under a pink canopy with spikes suspended from the roof.

Skyscape

A cinema by day—screening British comedies like Blackadder—and a concert venue by night. Thus, Skyscape offered a glimpse of what the Millennium Dome is now—a major entertainment destination.

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The Millennium Dome Diamond Heist

In November 2000, the Dome made headlines for a different reason: a criminal gang attempted to steal gems from the De Beers exhibit, only to be caught by the Flying Squad. Dubbed the Millennium Dome Heist, this real-life drama inspired Netflix’s The Diamond Heist mini-series.

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Is the Millennium Dome Still Standing?

Yes—and it’s thriving, but it’s no longer called that.

What Is the Millennium Dome Now Known As?

Though short-lived, the Millennium Dome’s cultural legacy lives on. Today, it’s known as The O₂ Arena (or simply The O₂)—a world-class entertainment venue for concerts, sports, and cultural events.

So, if you’ve visited The O₂, you’ve stood beneath the same white fabric roof as the original Millennium Dome (2000) exhibition.

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Final Thoughts on the Millennium Dome Exhibition and Legacy

Yes, the Millennium Dome exhibition was expensive, divisive, and seen by some as a London-centric vanity project. However, it was also inspiring. While some saw it as a symbol of government hubris, others experienced it as a time capsule of national pride.

As we reflect 25 years later, it’s clear that the Dome’s significance wasn’t just in what it delivered but in what it attempted. Its story reminds us that national projects can fail in execution yet succeed in ambition.

Today, the Millennium Dome stands not as a relic but as a repurposed icon—evolving with the country it once sought to define.

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Want to Go Deeper?

If this post left you wanting to see more, you’ll love my follow-up:

👉 The Millennium Dome Human Body and Other Strange Exhibits—a deep dive into the strangest, boldest, and most surreal zones.

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If this post brought back memories—or sparked curiosity—feel free to share or leave a comment. I’d love to hear what the Millennium Dome exhibition meant to you.