Creating connections and emotions across the Channel: Newhaven <> Dieppe 360° immersive experience

He took off the VR headset with tears in his eyes. His family were comforting him. I was worried the headset had caused discomfort - but no! For a few minutes he’d been back in Dieppe: visiting cafés, eating moules frites, walking along the seafront - with his late wife. That’s when I realised: this project wasn’t just about celebrating 200 years of the Dieppe–Newhaven ferry line, it was about connection, memory, awe and the power of shared experience.

This Autumn, All Abroad! Bus was invited to create a Newhaven Dieppe 360° immersive experience to complement the 200 Years of the Dieppe–Newhaven Ferry exhibition.

The brief was simple: 'bring' Dieppe to people in Newhaven, in an engaging, interactive, accessible and fun way, so that everyone - from lifelong locals to first-time visitors - could experience what it's like to visit this beautiful, bustling port town on the other side of the Channel. To complete the literal as well as technological 360° story, we also set out to ‘take’ Newhaven to Dieppe, and put this oft overlooked town on the map as more than just an arrival port. And we're proud to say that this is a success story that made waves on both sides of the Channel!

Two towns, two shores - Newhaven and Dieppe, linked by 200 years of crossings and countless memories. This four-hour journey, fondly known locally as the bridge (thank you Graham!) is special - and not just because it saves locals having to spend hours driving to reach Dover/Calais (and believe me, I really do know!). It's a bridge' that connects two regions, Sussex and Normandy, two cultures, two identities - each unique yet deeply connected. Those who live near either port see the ferry daily; it’s part of the landscape, part of life. Yet many locals have never taken it - some don’t know why they would, or assume they can’t. We wanted to change that.

Over 5 dates in Newhaven (plus a launch night)...

we 'took' close to 1,000 people on virtual journeys to Dieppe. Older visitors relived past trips and noted changes in the town, families discovered something new, and young people saw travel and another culture in a whole new light. Through our interactive 360°VR experience, we brought both communities face to face, celebrating what connects us.

The most common feedback in Newhaven (about Dieppe):

• either “It brought back so many memories” 

• or “I want to go NOW!” 

• and sometimes both!

People reminisced about school trips, £1 ferry crossings, “booze cruises”, the mouth-watering meals and market produce, that café, seaside adventures - from decades past to just the previous month. For others, it (re)ignited curiosity and confidence to travel (again), with particular interest in the Avenue Verte - the cycle route linking London and Paris via Newhaven and Dieppe. Beyond 360°VR and our multi-sensory setup - photos, videos, soundscapes, scents, tasting, and realia, we featured a bicycle set up to feel like people were cycling along this stunning green cycle route - a big hit!

Over 2 days (and a bit) in Dieppe...

we 'transported' some 200 (mostly French) people to Newhaven - a delight and revelation for all!

There, the most common feedback was:

• "I've never thought to stop in Newhaven - we just go straight to Brighton!",

• usually followed by "but next time I think we will!"

• Or simply "It's time to get a passport!"

For most visitors on both sides of the Channel, it was their first time trying VR - and they loved it! We saw more than ever just how our accessible, immersive experiences of travelling abroad can stir something deep - curiosity, connection, confidence, whilst also delivering measurable cultural and educational impact. There were some tears and emotional reactions (all positive by the way) but mostly smiles, giggles and real-time verbal commentary relaying surprise, excitement and much more!

Standing back from this main phase of the project...

it was a huge undertaking - researching whos, whats, whens and wheres to get the right shots to capture the authentic essence of both towns, coordinating teams, filming on both sides of the Channel, dodging bad weather whenever possible, preparing materials, embracing 360°VR technology with all its quirks and many wobbles, ensuring everything went smoothly on the day and so much more. But, by staying flexible, collaborating with the right people, and using our French language skills, it all came together!

I’m forever grateful to Jack Brownell, Head of Tourism for Eastbourne & Lewes District, for instantly “getting” the vision and trusting me and All Abroad! Bus to deliver it after securing the funding required, as well as for giving me the freedom to explore various ideas that (mostly) came off!

To Muriel Bétrancourt from The Workshop in Dieppe, un grand merci for showing us the real Dieppe, connecting us with people and places, spreading the word so deftly and enthusiastically, designing our comms and offering us your beautiful space. You embody exactly the kind of person who keeps the cross-Channel spirit alive.

Thanks also to Nick at Towner Gallery, BN9, and Newhaven Enterprise Zone for your help and the use of the stunning Atrium at Marine Workshops; to Creative Newhaven, Visit Lewes, Experience Sussex, Little Sussex, Lewes Town Council, Dieppe (Facebook) and all others who helped to promote the events; to Pam and de Femmes who brought French songs to Newhaven, to The Wreckers who sang sea shanties to Dieppe and back; to Littleford+Adams for bringing their Ouse-musing film "Ebb & Flow" to Dieppe, and to Cycling Without Age who cycle-delivered people with mobility problems to the doors of our events, you are legends!

I’m very appreciative too to everyone who offered advice, permissions, contacts, discounts, and more - especially DFDS, the mairie of Dieppe, Dieppe office de tourisme, Newhaven Tourist office, the Port of Newhaven, Graham Precey, Johnny Denis, Jo Williams and to all the individuals, groups, and businesses who welcomed us and our cameras with open arms, happily sharing their stories and enthusiasm, ambassadors of their beautiful towns to those on the neighbouring side. Every contribution and interaction was valuable in some way and this project was a true collaboration across borders and communities, and for many, it’s already the beginning of something lasting. (Follow our socials for more on this!).

Of course a massive thank you to all those who collaborated with me on the creation and delivery of this project, particularly Chris, Jason, Amber, Lucy, Emily and Alfie - from filming and editing, sourcing and inventing, illustrating through to guiding excited (if occasionally nervous) participants through the VR experience - we did it!

Last but definitely not least, thank you to everyone who visited our events, who went on our journey together. who told others about it, who even came back for a second go!

Every part of this project relied on adaptability, empathy, and communication...

from jumping on good weather windows to sharing our project and teasing stories that would captivate visitors. Speaking both English and French let us get under the skin of each place and ensure that everyone we met felt heard. It also allowed us to see Dieppe through local eyes and share stories authentically back in Newhaven, while chatting wiyth the French about Newhaven and why it really is a destination worth stopping off in and linking to! It's all proof that real, human communication - meeting people where they are, in their own language - is still the key to understanding each other and the world around us, and has been undoubtedly at the heart of this project’s success.

At All Abroad! Bus, our mission has always been to broaden access to the joys and rewards of learning languages and experiencing trips abroad.

This project reaffirmed why that matters so much: travel isn’t just about places, it’s about people, stories, and emotions. The experience sparked memories, conversations, and connections that went far beyond the headset. People weren’t just watching; they were remembering, feeling, sharing, and dreaming. For some, it brought back long-forgotten moments with loved ones; for others, it reignited curiosity and confidence to explore again, cross-cultural understanding and a vivid desire to visit in real life.

All Abroad! Newhaven <> Dieppe 360 has showed that accessibility and emotion go hand in hand - that making the world feel closer can have real, lasting impact for individuals and communities. Next, we’ll be taking this experience into local schools and care homes, ensuring that travel - even when not real-world - continues to inspire connection, curiosity, cultural exchange and language learning.

The Dieppe-Newhaven ferry is indeed a bridge in the physical and metaphorical sense. Four hours and £20 (off-peak foot passenger fare each way) to discover a whole other way of living, speaking, celebrating and eating. Here’s to keeping that bridge alive - and to many more journeys and projects across it for us and all other interested parties in Newhaven and Dieppe! Vive la ligne Dieppe-Newhaven, Vive le pont !

We're always looking for new collaborations to bring immersive, cross-cultural experiences to life - connecting communities, celebrating local stories, and inspiring curiosity along the way. We’re excited to build on the momentum from our first fully bilateral project and explore how future projects can connect communities in similarly immersive and meaningful ways.