We Go Way Back: Free London Exhibition Runs Until 2 July

London visitors can now explore the UK’s first ancient DNA exhibition for free at The Francis Crick Institute. We Go Way Back is open Wednesday to Saturday from 16 July 2026 until 2 July 2027 at 1 Midland Road, London, NW1 1AT. It is aimed at the general public, including anyone curious about history, genetics or the changing story of Britain’s population.

According to the Francis Crick Institute, the exhibition follows ancient DNA from fragments recovered from bones and teeth through ultra-clean laboratories and genetic sequencing. Interactive exhibits then show how this evidence can illuminate migration, disease and individual lives from thousands of years ago.

A journey from ancient relatives to Roman Britain

The exhibition begins deep in human history, introducing visitors to early encounters with Neanderthals and Denisovans. It then moves through changing British populations during the metal ages and Roman period.

Rather than presenting genetics as an abstract code, We Go Way Back uses puzzles and physical activities to explain how researchers work. Visitors can search model teeth for pathogen DNA, assemble a family tree and examine evidence used to reconstruct the stories of two ancient people.

One case concerns a person who travelled thousands of miles to Cambridge during the Roman period. It draws on research conducted with museums and heritage sites across the UK: Pontus Skoglund and the Crick’s Ancient Genomics Laboratory have assembled a bank of 1,000 genomes from people who lived in Britain over the past 4,500 years.

How old DNA reveals the history of disease

Ancient DNA consists of surviving genetic material from people who died long ago. Researchers extract fragments from bones and teeth, process them in tightly controlled laboratory conditions and sequence them to uncover the underlying genetic code.

The field began with early DNA extractions in the 1980s and expanded rapidly alongside advances in genetic sequencing during the 2010s. At the Crick, robotics now help the Ancient Genomics Laboratory process hundreds of samples each month, while computer models are used to interpret growing collections of human and pathogen genomes.

The medical strand of the exhibition remains firmly historical and research-focused. Displays examine how bacteria and viruses evolved alongside humans and how ancient genetics can provide context for modern disease research. One example is the identification of an ancient version of a gene associated with inflammatory bowel disease.

Senior group leader Pontus Skoglund said ancient DNA is providing answers to historical questions that could not previously be addressed with genetic evidence. Classicist and broadcaster Mary Beard, who served on the exhibition steering group, said the discipline could reshape established ideas about the past and add unexpected turns to ancestral stories.

Interactive displays end with a holographic artwork

The final installation is Portals: Windows into Human Heritage, a holographic artwork by Sheffield-based artist Grace Lee. Created with a participatory group and researchers from the Ancient Genomics Laboratory, it invites visitors to reflect on the histories presented throughout the exhibition.

A programme of events will run alongside We Go Way Back. The Francis Crick Institute says it will include panel discussions, talks with Mary Beard, Pontus Skoglund and other historical and scientific researchers, as well as Lates. Individual dates and times are not included in the supplied exhibition announcement.

Opening days and accessible visitor materials

We Go Way Back is free and opens Wednesday to Saturday at The Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Road, London, NW1 1AT. The run continues until 2 July 2027, giving visitors almost a year to attend.

The exhibition was developed with an access consultant and a panel of blind and visually impaired people. Films and animations have British Sign Language and captions, while Easy Read, Braille and large-print guides are available. Sensory packs are also offered.

The source does not specify daily opening times, booking instructions or detailed transport guidance. Visitors planning a particular date should check the Francis Crick Institute’s current exhibition information before travelling.

Source: Francis Crick Institute News