In line with London Shoes criteria of publishing stuff about the lesser known and more unusual aspects of London’s places/history and people, the other day I headed off to the ‘Coal Drops Yard’ location in Kings Cross, for the specific purpose of visiting an exhibition type event, being held at a newish and unique type of venue.
The ‘LIGHTROOM’ is a building in Lewis Cubitt Square–Kings Cross-London N1 and is probably best described as an immersive exhibition venue.
It formally opened as recently as 2023 and its main purpose is to present large scale, art led, digital exhibitions by way of advanced projection and audio techniques.
It’s subterranean ‘Lightroom’ is located deep in the bowels of the building – and it describes itself as delivering ‘the next generation of immersive story telling’ !!
When it first opened in 2023 its first ‘experience’ was all about the work of the legendary artist ‘David Hockney’, and it was very successful. Since then the other ‘experiences’ the ‘Lightroom’ has presented have been ‘Moonwalkers’ / ‘The Prehistoric Planet’ / & ‘Dinosaurs’ .
The reason for my London Shoes visit the other day was because I had successfully acquired tickets for the Lightroom’s latest exhibition :- the “David Bowie – You’re Not Alone” experience which opened last month (April 2026) and runs until October 2026.
The exhibition title “You’re Not Alone” is taken from the ending of the final track on his 1972 released ‘Ziggy Stardust’ album – the track being ‘Rock ‘n Roll Suicide’ – which has Bowie screaming ‘You’re Not Alone’ !!!!
The ‘experience’ is presented in a sort of cinema meets theatre like style, and has been put together by working closely with the ‘David Bowie Estate’.
The exhibition is a bit like (in my opinion, anyway) one long continual collage of his life and works that encompasses ‘live’ performances / rarely seen interviews / more unusual and previously unseen reference material that when all put together, creates a sort of self portrait story of Bowie’s amazing life, from his days as a child / young man – right up to his death on 10th January 2016.
Now – for this particular experience I was delighted to be accompanied by my long time (and long suffering) brother-in-law ‘Vince’ – who like me, is a long time fan of Bowie and particularly his music / films and any of his artistic output.
But – getting back to the ‘Lightroom’ experience – the 1.5hrs continual collage of graphics/images projected onto all 4 walls of the room – told the David Bowie story perfectly and accurately -> from his early days as a child growing up in suburban Bromley -> it highlighted the sort of stuff that influenced him as a young teen -> then onto his very first bands that he formed – > then his first major hit record ‘Space Oddity’ .
The ‘experience’ then focused on his breakthrough 1972 album “The Rise & Fall of Ziggy Stardust & the Spiders from Mars” with footage of his now legendary first appearance on the UK’s popular “Top-of-the-Pops” weekly tv programme – where he performed ‘Starman’ – and looked directly at the camera, and pointed his finger whilst delivering the lyric…“I had to call someone, so I picked on you oo oo” – a classic moment in time that is now etched in the minds of a lot of people who watched it that night.
I first saw David Bowie ‘live’ at what is now referred to as a historic gig at The Rainbow Theatre in Finsbury Park-London N4 way back in August 1972 –a gig that took place just a few months in to the very first ‘Ziggy Stardust’ tour. It is this gig that is said to have been pivotal in ‘announcing’ the arrival of Bowie as a major star. It was very spectacular show that had Bowie clambering all over scaffolding erected on the Rainbow stage whilst being joined by a group of dancers from the Lindsay Kemp Mime Troupe. There was no official audio recording of this now famous Rainbow performance, nor was there any official film of the event, but a few ‘bootlegs’ exist which capture the essence of just how important and influential the show was – and these images and sounds cropped up in this Lightroom exhibition.
The moving collage of images then covered off the period of time when he left the UK for LA. It touched on the troubles he had out there and his subsequent return to the UK a couple of years later in the mid 1970’s -> and then the images moved on to his ‘Berlin’ years and the music he made and released in the late 1970’s collaborating with the likes of Robert Fripp (King Crimson guitarist and founder-and now married to Toyah) – and Brian Eno (ex Roxy Music).
Then the Lightroom takes you to his ‘Serious Moonlight’ world tour (which, incidentally – me & Vince saw performed at the Milton Keynes Bowl on a sweltering hot day in June 1983) promoting his monumental 1983 released ‘Let’s Dance’ album – >then it touches on his appearance at ‘Live Aid’ at Wembley Stadium in 1985 .
The exhibition/experience then touches upon the work he produced musically and the plays/films he appeared in during the later decades of his life – >>finishing with a track from his 25th studio album ‘Blackstar’ that was released on the 8th January 2016, just 2 days prior to David Bowie’s death on the 10th Jan.
With Shoes being a big Bowie fan – I feel that the “David Bowie – You’re Not Alone” exhibition/experience at the Lightroom was worth seeing – even though I felt it was a bit pricey (£25) for what was essentially just a 1hr 15min experience – but like most Bowie fans, I guess it just had to be done!!!
My only beef would be, we (plus around 20 others) had to spend 75% of the ‘experience’ standing on the staircase leading down to the viewing floor – as all the sofa’s / chairs & cushions had been taken up. Now – for a venue where you have to book a time slot for your visit – punters should not have to watch it standing on their feet on a stair case – crowd control and crowd comfort should be ‘policed’ much better – just saying!!!
So – having ‘done’ the “David Bowie-You’re Not Alone” exhibition – it was time for a little liquid refreshment and a bit a grub.
Now, I had envisaged that we would be frequenting a pub in the Kings Cross area – but Vince said he fancied going over to Canary Wharf as it had been many years since he last visited the place – and so we hopped on a couple of tube trains and made our way over West India Quay, and headed off to ‘The Ledger Building’ pub – my ‘work local’ throughout the years I worked up in Canary Wharf .
‘The Ledger Building’ is a very popular Wetherspoons pub, and serves up by far the cheapest grog in the Canary Wharf district – and that’s where we sank a couple of ‘cheeky’ ones whilst reflecting on our “David Bowie-You’re Not Alone” experience.
All in all, another enjoyable and interesting London Shoes jaunt out – and I hope you enjoyed the story and its accompanying photos.
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See below the entire gallery of photos accompanying this ‘Lightroom’ blog article
The David Bowie “You’re Not Alone” experience at the ‘Lightroom’ Kings Cross – was the subject matter of this London Shoes blog article.
‘Coal Drops Yard’ is located at the back of Kings Cross mainline station – it was originally a Victorian built storage yard for coal that was being transported down from up north – before being distributed by canal/horse & cart out to provide ‘power’ to London and its industries. The redeveloped ‘Coal Drops Yard formally opened in 2018 – and is today full of retail shops/bars/restaurants. It is also the location of the ‘Lightroom’ venue where the David Bowie “You’re Not Alone” experience is being hosted
The ‘Coal Drops Yard’…..”Kissing Roof”
Me-my London Shoes and my Brother-in-Law ‘Vince’ – my companion for the day – at Coal Drops Yard-Kings Cross
The ‘LIGHTROOM’ venue is located at ‘Lewis Cubitt Square-Kings Cross’ – within the Coal Drops Yard development. It is an extremely large advanced subterranean digital/projection/audio exhibition type venue.
Me 7 my London Shoes – outside the ‘Lightroom’ venue – where the David Bowie ‘You’re Not Alone’ experience is currently being shown.
The ‘Lightroom’ is described as being a venue/experience that “delivers the next generation if immersive story telling” – a bit like ‘cinema meets theatre’.
The David Bowie ‘You’re Not Alone’ Exhibition is on at the ‘Lightroom’ Kings Cross from April to October 2026
Me & my London Shoes with bruv-in-law Vince (my accomplice for the day) – outside the ‘Lightroom’ venue at the Coal Drops Yard site-Kings Cross
The main entry to the David Bowie ‘You’re Not Alone’ Exhibition at the ‘Lightroom’ venue-Kings Cross
Scenes from the main entry to the David Bowie ‘You’re Not Alone’ Exhibition at the ‘Lightroom’ venue-Kings Cross
Venturing down the stairs and deep into the bowels of the ‘Lightroom’ – heading towards the David Bowie ‘You’re Not Alone’ experience
Me-my London Shoes and Vince – deep in the subterranean world of the ‘Lightroom’ – on route to the David Bowie ‘You’re Not Alone’ experience
The Lightroom’s “David Bowie -You’re Not Alone” experience can be best described as a moving collage of his life from a child initially in Brixton and then primarily Bromley – right through to his death in 2016. His ‘story’ is told by a massive collection of ‘live’ performances (some very rarely seen before) / interviews / news reels / photographs / drawings / paintings plus loads more references…..a multi-media story collage
Inside the ‘David Bowie-You’re Not Alone’ experience at the ‘Lightroom’ – this scene depicts Bowie as a youngster growing up in Bromley – with him in front of his family home at no.4 Plaistow Grove. The collage also shows him in various later stages of his life
Inside the ‘Lightroom’ – (with all the punters like me, sitting on the Lightroom floor) with images of the sort of things that influenced the young David Bowie
More influences – Night Clubs / Soho / Cinema / Music etc etc
Bowie was an avid reader ALL his life – and the sort of stuff he wrote had a massive influence on his lyrics
Another image – which shows the young teenage Bowie (front row-middle- at the BBC when he made the news by highlighting how difficult life was for young men with long hair……in the news reel article Bowie says that other men would call him ‘darling’
Moving on to his late teens – the ‘Lightroom’ images reference Bowie’s earlier bands, long before he became famous
Me & Vince on the Lightroom ‘stairs’ watching the ‘David Bowie-You’re Not Alone’ experience
The images move on to the 1969 release of his hit single ‘Space Oddity’
Bowie’s 1969 released ‘Space Oddity’ became a popular hit record – as it coincided with the moon landing
Moving on from Bowie’s ‘Space Oddity’ period of the late 1960’s – the Lightroom exhibition focuses on Bowie’s ‘Ziggy Stardust’ era of 1972 – and his very first appearance on ‘Top of the Pops’ where he performed his newly released single ‘Starman’
Bowie’s first appearance on Top of the Pops caused quite a commotion amongst the great British public – as no one had ever seen someone dressed like that on tv before
The ‘Lightroom’ depiction of Bowie’s first Top of the Pops appearance on TV – a now famous and pivotal piece of tv
Apart from the gear worn and the orange hair – the other thing about Bowie’s first appearance on Top of the Pops back in 1972, that made the viewing public a little edgy – was when he put his arm around his guitarist ‘Mick Ronson’
The moving collage of Bowie’s first appearance on Top of the Pops in 1972 – as viewed at the ‘Lightroom’ experience
The ‘Lightroom’ ‘You’re Not Alone’ experience also focused on, what is now a legendary ‘still’ from Bowie’s 1972 Top of the Pops appearance – when Bowie turned to the camera and pointed at its screen, whilst singing the line “I had to call someone so I picked on you oo oo” – So many people down the years have said this this was a defining moment in their youth – as they felt that Bowie was actually speaking directly to them!!
Me & my London Shoes – deep down in the bowels of the ‘Lightroom’ venue – for the David Bowie ‘You’re Not Alone’ exhibition –
Moving on from Bowie’s first appearance on Top of the Pops – in Aug 1972 Bowie played, what is now viewed as a legendary show at the iconic ‘Rainbow Theatre’ in Finsbury Park-London N4. It is now seen as the gig that truly depicted the arrival of David Bowie on the world stage – as Bowie performed hos Ziggy set climbing all over and around scaffolding erected across the stage – Also, Bowie’s some numbers played were enhanced by dancers from the Lindsay Kemp Mime Troupe. There was no formal filming or recording of the show – which has added to its mystique and reverence………and guess what……I was there!!!
Another Lightroom collage of Bowie’s now legendary ‘Rainbow’ gig – in Aug 1972
Another image from the Lightroom collage of Bowie’s legendary ‘Rainbow’ gig – in Aug 1972
Another image from the Lightroom collage of Bowie’s legendary ‘Rainbow’ gig – in Aug 1972
Me & my London Shoes – deep down in the depths of the ‘Lightroom’ – at the David Bowie ‘You’re Not Alone’ experience
When Bowie dropped his Ziggy persona in 1973 – he changed his image and moved to Los Angeles. At that time ‘Russell Harty’ was a popular presenter/interviewer on prime time tv – and a satellite link was arranged for him to interview Bowie on ‘live’ tv.
During the ‘live’ tv interview – Bowie dealt calmly and cleverly with Harty’s extremely and deliberate ‘leading’ questions.
Bowie struggled with drug addiction issue whilst living and working in LA. He didnt look too clever either. The ‘Lightroom’ experience perfectly captured Bowie’s current appearance and physical condition at that time.
Whilst in the US – Bowie was heavily influenced by the controversial American author William Burroughs – who’s style of writing involved the cutting up and laying out of words/sentences in no particular order – and then using them to form new sentences and stuff like that. The ‘Lightroom’ exhibition perfectly portrays the same method that Bowie used to use.
Images beamed onto the ‘Lightroom’ floor – depict the ‘cut-up’ approach that Bowie used to use when creating lyrics.
An image of Bowie from his 1970’s ‘Diamond Dogs’ tour of the US – screened at the ‘Lightroom’ event
In 1976 Bowie left the States and returned to Britain – and the ‘Lightroom’ ‘You’re Not Alone’ experience – had wall to wall film of his ‘live’ performances at that time
The ‘Lightroom’ collages of Bowie’s ‘live’ performances in the UK during the 1970’s
The ‘Lightroom’ collages of Bowie’s ‘live’ performances in the UK during the 1970’s
The ‘Lightroom’ collages of Bowie’s ‘live’ performances in the UK during the 1970’s
Me & my London Shoes – deep down in the depths of the ‘Lightroom’ – at the David Bowie ‘You’re Not Alone’ experience
Images screened at the Lightroom exhibition of Bowie performing in the mid to late 1970’s
Images screened at the Lightroom exhibition of Bowie performing in the mid to late 1970’s
By 1977 – Bowie had teamed up with Brian Eno (ex Roxy Music) and guitarist Robert Fripp (ex King Crimson and now Toyah Wilcox husband) – to write and produce 3 albums that are now referred to as the ‘Berlin Trilogy’ (ie Low / Heroes / Lodger). The ‘Lightroom’ collages capture this association
An image of the ‘Berlin Wall’ flashed up on one of the ‘Lightroom’ walls whilst Bowie’s popular ‘Heroes’ track was playing – at the time of its lyric:- “I, I can remember (I remember) Standing, by the wall (by the wall) And the guns, shot above our heads (over our heads) And we kissed, as though nothing could fall (nothing could fall) And the shame, was on the other side Oh we can beat them, for ever and ever Then we could be Heroes, just for one day”
The Lightroom collages move on to 1983 and Bowie’s ‘Serious Moonlight’ world tour, promoting hid ‘Let’s Dance’ album
More images of Bowie’s 1983 ‘Serious Moonlight’ tour – displayed on the walls of the ‘Lightroom’
Bowie’s 1983 ‘Serious Moonlight’ tour images – displayed on the walls of the ‘Lightroom’
Bowie’s 1983 ‘Serious Moonlight’ tour images – displayed on the walls of the ‘Lightroom’
Bowie’s 1983 ‘Serious Moonlight’ tour images – displayed on the walls of the ‘Lightroom’ – and I was there, at his massive sell out event at the ‘Milton Keynes Bowl’ in June 1983
Moving on to 1985 – and the ‘Lightroom’ experience displays Bowie’s appearance at Wembley Stadium for the now legendary ‘Live Aid’ event
The ‘Lightroom’ side walls displaying crowd scenes from the 1985 ‘Live Aid’ event at wembley Stadium
The ‘Lightroom’ experience/exhibition portrayal of Bowie in the later years of his loooong career
The ‘Lightroom’ experience/exhibition portrayal of Bowie in the later years of his long career
The ‘Lightroom’ experience/exhibition portrayal of Bowie a little bit later in his long career
A ‘Lightroom’ collage of the plays that Bowie appeared and starred in – during the latter decades of his life.
The ‘Lightroom’ experience’s display of Bowie at the latter part of his career – before his passing in 2016
Me & my London Shoes with bruv-in-law Vince – leaving the ‘Lightroom’ auditorium having enjoyed roughly 1hr:15mins of the “David Bowie” – ‘You’re Not Alone’ exhibition event
Having enjoyed the ‘David Bowie ‘You’re Not Alone’ experience in the bowels of the ‘Lightroom’ – its only natural to have a good mooch amongst all the merch stuff
Down in the ‘Lightroom’ David Bowie ‘You’re Not Alone’ exhibition/experience merch shop
The ‘Lightroom’ David Bowie ‘You’re Not Alone’ exhibition / experience merch shop
The ‘Lightroom’ David Bowie ‘You’re Not Alone’ exhibition / experience merch shop
Having enjoyed a good couple of at the David Bowie ‘You’re Not Alone’ exhibition/experience – at the ‘Lightroom’ venue in Coal Drops Yard Kings X – my accomplice Vince said he fancied having a beer in Canary Wharf – and so we hopped on a couple of tube trains and legged it over the West India Quay – and headed towards ‘The Ledger Building’ pub – my ‘work local’ throughout the years I was up in Canary Wharf.
Inside ‘The Ledger Building’ pub at west India Quay – a very popular Wetherspoons pub, and by far the cheapest rub-a-dub in the Canary Wharf district
Me-my London Shoes and bruv-in-law Vince – enjoying a cheeky beer or 2 following the entertaining time we’d just had at the “David Bowie – You’re Not Alone” exhibition/experience at the unique ‘Lightroom’ venue in the Coal Drops Yard area of Kings Cross.
Always hit the mark Geoff Clements
What a magnificent experience!! And another visit to the Ledger as well
Thanks for the review, will book for this and queue early for a seat .
That goes on my places to visit , thanks Geoff
Nice one Geoff. Incidentally, which Bowie era was your favourite?
Frank J Flaherty – I would have to say 1970 to 1973 re: the albums:-
● The Man Who Sold The World (1970)
● Hunky Dory (1971)
● Ziggy Stardust (1972)
● Aladdin Sane (1973)
They were definitely his 4 albums that influenced the teenage me – especially ‘MWSTW’ and ‘Hunky Dory’ as some of the lyrics made reference to people and things that I’d never heard of before, which made me want to research and educate myself – for example ‘Khalil Gibran’ / ‘Alister Crowley’ to name just 2 – and that fascination is still with me🙄 (I’ve become a proper geek mate)
Geoff (www.londonshoes.blog)
Mr. Shoes – your knowledge and love of all things music, as always and particularly Mr. Bowie, shines through