dr brian cox tour

Professor Brian Cox and Daniel Harding: Symphonic Horizons with the Britten Sinfonia

Explore the secrets of the universe with professor brian cox and daniel harding in this special event that combines ground-breaking science with the power of an orchestra., bringing together the latest extraordinary imagery and some of the greatest orchestral music ever written, professor cox examines astonishing cosmic ideas and creates the links between cosmology and music by mahler , strauss and sibelius conducted by daniel harding. featuring the britten sinfonia , this show will remind us of what it means to be human, and what it means to live a small finite life in a spectacular infinite universe., don’t miss symphonic horizons a unique presentation of music and science at the iconic royal opera house..

August 2024

Horizons : a 21 st century space odyssey, having set two guinness world records with his previous sell-out world tour, professor brian cox is back in regional theatres to see off the sellout arena tour horizons ., horizons has taken over 250,000 people across three continents on a dazzling journey; a story of how we came to be and what we can become. using state of the art screen technology, venues across the world from new zealand to the arctic circle have been filled with images of far-away galaxies, alien worlds, supermassive black holes and the latest theories of the origin of the universe. what is the nature of space and time how did life begin, how rare might it be and what is the significance of life in the cosmos what does it mean to live a small, finite life in a vast, eternal universe having travelled the world, it’s now time to bring horizons back home to the uk for a final journey around our magnificent and baffling universe., ‘a jaw-dropping reminder that human life is both irrelevant and hugely precious.’, **** the guardian, ‘science and cosmology doesn’t get any more dazzling and interesting than this – a wonderful journey through space and time orchestrated by professor brian cox.’, ‘stunning’, **** liverpool echo, ‘is your brain hurting yet because mine certainly was, but in beautifully, mind-expanding sort of way…we came away with a new found of love of the basics of science and maths, and a thirst to learn more’, express and star.

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Or direct from the venues below

November 2023

Live with the sydney symphony, january 2024.

Wednesday 17 Richmond Richmond Theatre

Thursday 18 Richmond Richmond Theatre

Friday 19 Richmond Richmond Theatre

Saturday 20 Richmond Richmond Theatre

Wednesday 24 Belfast Waterfront Theatre

Thursday 25 Derry Millennium Forum

Friday 26 Armagh City Hotel

Saturday 27 Coleraine Diamond Hall Coleraine

February 2024

Friday 02 Bristol Beacon Theatre

Saturday 03 Swansea Arena

Sunday 04 Cardiff New Theatre

Wednesday 07 Woking New Victoria Theatre

Thursday 08 Aylesbury Waterside Theatre

Friday 09 Bournemouth Pavilion Theatre

Saturday 10 Portsmouth Guildhall

Tuesday 13 Brighton Brighton Dome

Thursday 15 Ipswich Regent Theatre

Friday 16 Chesterfield Winding Wheel

Saturday 17 Halifax Victoria Hall

Tuesday 20 Hull City Hall

Wednesday 21 York Barbican

Thursday 22 Stockton The Globe

Friday 23 Blackburn King George's Hall

Saturday 24 Bradford St George's Hall

Tuesday 27 Guildford G Live

Wednesday 28 Wimbledon The New Wimbledon Theatre

Thursday 29 Stoke-On-Trent The Regent Theatre

Saturday 02 Liverpool Philharmonic

Tuesday 05 Tunbridge Wells Assembly Hall Theatre

Wednesday 06 Coventry Warwick Arts Centre

Thursday 07 Basingstoke Anvil

Friday 8 Southampton O2 Guildhall Southampton

Saturday 09 Wolverhampton Civic Hall

Sunday 10 Milton Keynes Milton Keynes Theatre

Tuesday 12 Inverness Eden Court

Wednesday 13 Dundee Caird Hall

Thursday 14 Aberdeen Music Hall

Friday 15 Edinburgh Playhouse Theatre

Saturday 16 Dunfermline Alhambra Theatre

Tuesday 19 Cambridge Corn Exchange

Wednesday 20 Dudley Dudley Town Hall

Thursday 21 Bexhill De La Warr Pavilion

Friday 22 Bath Forum

Saturday 23 Truro Hall For Cornwall

Tuesday 26 Folkestone Leas Cliff Halls

Wednesday 27 Colchester Amphora

Thursday 28 Southend Cliffs Pavilion

Friday 29 Leicester De Montfort Hall

Cork Opera House BUY TICKETS Wednesday 15 Cork Cork Opera House

Thursday 16 Limerick University Concert Hall

Friday 17 Galway Leisureland Buy Tickets Saturday 18 Mayo Royal Theatre Castlebar Buy Tickets Sunday 19 Dublin Olympia Theatre Buy Tickets Monday 20 Wexford

National Opera House Buy Tickets Wednesday 22 Louth

© 2024 Professor Brian Cox Live. All Rights Reserved

What is reality, really? Brian Cox's 'Horizons' tour probes the mysteries of the universe

Are space and time really as fundamental as we perceive them to be?

Brian Cox would like you to consider the very nature of the space-time continuum and our place within it.

That might seem like a big lift, so the world-renowned physicist is here to walk you through it. Cox is currently touring the U.S., bringing audiences a dazzling show filled with not only stunning images of the universe and simulated black holes but also big questions: Why are we here? How did life evolve? Are space and time really as fundamental as we perceive them to be?

In the show, called "Horizons: A 21st Century Space Odyssey," Cox asks these questions and leads audiences on a journey in answering them, from past discoveries by Albert Einstein to current research that's changing our very understanding of reality.

Related: Time might not exist, according to physicists and philosophers — but that's okay

In the field of theoretical physics, Cox told Space.com, "We are being led now, in the last few years, to a theory which suggests that space and time are not fundamental — that there's some deeper structure."

This concept, known as "emergent space-time," is the idea that space and time are not fixed, unchanging things but rather made up of constituent parts, like how the atom comprises neutrons, protons and electrons (and those particles are made up of even more particles). The theory suggests that there are even more layers of the universe to peel back.

One way scientists are studying the idea of emergent space-time is through black holes, Cox said. Black holes pose many conundrums, such as "these things from which nothing can escape apparently have a temperature and glow and evaporate and radiate away," Cox said.

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One question plaguing physicists right now seems simple enough: " Do black holes destroy information ?" Cox said. But actually thinking about the question is not simple at all. The problem deals with the idea of Hawking radiation . This theory, first described by Stephen Hawking in the 1970s, suggests that black holes have a measurable temperature. Where does this temperature come from? Basically, imagine two particles that share information between them; one falls into the black hole, and one does not. The particle that falls into the black hole is destroyed with a burst of radiation.

However, these two particles are entangled, according to quantum entanglement theory; two particles share information even if they're millions of light-years apart. So, if one particle is destroyed, what happens to its twin? In the quantum world, information cannot be destroyed. So we're left with a paradox.

And that's just one of the many mysteries about the universe and our place within it. Cox wants audiences to walk away with a sense of awe — at the complexities of the universe, the discoveries humans have made since we first turned our eyes to the sky and how humanity fits into it all.

"The more we learn about biology and the evolutionary history of life on Earth , the more it starts to look like, whilst microbes might be all over the place, things like [civilizations] might be very rare indeed," he said.

— Was Einstein wrong? The case against space-time theory — The 'twin paradox' shows us what it really means for time to be relative — 4 bizarre Stephen Hawking theories that turned out to be right (and 6 we're not sure about)  

In other words, we might be the only beings in our galaxy — or at least our corner of it — who have the ability to think about the big questions like the nature of reality, and we shouldn't take that for granted.

"Science has both relegated us from the center of the universe for the last 300 or 400 years, and also, perhaps, placed us in an extremely important position," Cox said.

Interested in probing these universal mysteries further? Check out the North American tour schedule for "Horizons : A 21st Century Space Odyssey , which runs through late June.

Follow us on Twitter @Spacedotcom and on Facebook .

Join our Space Forums to keep talking space on the latest missions, night sky and more! And if you have a news tip, correction or comment, let us know at: [email protected].

JoAnna Wendel is a freelance science writer living in Portland, Oregon. She mainly covers Earth and planetary science but also loves the ocean, invertebrates, lichen and moss. JoAnna's work has appeared in Eos, Smithsonian Magazine, Knowable Magazine, Popular Science and more. JoAnna is also a science cartoonist and has published comics with Gizmodo, NASA, Science News for Students   and more. She graduated from the University of Oregon with a degree in general sciences because she couldn't decide on her favorite area of science. In her spare time, JoAnna likes to hike, read, paint, do crossword puzzles and hang out with her cat, Pancake.

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Tickets Go On Sale Thursday, October 7 at 10:00 AM Local Time

Presale is live now. CODE:COSMOS

Buy Tickets  here.

October 4, 2021 – World-renowned physicist, Professor Brian Cox, announces U.S. and Canadian tour dates for his immersive live experience, Horizons: A 21 st Century Space Odyssey , as part of his world tour 2022.  From April through June 2022, Horizons will tour to theaters in 29 cities throughout North America.  The tour will also visit arenas and theaters throughout the U.K., Europe, Hong Kong, Singapore, New Zealand and Australia.  The North American tour is produced by WestBeth Entertainment.  A list of tour dates is below.  Tickets go on sale Thursday, October 7 at 10:00 AM local time.  For all North American tour dates and links to tickets visit BrianCoxLive.co.uk

“I loved the 2019 world tour because it gave me the opportunity to discuss the most profound ideas with tens of thousands of people in front of the most spectacular images of the Universe,” stated Professor Cox.  “When the tour was over, I immediately started thinking about how I could delve deeper, tell an even more profound story and make the show even more spectacular.  I’m very excited about what has emerged!  I hope the evening will make people think about how fortunate and precious we are, how strange and wonderful our Universe is, and the limitless future we have to look forward to if we make the right choices over the coming decades.”

Horizons takes audiences on a dazzling cinematic journey; a story of how we came to be and what we can become.  Using state of the art LED screen technology, venues will be filled with images of far-away galaxies, alien worlds, supermassive black holes and a time before the Big Bang.  What is the nature of space and time?  Why does the Universe exist?  How did life begin, how rare might it be and what is the significance of life in the Cosmos?  What does it mean to live a small, finite life in a vast, eternal Universe?  The deepest of questions will be explored using the latest advances in our understanding of quantum theory, black holes, biology, planetary science, astronomy and cosmology.   

Horizons is a celebration of our civilization, of our music, art, philosophy and science; an optimistic vision of our future if we continue to explore Nature with humility and to value ourselves and our fellow human beings. 

Brian will once again be joined by co-host of  The Infinite Monkey Cage  and award-winning comedian Robin Ince, perhaps the only collection of sentient atoms in the observable Universe capable of overseeing a Q&A with an audience of 10,000 people whilst wearing an old cardigan.  

Professor Brian Cox CBE is Professor of Particle Physics at The University of Manchester, The Royal Society Professor for Public Engagement in Science and a Fellow of the Royal Society.  As a broadcaster, he has presented a number of highly acclaimed science programs for the BBC including Wonders of the Solar System , Forces of Nature , Stargazing Live and, in 2019, The Planets .  He is credited with boosting the popularity of subjects such as astronomy and physics and has garnered a host of accolades for his TV work, including two Royal Television Society awards and a Peabody Award for Wonders of the Solar System.

Brian has also authored a series of best-selling books, including the widely acclaimed  Human Universe .  Brian broke his own Guinness World Record titles during his last live tour, Universal , for most tickets sold (158,589) for a science tour, and for most tickets sold for a science show (11,433 at The Arena in Birmingham in 2019).

Follow Professor Cox on Twitter , Instagram and Facebook .

Horizons North American Tour Dates:

4-22-22 – Washington DC – The Warner Theatre

4-23-21 – Philadelphia, PA - Merriam Theatre

4-26-22 – New York, NY – The Beacon Theatre

4-27-22 – New Haven, CT – The Shubert Theatre

4-29-22 – Boston, MA - The Shubert Theatre

5-2-22 – Montreal, QC - Theatre Maisonneuve

5-4-22 – Toronto, ON – Roy Thompson Hall

5-5-22 – Pittsburgh, PA – Byham Theater

5-7-22 – Columbus, OH – Palace Theatre

5-8-22 – Indianapolis, IN - Murat Theatre 

5-10-22 – Chicago, IL – Athenaeum Theatre

5-11-22 – Chicago, IL – Athenaeum Theatre

5-12-22 – Madison, WI – Capitol Theatre

5-14-22 – Minneapolis, MN – Pantages Theatre

5-16-22 – Denver, CO – Paramount Theatre

5-18-22 – Salt Lake City, UT – Eccles Theater

6-3-22 – Edmonton, AB – Northern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium

6-4-22 – Calgary, AB – Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium

6-6-22 – Vancouver, BC – Orpheum Theatre

6-7-22 – Seattle, WA - Moore Theatre

6-10-22 – Portland, OR – Keller Auditorium

6-13-22 – Sacramento, CA – Safe Credit Union Arts Center

6-14-22 – San Francisco, CA – Golden Gate Theatre

6-16-22 – San Jose, CA – California Theatre

6-17-22 – Los Angeles, CA – Montalban Theatre

6-18-22 – Los Angeles, CA – Montalban Theatre

6-20-22 – San Diego, CA – Balboa Theatre

6-23-22 – Dallas, TX - Majestic Theatre

6-24-22 – Austin, TX – Paramount Theatre

6-25-22 – Austin, TX – Paramount Theatre

6-27-22 – San Antonio, TX – Majestic Theatre

6-28-22 – Houston, TX – Cullen Theatre

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Professor Brian Cox: Symphonic Horizons Live with the Sydney Symphony

30 november – 2 december 2023.

In the Concert Hall

Sydney Symphony Orchestra

Explore the secrets of the universe with Professor Brian Cox and the Sydney Symphony, in a special event that combines ground-breaking science with the power of a live orchestra.

$8.95 booking fee applies per transaction

Prices correct at the time of publication and subject to change without notice. Exact prices will be displayed with seat selection. Children aged 15 years and under must be accompanied at all times.

The authorised agencies for this event are  Sydney Opera House  and  Sydney Symphony Orchestra.  For more information about Authorised Agencies, see the FAQ below.

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10am, Tuesday 27 June, 2023

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9am, Wednesday 28 June, 2023 

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10am, Tuesday 4 July, 2023

Wheelchair accessible

Find out more about  accessibility at Sydney Opera House

Children aged 15 years and under must be accompanied at all times. Children aged 0-23 months at the time of a performance may be seated on a parent’s lap free of charge.  All children occupying a seat or aged 2 year/s of age or older must hold a valid ticket.

The Opera House is committed to the safety and wellbeing of children that visit or engage with us. Read our   Child Safety Policy .

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Venue information 

Covid-safe information

Frequently asked questions, symphonic horizons.

Professor Brian Cox, one of the world’s pre-eminent physicists, explores the secrets of the universe and our place in it together with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra conducted by Benjamin Northey. 

Through the latest extraordinary imagery and some of the greatest orchestral music ever written, Professor Cox examines astonishing cosmic ideas and creates the links between cosmology and music, showing how both can teach us what it means to be human, and what it means to live a small, finite life in a vast, spectacular universe. Don’t miss Symphonic Horizons , a unique presentation of music and science at the iconic Sydney Opera House.  

VIP Discussion Panel

Following the performance, you can join us for a special VIP experience as Brian Cox and Benjamin Northey reflect on the performance and continue the conversation, together with ABC presenter Fran Kelly. Just purchase any ticket in any reserve to the Brian Cox Symphonic Horizons and select the VIP experience for $48 in your cart*.

SIBELIUS Symphony no. 5: 3rd Movement  WESTLAKE Missa Solis – Sidereus Nuncius (The Starry Messenger)  MAHLER Symphony no. 5: 4th Movement STRAUSS Thus Spoke Zarathustra 

Presenter / Artist Professor Brian Cox

Conductor Benjamin Northey

Soprano Jess Hitchcock

Presented by Sydney Symphony Orchestra *VIP Panel Discussion tickets only available to ticket holders of Professor Brian Cox: Symphonic Horizons performances. VIP Panel Discussion performance dates chosen, must be the same date and quantity, and relative time as the purchased Symphonic Horizon performance tickets. VIP Panel Discussion tickets are subject to availability. VIP Panel Discussion start times are approximate, and will commence at the conclusion of the Symphonic Horizons performances. Approximately 30 minute run time.

Join the Sydney Symphony Orchestra and their Chief Conductor Simone Young in the renewed Concert Hall for the 2023 Season, filled with beautiful, inspiring music from the greatest composers of all time. There’s so much to discover.

Other information

Venue information.

Our foyers will be open 90 minutes pre-show for Concert Hall and Joan Sutherland Theatre performances, and two hours pre-show for Western Foyer venue performances. Refreshments will be available for purchase from our theatre bars. All Sydney Opera House foyers are pram accessible, with lifts to the main and western foyers. The public lift to all foyers is accessible from the corridor near the escalators on the Lower Concourse and also in the Western Foyer via the corridor on the Ground Level (at the top of the escalators). Pram parking will be available outside the theatres in the Western Foyer.

The Sydney Opera House Car Park, operated by Wilson Parking, is open and available to use. Wilson Parking offer discounted parking if you book ahead. Please see  their website  for details.

Please check the  Transport NSW website  for the latest advice and information on travel. You can catch public transport (bus, train, ferry) to Circular Quay and enjoy a six min walk to the Opera House. 

The health and wellbeing of everyone attending the Opera House is our top priority. We’re committed to making your experience safe, comfortable and enjoyable, with a number of measures in place including regular cleaning of high-touch areas, air conditioning systems that maximise ventilation, and hand sanitiser stations positioned in all paths of travel. We remind our audiences and visitors to please stay home if you feel unwell. If you need to discuss your ticketing or booking options, contact our Box Office team on 02 9250 7777.

The health and wellbeing of everyone attending the Opera House is our top priority. We have a number of safety measures in place including regular cleaning of high-touch areas, air conditioning systems that maximise ventilation, and hand sanitiser stations positioned in all paths of travel. While face masks are no longer required, we ask all our patrons and visitors to practise good hygiene. Please stay home if you feel unwell and read more about our flexible ticket options .

The Sydney Opera House no longer requires patrons to show that they are fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

Ticket purchases and collection at our Box Office is discouraged and eTicket or postal delivery methods should be used, wherever possible. However, if you are collecting your tickets from the Box Office, we recommend doing this at least 60 minutes before the event starts. If you have already received your tickets, the venue doors will be open 45 minutes pre-show for Joan Sutherland Theatre performances, and 30 minutes pre-show for Western Foyer venue performances. Please take your seats as soon as you arrive. 

If you are late, we will seat you as soon as we can and, where possible, in your allocated seat. However, to reduce movement in the venue as well as minimise disruption to the performance and other patrons, ticketholders may be seated in an allocated latecomer’s seat. Please be aware that some events have lock-out periods. In these cases, latecomers will be admitted at a suitable break in the performance. On occasions, this may not be until the interval, or at all where there is no interval. 

Details of our right to refuse admission can be found in our  General Terms and Conditions for Tickets and Events.

In accordance with our venue security procedures, Opera House security will be scanning and checking bags under the Monumental Stairs, prior to entering the building. Bags will be scanned by an x-ray machine, and staff will wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) when handling your belongings, such as gloves. Cloaking facilities will be open 60 minutes pre-show for Concert Hall and Joan Sutherland Theatre performances, and 60 minutes pre-show for Western Foyer venue performances. However it is strongly encouraged that you travel lightly to minimise contact and queuing. Any bags larger than an A4 piece of paper will need to be checked into the Cloak Room.

The authorised agency for this event is the Sydney Opera House.

Only tickets purchased by authorised agencies should be considered reliable. If you purchase tickets from a non-authorised agency such as Ticketmaster Resale, Viagogo, Ticketbis, eBay, Gumtree, Tickets Australia or any other unauthorised seller, you risk that these tickets are fake, void or have previously been cancelled. RESALE RESTRICTION APPLIES. For more details, please refer to our  General Terms and Conditions for Tickets and Attendance at Events.

Please contact Box Office on 9250 7777 as soon as possible to advise if you can no longer attend.

Foyers will be open 90 minutes pre-show for Concert Hall and Joan Sutherland Theatre performances, and two hours pre-show for Western Foyer venue performances. Refreshments will be available for purchase from our theatre bars.

The venue doors will be open 45 minutes pre-show for Concert Hall and Joan Sutherland Theatre performances, and 30 minutes pre-show for Western Foyer venue performances.

Please bring a credit or debit card for any on site purchases to enable contactless payment. You’re welcome to bring your own water bottle but no other food and drinks are permitted inside our venues. Opera Bar, Opera Kitchen and Portside are also available for you to enjoy.

The health, safety and wellbeing of everyone at the Sydney Opera House is our top priority. In line with this commitment, the Opera House became a smoke-free site in January 2022. Read our Smoke-free Environment Policy . 

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‘I’m very pleased we’ve got the same name’: Brian Cox meets Brian Cox

The actor Brian Cox used to be irked by the success of his upstart namesake. Now, for the first time, he and Prof Brian Cox talk science, Succession and what Shakespeare and black holes have in common

W hen anyone mentions Brian Cox, the first question invariably asked is: which Brian Cox are you talking about? Do you mean Prof Brian Cox, physicist, or actor Brian Cox, from Succession ? So imagine how annoying it must be for professor Brian and actor Brian Cox! Which got us thinking: what would happen if we invited both Brians to sit down together for a lengthy chat – something they’ve never done before?

Oldham-born particle physicist Prof Brian Edward Cox found fame presenting the BBC’s Wonders of the Solar System and Forces of Nature . Before that, in the 1980s and early 90s, he played keyboards for D:Ream, topping the UK charts with future New Labour anthem Things Can Only Get Better in 1994. His new worldwide tour, Horizons: A 21st Century Space Odyssey , returns home to a week-long residency at London’s Royal Opera House in August, and then runs nationwide until October.

Dundee-born actor Brian Denis Cox started working professionally in the 1960s, joining the National Theatre in the 70s and the Royal Shakespeare Company in the 80s. His 50-year career in film, TV and theatre has won him Olivier, Bafta and Emmy nominations and awards. He appeared in The Bourne Identity and and was the first actor to play Hannibal Lecter, in the 1986 film Manhunter. He currently stars as media mogul Logan Roy in Succession, for which he won a Golden Globe for best actor in 2020.

The two Brians caught up over Zoom for a wide-ranging chat about the universe, Succession, Shakespeare and everything in between. Prof Brian and actor Brian, over to you ...

Prof Brian Cox One of the themes from my live shows is the possibility that we might currently be the only intelligent civilisation in the Milky Way. The challenge is the possibility that we might destroy ourselves – through inaction or deliberate action – because we don’t have the wisdom to control our own power. And what a tragedy that would be, given that we might be the only island of meaning in an ocean of 400bn suns.

Actor Brian Cox I think that’s incredibly feasible. I was brought up Catholic, but in the last few years have become quite atheist. Religion is confusing because we don’t acknowledge who we are as humans. One of the reasons theatre is so very important to me is: why act? Acting is similar to religion, but religion is humanity. Religion is a cul-de-sac because it provides peace, yet we are still dangerously in jeopardy of destroying ourselves.

Prof Brian Religion is clearly an attempt to explore, explain and understand our place in the universe. So are you saying that acting is the same, but in a more detailed and truthful way?

Actor Brian I think so, Brian. Acting is truthful. Religion is understandable, but we look to God, Muhammad or the pope, but we don’t look to ourselves. Shakespeare says it all: hold the mirror up to nature. He describes it very clearly in Hamlet’s advice to the players. It’s why Shakespeare is such an extraordinary genius. Religion distracts us by saying: if we follow this path, we’ll get salvation. I think it’s a crock, quite frankly, and the older I get, the more of a crock I think it is.

Prof Brian It’s interesting what you say, Brian – the transfer of responsibility to some external source. [American astronomer] Carl Sagan is one of my heroes. His 1994 book, Pale Blue Dot, reacts to the image of Earth taken from beyond Neptune as a single pixel. One line says: “We have to understand that nobody’s coming to save us from ourselves … ”

Actor Brian I couldn’t agree with him more! Prof Brian The word “meaning” doesn’t sound like a scientific concept. But it’s a property of brains, of consciousness and of living.

Actor Brian That’s right.

Prof Brian And what if there is nowhere else within millions of light years for atoms to come together into these remarkable patterns that can think, feel and write like Shakespeare? The idea that meaning comes from us is very important, because it means we have to take responsibility. Actor Brian Brian, I couldn’t have said it better. The human experience is the most responsible thing you can acknowledge. And that’s why I act.

Prof Brian You refer to Shakespeare as the great genius. What intrigues me is there’s an exploration from the playwright or the writer, but an additional exploration from the actor. Of all the characters you’ve played, who has been the best vehicle to explore the depths of the human condition?

Actor Brian You have to take on the notion of selfishness, because acting is all about confusion. I had a speech yesterday [filming season four of Succession] as Logan Roy, talking about human beings being economic units. I ask: “What is a person?” but get distracted asking: “Is the cheesecake any good here?” The extraordinary thing about Logan – and why I don’t see Logan the way everybody else sees him – is that he’s a man on a journey of losing it, because he’s aligned himself to something that has failed to give him satisfaction, namely that he cannot deal with his own children. The question I first asked was: “Does Logan Roy love his children?” And [creator] Jesse [Armstrong] said: “Oh yes, he loves them very much.” He constantly gets it wrong, and becomes brutalist. That’s why he’s such a fascinating character; he’s so complex. I had another beautiful moment yesterday – I shouldn’t be giving all this away, but I don’t care – where Logan realises he doesn’t have any other pals and how lonely he is, which I found incredibly moving. Again that’s part of the human condition; that sense of loneliness. That’s why there’s a heroic element to Logan, because he’s in deep struggle with himself. And as you’ve said: the problem is that we are in a constant deep struggle with ourselves. Prof Brian That complexity in human beings is that we find it difficult to deal with both characters and problems that are multifaceted. If you look to quantum mechanics – the most esoteric bit of all science – you are forced to think about electrons as particles. But they are also extended wavy things that fill the room. Of course, it’s neither; it’s far more complicated. You have to hold those two ideas in your head, even though they seem mutually exclusive.

Actor Brian I can’t agree more.

Prof Brian It’s like with Logan. It’s so easy to say: he’s bad.

Actor Brian The rule for the actor is: never judge your character because we don’t judge ourselves. We can be harsh on ourselves but we don’t say: “This is a villain.” If you look at Iago, his reasons may be terribly misguided with terrible consequences but he’s locked in a destructive journey. Dramatic art homes in on the complication and contradictions of human experience, because we live in such contradicting paradoxes.

Prof Brian I often make the case for science education from the youngest possible age. Not because you need to know about how many stars there are in a Milky Way, but because of the intellectual tools; nature is multifaceted and complex. Likewise, experiencing Shakespeare can be beautiful, so you’re making the same argument for a broad education.

Actor Brian Absolutely. That’s clearly why we’ve got the same name, Brian! It’s quite extraordinary and very harmonising to talk to you this way because you realise that regardless of our different pursuits, we’re on a very similar journey.

Prof Brian Science is necessary – but certainly not sufficient – to understand our place in the universe. It’s necessary, for example, to know we are not at the centre of the universe. If you go back to the ancient Greeks – they weren’t idiots, but they thought the Earth was at the centre of the universe because what they observed was that everything falls towards the Earth.

Actor Brian And that’s the terrible thing about ego. Ego makes you think you are the centre of the universe, and that’s the curse of the performer. We have to be careful that we don’t believe in our own mythology.

Prof Brian So what does it mean to live a finite, fragile life in an infinite, eternal universe? You’re not going to find meaning through the eyepiece of the telescope. Music, literature, art, science are different facets of the same attempt to explore what it means to be human. Actor Brian I think it’s the absolute key question, Brian. “Why are we?” is the question man has struggled with as long as we’ve been alive.

Prof Brian I know you’re quite political because often I get people shouting at me on social media for something you’ve said on Question Time.

Actor Brian Ha ha ha ha!

Prof Brian You must get this a lot – and I get it to some extent – people say: “Stay in your lane. You’re a physicist. Tell me about physics.” Do people say: “You’re an actor. I like you in Succession, but I don’t want to hear your political views.”

Actor Brian All the time. I’m not supposed to have political views but I do, but that’s also to do with my history. I’m filming a documentary at the moment [for Paramount+] on money, because money is the one thing that nobody ever likes to talk about. Like religion, money is the great unifier but it’s also the great divider. The wealthy are always defensive but poor people are never defensive about their poverty. The wealth gap is such a painful experience, it is heartbreaking.

Prof Brian Would you ever consider going into politics? I suppose the great example of an actor going into politics was Ronald Reagan.

Actor Brian Let’s not get into Reaganomics because we could be here all day!

Prof Brian I think the most valuable aspect [of work] is the internal process of trying to understand. I’ve recently been working on black holes that are astonishingly difficult to understand, but it’s been a joyous process.

Actor Brian As a musician, you’ll know why understanding the process is so important.

Prof Brian Talking about music, I only discovered [American jazz pianist] Keith Jarrett quite late in life. His [1995] album La Scala is mainly improvised compositions, but ends with this astonishing version of Over the Rainbow. He’s like a musical archaeologist; he’s dug down so deeply into the music, he’s found something that almost didn’t exist before. It’s the same with Einstein, who has this expression: something deeply hidden. When he was seven or eight years old, Einstein’s dad gave him a compass. He looked at the needle pointing north and thought: “There’s something mysterious, magical and deeply hidden about the structure of nature.” Einstein’s theory describes black holes, but to understand them you need to understand the deeply hidden structure of space and time. So is it the same with Shakespeare: when you perform, you might find something deeply hidden that even he didn’t know?

Actor Brian I think that’s exactly what you do: you go on that journey, to discover the hidden. It’s like you asked: are we destined to destroy each other? And would any other civilisation follow the same logic? To question our responsibility to humanism is constant. The hidden aspects are like little flowers that make you go: “Look! That bloomed!” in the same way that Jarrett discovered Over the Rainbow. And that’s the miracle of being human. Actually, it’s the miracle of our humanity.

Prof Brian Do you remember that time we both nearly turned up to the same restaurant? I think I’d got there first, and I could see the horror on their faces, because they thought they had double-booked. They must have thought: “Two Brian Coxes aren’t going to turn up and say: ‘Hello. Table for Brian Cox please.’”

Actor Brian It annoyed me initially – but has been such a great lesson – to find someone who is extraordinarily successful with the same name as me. It irked me at first, then I thought: it’s not important. I mean, we have the same name, but then something comes into play where you go: “Well, it’s only a name.” So it has been wonderful meeting you, Brian, because it’s proved that name doesn’t matter. I’m very pleased that we’ve got the same name, but ultimately it’s just one of those curiously strange accidents.

Prof Brian We can’t be the only people called Brian Cox? Brian and Cox are pretty common names.

Actor Brian There was a guy who wrote a thing on the Black Papers [a series of articles on British education] called Brian Cox – I think from Manchester originally – who I met years ago, in the late 60s.

Prof Brian And I’m Brian Cox CBE and you’re Brian Cox CBE, so you can’t even differentiate in the honours we’ve received.

Actor Brian We’re both Brian Cox CBE! Anyway, it was great talking to you, Brian. It really was. We must get together again sometime.

Tickets for (Prof ) Brian Cox’s Horizons: A 21st Century Space Odyssey are on sale now. See briancoxlive.co.uk . Putting the Rabbit in the Hat , the memoir by (actor) Brian Cox, is available from guardianbookshop.com

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A Moscow Free Walking Tour of the Iconic Red Square

Updated March 10th, 2020

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No visit to Moscow, Russia is complete unless you take a walk around the famous Red Square and see the iconic sights of the city. One of the best ways to see all the famous landmarks in Moscow and learn a little something about them too is on a free Moscow walking tour through the Red Square.

Continue reading for a sneak peek at what you will see on your free tour in Moscow and for tips on both the tour and visiting the sights. Make sure to save some time during your trip to go inside of the magnificent buildings because you will not be going in the buildings during the tour.

The State Historical Museum

The Moscow free walking tour begins at the Marshal Zhukov monument in front of the State Historical Museum . You can’t miss this massive red building. The museum’s interior is almost as spectacular as the artifacts you can see within. Read my post dedicated to the museum here to find out more on what you can see and tips for visiting. Admission is free with the Moscow City Pass .

The Kremlin

Behind the walls of the Kremlin lie the working offices of Russian’s government and president. When visiting the Kremlin you can see the Armory Chamber, Cathedral Square, the Patriach’s Palace and many more cathedrals. You definitely want to buy tickets ahead of time so you avoid the long-lines. You can get free admission with the Moscow City Pass . It’s also worth it to take a guided tour if you don’t speak Russian so you have more of an understanding of what you are seeing.

St. Basil’s Cathedral

If asked to conquer up an image of Moscow, St. Basil’s Cathedral might just be the most likely image you picture. The cathedral has a museum that you can visit at a later time. You can buy tickets at the ticket kiosk outside the cathedral or receive free admission with the Moscow City Pass .

Moskva River

Next up on the tour is the Moskva River which runs through the center of Moscow. A cruise on the Moskva River is a great way to see the city from a different perspective.

GUM Shopping Mall

Who would think a mall would be one of Moscow’s most well-known attractions? GUM shopping mall across from the Kremlin makes up one of the four sides of the Red Square. The stores might be a bit too pricey for shopping, but the gorgeous interior is worth a visit. If that doesn’t convince you, the mall has some of the best ice cream! GUM is the only building you go inside during the free walking tour. There are pay bathrooms you can use while you have a few minutes of free time.

Kazan Cathedral

Located on the northeast corner of the Red Square, the Kazan Cathedral is another impressive dome-shaped building in Moscow that is also an active place of worship. Entering the cathedral is allowed, but remember to be respectful if people are worshipping.

Bolshoi Theater

Contrary to the previous buildings, the Bolshoi Theater isn’t along one of the four sides of the Red Square. Located a few minutes away, the theater is one of the best theaters in the world. Make sure to come back for a guided tour of the inside or make reservations far ahead of time to attend a ballet or opera.

Alexander Gardens

The tour ends near the Alexander Gardens , a free public park located along the western Kremlin walls. The garden’s green lawns, sculptures and water fountains offer a nice place to take a stroll or relax a bit after some busy sightseeing.

You can visit all these sites on your own, but the best part of doing the Moscow free tour is that you learn more information and have the potential to meet new people!

During my tour I started to talk to a woman from Malaysia and she invited me to join her and her friends for a Russian meal afterwards. It’s these little impromptu meetings and opportunities that I love most about traveling and add more to the sightseeing experience. While I was a little hesitant about going to the tour myself I told myself it would be a great opportunity to possibly meet new people. I love when things work out like that!

If you have already seen the iconic sights of the Red Square and are looking for other things to do in Moscow check out my What to Do in Moscow post that gives more off-the beaten track things to do in Moscow!

Moscow Free Walking Tour Visiting Information

Moscow Free Walking Tours

How to Get There

The Moscow Free Walking Tour begins at the Marshal Zhukov monument in front of the State Historical Museum (a large red building). The website shows a map with the exact meeting point.

To get to the red square area you can take the blue 3 metro line to the Ploshchad Revolyutsii stop, or the green 2 line to the Teatralnaya station or the red 1 line to the Okhotny Ryad station. For more on how to use the metro read my Moscow Metro Guide .

Tours every day at 10:30am – 1pm in English

If you need a toilet before the start of the tour the Okhotny Ryad and GUM shopping malls are both close to the start of the tour. You will need to pay to use the toilets. There is a quick break mid-way through the tour at the GUM shopping mall where you can use the toilet if needed.

During the mid-way break in the tour you can buy some ice cream at the GUM shopping mall. There aren’t many other options or time for anything else. After the tour there are a lot of restaurants in the area. There are a couple of Varenichnaya №1 locations nearby if you would like some authentic Russian food. Their speciality is Russian dumplings. Another classic choice nearby is Grand Cafe Dr. Jhivago. While you can try traditional Russian foods like borscht and Olivier Salad, you may need a reservation. GUM has several restaurants, including a couple of buffets upstairs.

Recommendations

While I would start off your visit to Moscow with a tour of the Red Square, make sure to come back to each place to tour the inside. If you are visiting several sights consider buying the Moscow City Pass  to save money on admissions.

Other Tour Options

Another company  Moscow Free Tour  does a similar free walking tour in the Red Square. Check the site for the details on the starting point and times. If you prefer a private paid tour with a hotel pick-up and a visit to St. Basil’s Cathedral included check out this tour . For a private paid tour with a hotel pick-up and a visit to the Kremlin included you may want to take this tour or this one . Even if you don’t typically take tours, I would recommend taking tours as much as possible in Moscow. Many people do not speak English and most information is not in English either.

Where to Stay in Moscow

Find somewhere to stay in Moscow near the Red Square so you are convenient to all the sights!

More About Russia

• Moscow Things to Do:  Unique Things to Do ,   Spartak Stadium
• Moscow Markets:  Izmailovsky Market ,   Danilovsky Market
• Moscow Museums:  Moscow City Museum ,  Victory Museum ,  Museum of the Patriotic War in 1812 ,  State Historical Museum ,
• Moscow Life:  Malls ,  Christmas in Moscow ,  Metro ,  Learning Spanish ,  My Russian Apartment ,   What is Life Really Like in Russia ,  FiFa World Cup ,  Russian Winters , and more posts about  life abroad in Russia .
• St Petersburg:  City Guide ,  The Hermitage Museum ,  Kayaking the Rivers & Canals ,   Peterhof Palace

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A great experience.

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22 comments.

The Kremlin looks rather imposing. It would be great to explore the history in Moscow.

There is a lot of history in Moscow to explore!

What a handy guide to get the most of Moscow’s red square! I’ve always wanted to try a walking tour and this looks like the perfect place to start!

I really enjoy walking tours, I think they are a great way to get to know a new place!

You have highlighted all the main sights around and in the Red Square indeed! I have visited Moscow in winter and the atmosphere was magical…even though it was cold 🙂 I’m looking forward to visiting in summer too!

Yes, there is a magical feel during the winter. I have to say I prefer the warmer, brighter summers though 🙂

Follow My Anchor

I am planning to go to Moscow and St. Petersburg this year so reading this was very helpful. I would love to do the walking tour! What time of year did you do it? I am planning to go in August as I really can’t stand the cold 😀 Do you think August might be a good time to visit Moscow? Thank you so much for your information!

I did the walking tour in September. July and August are the best times to visit Moscow in my opinion, so you are going at a great time! I lived in Moscow for a year so I have a lot of posts about Moscow and a couple for St. Petersburg too. Please check out my other posts as you are planning your trip and feel free to send any questions my way!

I’m a huge fan of taking free walking tours whenever my husband and I travel. We learn more about the history from the local’s perspective. Your walking tour in Moscow looks fun. The St. Basil’s Cathedral is beautiful and would love to see it. Thanks for sharing the must-see places in Moscow!

I’m a big fan of free walking tours too! I completely agree that you get a good perspective and introduction to the history of the city.

I would love to take the walking tour to get a good coverage of the area! The tip about paying for the bathrooms is great. That’s something I didn’t realize when I went to Europe for the first time from the US.

I always find it annoying paying for bathrooms in Europe!

I visited Moscow in June this year for the World Cup and I loved it. St. Basil’s Cathedral was the highlight for me, it’s such an impressive piece of architecture. I would’ve liked to visit more of Russia but maybe next time!

I really enjoyed Moscow during the World Cup too. The city was much livelier than usual!

I have been to St. Petersburg but never to Moscow. I think that these kind of tours are very useful to gather many information but I second your suggestion to visit the palaces inside as they have stunning interior decor and art treasures.

Yes, I think both going on tours and getting an overview and touring the inside of places are good to do.

Shreya Saha

St. Basil’s cathedral is definitely a beautiful place to visit. I would also love to stroll by the Alexander gardens and maybe spend some time in the shopping mall call mom maybe visit the theater, also I would love to visit Kremlin and the State Historical Museum. That’s a great list you have managed to provide here.

Never been to Russia, but the country’s history and culture has always fascinated me. Great list of things to do in Moscow’s Red Square. Kremlin is definitely on top of my list!

Russia does have a fascinating history and culture!

The architecture here always looks so beautiful. I would love to go to Russia. Some helpful tips here that would really help me navigate a future trip. I love the Russian ballet so a trip to the theater would be a must for me.

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Best things to see and do in Moscow

Moscow is the capital of Russia and is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Asia. It’s rich and complex history is a constant reminder of its strategic position between Europe and Asia and makes it one of the cities you should visit once in your life. In terms of the many iconic landmarks, the delicious cuisine, and the characteristic, colorful architecture it has, Moscow is full of surprises for first-timers and seasoned travelers. Apart from the main attractions, it has like the Kremlin or Red Square, Moscow has many hidden gems for you to discover on your free walking tour with your local guide. 

On any of the free guided tours we offer in Moscow , you will be able to find a selection of many tours which are available in different languages and at different times of day, like the morning, afternoon, and evening. Since Moscow is such a large metropolis, getting your bearings by doing a guruwalk with a local guide who will show you all Moscow’s hidden gems is a great idea. This way you get to learn as much as possible about the local culture and way of life. A trip to Moscow wouldn't be complete without visiting iconic places like St Basil’s Cathedral, Lenin’s Mausoleum, the Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts, or the State Historical Museum, before getting some fresh air at Gorky Park, the medieval church of Kolomenskoye, or shopping at Izmailovsky Market. Don’t miss visiting the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour, the Bolshoi Theater, or checking out the Tsaritsyno Museum-Reserve. 

Many travelers have left their r eviews and opinions about the local guides , gurus, and the routes they walked. If you have any questions about the routes or what is included in the tour, check out their opinions. 

Free walking tour near Moscow

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