Sarner International
Sarner International is a UK-based experiential design and production firm, founded 1967, that delivers turnkey immersive visitor attractions for museums, cultural institutions, theme parks, and brands across five continents.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1967
- HeadquartersKingston Upon Thames, United Kingdom
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Sarner International does
Sarner International Ltd is a privately-held UK experiential design and production practice founded in 1967 and headquartered in Kingston upon Thames. The company delivers turnkey immersive visitor attractions — concept, design, production, construction, and aftercare — through integrated in-house teams, with 100+ employees operating across five continents and a regional officer presence in Eastern Europe. Its portfolio spans museums and cultural institutions (Natural History Museum London, Science Museum, Norwegian Glacier Museum, Fram Museum, Museum of London Docklands, Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, UNTOLD Belfast, Museum of Literature Utrecht), theme parks and FECs (Merlin Entertainments, Madame Tussauds, Legoland), brand destinations (Calvados Experience for Spirit France, Baileys ICON Centre for Diageo, Farsons Brewery Experience, Google Experience Center, Nestlé Content Studio, Royal Mint Experience), and edutainment (King Salman Science Oasis Riyadh, FIVB VR Volleyball at Rio 2016).
The technical stack combines audiovisual systems, large-scale projection mapping, six-degrees-of-freedom motion platforms (Odyssey Malta via Simtec Systems), mixed reality (Magic Leap headsets in Dimension X), dark walk automation, multisensory effects (4D vibration, movement, smell, mist, temperature), and themed construction under a single delivery model. The company has accumulated 225+ million cumulative visitors across its attractions, with individual projects still operating 30+ years after delivery, and is licensed by BBC Studios for the touring Doctor Who Worlds of Wonder exhibition.
Revenue is generated predominantly through fixed-price, multi-year turnkey design and build contracts awarded via international competitive tender to museums, heritage bodies, brand owners, and entertainment operators, supplemented by ongoing aftercare, maintenance and upgrade services and limited touring/licensing economics. Awards recognition in 2025 (AV Awards, Malta Tourism Awards, Blooloop 50, Inavation Awards finalist, Park World shortlisted) and a visible 2026–2027 pipeline support the picture of an active, award-winning mid-sized practice.
Sarner International firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Sarner International
- Legal name
- Sarner International Ltd
- Website
- https://sarner.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1967
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Sarner International is a UK-based experiential design and production firm, founded 1967, that delivers turnkey immersive visitor attractions for museums, cultural institutions, theme parks, and brands across five continents.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Sarner International industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Experiential Design and Visitor Attraction Services
- NAICS
- Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (712), Historical Sites (712120), Museums (71211)
- SIC
- Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Cultural, Heritage & Arts Travel Agencies (THAKAFAK)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Culture, Heritage & Arts Itinerary Planning (THAKAOAK)
Keywords
Where Sarner International is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Kingston Upon Thames
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices3 records
Markets served
Sarner International business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Project-Based Design and Build Contracts: Sarner earns revenue through large-scale design and build contracts for museums, cultural attractions, theme parks, and brand destinations. Projects are delivered on a turnkey basis from concept through opening, with fees structured around fixed-price contracts for design, production, and installation services. Revenue is project-based rather than recurring, with projects ranging from individual exhibitions to full attraction builds.
- Aftercare and Maintenance Services: Ongoing support, maintenance, upgrades, and extensions provided post-launch, creating recurring service revenue from established client relationships. The company maintains long-term partnerships with clients, delivering multiple upgrades over decades.
- Licensing and Touring Exhibitions: Some projects involve touring exhibitions and licensed content (e.g., Doctor Who Worlds of Wonder under license from BBC Studios), generating licensing revenue as part of project economics.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Project-based design and build contracts for immersive attractions |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels6 records
Sarner International product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Sarner International is a design and production company that plans, designs and delivers immersive visitor attractions for museums, cultural institutions, theme parks and brand owners across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia and Australasia. The company provides a turnkey service spanning strategy, design, production, construction and aftercare, integrating storytelling with audiovisual technology, AR/VR, projection mapping, motion simulation and multisensory effects to create attractions that drive visitor engagement. Its work covers museum exhibitions, theme-park rides, edutainment experiences and brand destination experiences for clients including Natural History Museum, Science Museum, Merlin Entertainments and BBC Studios.
Product overview
Sarner International is a leading experiential design and production practice that creates immersive visitor attractions worldwide. The company offers a comprehensive suite of services spanning strategy, design, production, construction, and aftercare, organized into five core service modules. Their expertise covers museums & cultural attractions, theme parks & FECs, brand destinations, and edutainment. Founded in 1967, with headquarters in Kingston upon Thames, UK and over 50 years of experience, the company has delivered attractions visited by over 225 million people across five continents. Notable projects include Odyssey Malta (Malta's first flying theatre, AV Awards 2025 winner), Bodmin Jail Attraction (£8.5m dark walk experience), Calvados Experience (3,000m2 brand destination in Normandy), Baileys ICON Centre (£11.5m Dublin attraction), Doctor Who Worlds of Wonder (BBC Studios touring exhibition), and Space: Could Life Exist Beyond Earth? (Natural History Museum 2025). The company employs over 100 people and operates with regional offices supporting projects across Europe, Middle East, and Asia.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Immersive Visitor Attractions Design and Production Turnkey design and production service for immersive visitor attractions, delivered end-to-end for museums, cultural institutions, theme parks and brand destinations across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia and Australasia.
- Doctor Who Worlds of Wonder at the National Space Centre Immersive Doctor Who exhibition at the National Space Centre produced for BBC Studios, transporting visitors into the world of the long-running science-fiction series.
- Space: Could Life Exist Beyond Earth? Immersive travelling exhibition produced by Sarner exploring the question of extra-terrestrial life through immersive storytelling and effects.
- Glacier Museum Climate Exhibition Upgrade Climate-themed immersive exhibition upgrade produced for a glacier-focused museum, designed to engage visitors on environmental themes.
- Untold Stories of the Irish Immersive exhibition telling stories of Irish history through Sarner's signature storytelling and multisensory effects.
- Museum of Literature Immersive literature-themed attraction planned to launch in 2027, applying Sarner's immersive design approach to literary storytelling.
- Warrior: The Art of War War-themed immersive experience scheduled to launch in 2026, produced by Sarner using its signature immersive storytelling and effects.
Companies that use Sarner International
Customer profileNamed customers25 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Sarner International technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature7 records
Sarner International partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
24 partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.
- Simtec SystemscoreSarner partnered with Simtec Systems for the flying theatre technology in Odyssey Malta. Simtec provided world-leading motion simulation technology for Malta's first flying theatre, combining Sarner's creative and interpretive design expertise with Simtec's six-degrees-of-freedom motion platform. This partnership was pivotal to winning the AV Awards 2025 Themed Entertainment Project of the Year.
- Mercury Contracting Projects LtdcoreClient and commissioner of Odyssey Malta, located within the iconic Mercury Towers development designed by the late Zaha Hadid in St Julian's, Malta.
- Natural History Museum LondoncoreSarner designed and installed three extraordinary immersive experiences for the Natural History Museum's Space: Could Life Exist Beyond Earth? exhibition (May 2025–Feb 2026), developed in close collaboration with the museum's in-house team.
- Magic LeapcoreMagic Leap provided AR headsets for the Dimension X: Dinosaurs & Robots mixed reality exhibitions at the Natural History Museum and Science Museum, funded by Innovate UK. This was the first trial of Magic Leap technology in a public visitor engagement setting.
- Science Museum LondoncoreSarner partnered with the Science Museum alongside the Natural History Museum for the Dimension X: Dinosaurs & Robots mixed reality project, funded by Innovate UK's Audiences of the Future initiative.
- Bodmin Jail Museum LtdcoreClient for the £8.5m Bodmin Jail transformation into a UK-leading leisure attraction featuring a Dark Walk, immersive exhibition, and dark walk, delivered despite Covid-19 challenges on time and on budget.
- Spirit FrancecoreSpirit France, global spirits producer and owner of three leading Calvados brands (including Père Magloire), commissioned Sarner to create the Calvados Experience brand destination on the site of France's oldest Calvados distillery.
- Baileys / Diageo plccoreBaileys (now part of Diageo plc) commissioned Sarner to design and build the Baileys ICON Centre within an £11.5m development in Dublin, Ireland — a unique food, drink, shopping, and entertainment experience featuring the largest bar in Ireland.
- Simonds Farsons Cisk plccoreFarsons commissioned Sarner to design The Farsons Brewery Experience, transforming a working industrial brewery site into an engaging visitor journey through Malta's brewing heritage. Runner-up at Malta Tourism Awards 2025.
- UNTOLD: The Museum LtdflagshipUNTOLD: The Museum Ltd appointed Sarner to design and deliver UNTOLD Stories of the Irish in the British Army — a landmark museum consolidating six historic regimental collections in Belfast's Linen Quarter and Enniskillen Castle, opening 2027. Sarner appointed following competitive tender and working on development phase for National Lottery Heritage Fund delivery round application.
- Museum of Literature / Children's Book Museum (Literatuurmuseum / Kinderboekenmuseum)flagshipOne of 26 national museums in the Netherlands appointed Sarner following competitive international tender to design two exhibition areas for the museum's 2027 relocation to Utrecht's historic Magazijn De Zon building — an interactive exhibition for adults and an immersive medieval vault installation.
- National Trust (UK)coreSarner has delivered multiple projects for the National Trust including The Courts Garden exhibition (Wiltshire) and Lacock Abbey Fox Talbot Museum interactive exhibition, creating interpretive experiences that enhance heritage storytelling.
- Royal Geographical Society (with IBG)coreRoyal Geographical Society commissioned Sarner to create the Enduring Eye exhibition showcasing Shackleton and Frank Hurley's Antarctic expedition photography. The exhibition toured the UK for six years and was updated for the 2022 Shackleton centenary, with adaptations also delivered for the Shipwreck Treasure Museum in Cornwall.
- Shakespeare Birthplace TrustcoreShakespeare Birthplace Trust commissioned Sarner to create a new introduction to Shakespeare's birthplace in Stratford-upon-Avon — a fully automated dark walk experience with productions narrated by Patrick Stewart and Juliet Stevenson.
- Museum of London DocklandscoreMuseum of London Docklands commissioned Sarner to design the Secret Rivers exhibition, which attracted 59,536 visitors — nearly 50% above its 40,000 target, making it the 2nd best performing exhibition at the museum.
- Fram Museum, NorwaycoreSarner completed multiple substantial upgrades for the Fram Museum over a decade, doubling visitor numbers and pushing the museum to TripAdvisor's No. 1 Museum in Norway. Received TEA Thea Award for Outstanding Achievement.
- Norwegian Glacier MuseumcoreSarner has maintained a 30+ year relationship with the Norwegian Glacier Museum, completing three substantial upgrades including a walkthrough glacier replica, 'Our Fragile Climate' climate change exhibition, and outdoor Educational Playground, with a finale narrated by Sir David Attenborough.
- Governor of Riyadh RegioncoreSarner was appointed lead designer and consultant for the permanent exhibition at King Salman Science Oasis in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia — a major science museum exploring AI, Biotechnology, and Future of Technology themes.
- GooglecoreSarner designed the Google Experience Center — a brand destination showcasing Google's technology and brand story.
- NestlécoreSarner designed the Nestlé Content Studio for Nestlé UK — a brand content and experience centre.
- The Royal MintcoreSarner delivered the Royal Mint Experience Upgrade — redesigning the visitor experience at the UK's historic coin minting facility.
- Ministry for GozocoreSarner designed the Cittadella Visitors' Centre for the Ministry for Gozo in Malta, exploring the history of the fortified citadel.
- Merlin EntertainmentscoreSarner has delivered multiple projects for Merlin Entertainments including Room on the Broom - A Magical Journey and other themed entertainment attractions across the Merlin portfolio.
- Fédération Internationale De Volleyball (FIVB)coreFIVB commissioned Sarner to create a Virtual Reality Volleyball Experience for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, featuring a VR lounge at Volleyball House near Copacabana beach with cutting-edge VR films shot at major FIVB events worldwide.
Scale indicators13 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Sarner International competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Gallagher & Associates: Museum and cultural-institution experience design firm producing exhibitions for natural history, science and history museums; competes with Sarner for many of the same NHM/Science Museum-style accounts.
- Moment Factory: Montreal-based multimedia entertainment studio creating immersive experiences for museums, public spaces and brands; directly comparable technology stack (projection mapping, multisensory) and museum client roster.
- Thinkwell Group: US-based design-and-build firm specialising in theme parks, museums, brand destinations and immersive attractions — directly comparable to Sarner's integrated turnkey delivery model across the same end markets.
- Roto (Roto Design & Production): Design-build firm for themed entertainment, museums and immersive attractions with strong in-house production capability — competes head-to-head with Sarner on cultural and heritage interpretation projects.
- JRA (Jack Rouse Associates): International themed entertainment strategy and design consultancy working with museums, theme parks and cultural destinations; comparable client base and project economics to Sarner.
- Luci Creative: US exhibit design and production firm specialising in immersive museum and aquarium experiences; comparable service offering in cultural-attraction design-build.
- BRC Imagination Arts: Global designer and producer of brand destinations and museum/cultural experiences; overlaps with Sarner's Brand Destinations and Museums & Cultural Attractions verticals on similar turnkey projects.
Broad incumbents
- Electrosonic: Long-established AV integration and experience-technology provider for museums, theme parks and control rooms; broader and more hardware-focused than Sarner but overlaps on technology-rich cultural attraction projects.
Emerging players
- Tessellate Studio: Boutique experiential design studio working at the intersection of museums, brands and immersive environments; smaller in scale than Sarner but with overlapping technology toolkit and client base.
- Simworx: UK-based designer and manufacturer of dark rides and media-based attractions supplying theme parks and FECs; complements Sarner as a sub-supplier or partner on motion-platform and dark-ride projects like Odyssey Malta.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Sarner International social profiles
Digital presenceSarner International financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Sarner International leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles8 records
Sarner International funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Sarner International M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Sarner International
What does Sarner International do?
Sarner International is a design and production company that plans, designs and delivers immersive visitor attractions for museums, cultural institutions, theme parks and brand owners across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia and Australasia. The company provides a turnkey service spanning strategy, design, production, construction and aftercare, integrating storytelling with audiovisual technology, AR/VR, projection mapping, motion simulation and multisensory effects to create attractions that drive visitor engagement. Its work covers museum exhibitions, theme-park rides, edutainment experiences and brand destination experiences for clients including Natural History Museum, Science Museum, Merlin Entertainments and BBC Studios.
Is Sarner International a public or private company?
Sarner International is a private company. It is classified as management employee owned and is currently operating.
When was Sarner International founded?
Sarner International was founded in 1967. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Sarner International based?
Sarner International is headquartered in Kingston Upon Thames, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Sarner International make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Project-Based Design and Build Contracts are the primary driver. The others are aftercare and Maintenance Services and licensing and Touring Exhibitions.
Who are Sarner International's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Gallagher & Associates, Moment Factory, Thinkwell Group, Roto (Roto Design & Production), JRA (Jack Rouse Associates), Luci Creative and BRC Imagination Arts. Electrosonic is listed as a broad incumbent. Emerging players are Tessellate Studio and Simworx.
Does Sarner International have an API?
No public API is recorded for Sarner International.
What industry is Sarner International in?
Sarner International's product category is Experiential Design and Visitor Attraction Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAKAFAK, Cultural, Heritage & Arts Travel Agencies, with a secondary code of THAKAOAK, Culture, Heritage & Arts Itinerary Planning. Its NAICS code is 712 and its SIC code is 7900.