How can digital innovation help historic sites create deeper visitor connections?
Historic sites face a unique challenge: how do you make visitors fall in love with a place not just for its beautiful architecture and stunning views but for its story and deeper significance?
And, perhaps more importantly, how do you keep these treasured places relevant and worthy of continued support in a digital age?
At Smartify, we’ve been working with historic sites across Europe, helping them tackle these kinds of questions. We recently launched three innovative digital experiences that are transforming how visitors connect with heritage sites – turning a ‘bucket list’ visit into something that lives long in the memory.
Bringing centuries-old stories to life at New College Oxford
At New College Oxford, visitors drawn in by its starring role in films like Harry Potter wandered historic buildings steeped in history without grasping their significance. Beautiful architecture impressed them but the deeper story remained untold.
Our solution was a new audio tour that brings visitors into a story stretching back nearly 650 years, and explains why this academic institution is as valuable and important today as at any time in its history.
Instead of simply observing, visitors can now learn why there’s so much green and purple in the chapel’s stained glass windows; why seat rests in the space are called Mesericords, or ‘mercy’ pads; and what’s involved in laying on a banquet in a medieval dining hall. Hidden details and fascinating stories, told by people who work in the college and know it best.
As Gez Wells, Home Bursar at the college, explains:
Visitors now leave with a real understanding of our place in Oxford’s past, rather than just having seen some beautiful architecture.
Creating moments to pause at Frauenkirche Dresden
The magnificent Frauenkirche Dresden sought to help visitors connect in a more meaningful way with this sacred space.
At 67 metres tall, the church, with its distinctive dome, was already on tourist itineraries for its unique view of the city and beyond.
The challenge at ground level was that, in such a vast building, with different parts dating from completely different centuries, visitors would often pass through very grand-looking spaces on their way to somewhere else, oblivious to the world-shaping events that happened there.
The church wanted to encourage visitors to pause, reflect and absorb the significance of standing inside such a beautiful building – albeit one with a moving story of destruction and reconstruction.
Our innovative soundscape creates an invitation for contemplation – a moment of stillness that opens visitors’ hearts and minds to the space around them.
Once that connection is established, object recognition technology allows them to explore the dome and church space in detail, supported by an inclusive audio tour that ensures every visitor can engage fully with the experience.
The result is a more profound, meaningful visit that honours both the sacred nature of the space and the needs of modern visitors.
Revealing royal history at Hampton Court Palace
Hampton Court Palace represents the gold standard of what today’s visitors expect: an experience that’s equal parts enthralling, exciting and educational.
Our digital visitor guide serves as the perfect companion to their visit, helping guests better appreciate the rich history of this royal site while supporting Historic Royal Palaces’ broader educational mission.
Layered on top are interactive elements – a 360-degree tour of the palace, featuring soundscapes, voices and characters to meet, with more experiences to come – that provide an entirely new way to engage with the site’s story.
These additions transform a traditional palace tour into an immersive journey through centuries of royal lives, architectural innovation and cultural significance.
The common thread: meaningful engagement
These three diverse sites – a college, a church and a royal palace – share common ground. Each recognised that, while beautiful buildings and impressive views are certainly important, they aren’t enough on their own.
Today’s visitors seek connection, understanding and relevance.
The solution lies in considered digital experiences that:
- Tell compelling stories that connect the past with the present
- Create opportunities for reflection and deeper engagement
- Accommodate visitor needs through inclusive design
- Provide context that transforms observation into understanding
- Support institutional missions while enhancing visitor satisfaction
Looking ahead
We believe that as the heritage sector continues to evolve, sites that successfully balance preservation with innovation will thrive.
The key is recognising that digital technology isn’t about replacing traditional experiences; it’s about enriching them.
When visitors leave a historic site with genuine understanding, emotional connection and appreciation for its relevance today, they become more than just tourists. They leave as supporters and guardians of our cultural heritage.
The question for every historic site isn’t whether to embrace digital innovation; it’s how to do so in a way that honours the past while engaging the future.
Next steps
Interested in exploring how digital solutions might enhance visitor engagement at your heritage site? We’d love to discuss your specific goals and challenges.