Elvis Presley’s Graceland exhibit coming to the UK with over 400 official artefacts
2 August 2023, 16:23
Graceland has become a glittering shrine to the King of Rock 'n' Roll.
Elvis Presley's former home was opened to the world in 1982, and offered an incredible, intimate insight into the man behind the music.
The complex which resides on 200,000 square feet of land in Memphis, Tennessee now welcomes over half a million visitors each year to the mansion, its museums, restaurants, gift shops and more.
Elvis himself is even buried within the grounds, alongside his parents, paternal grandmother, grandson Benjamin Keough and daughter Lisa-Marie Presley.
Priscilla Presley wanted to preserve the legacy of her ex-husband after eventually becoming the successor to his estate.
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- Watch Elvis star Austin Butler play 'Can't Help Falling In Love' on Presley's guitar at Graceland
- All 31 of Elvis Presley's movies, ranked from worst to best
She did an impeccable job as history dictates, transforming Graceland into the second most visited home in the United States after the White House, and securing a spot on the National Register of Historic Places in 1991.
Graceland is undoubtedly a bucket list visit for any Elvis Presley fan, and is well worth the pilgrimage to Memphis.
But for some people around the world, it's just not possible to get there. Never fear though die-hard Elvis fans, as a Graceland exhibition is heading to the UK.
Direct From Graceland: Elvis is set to open in London this autumn and offers the chance for fans to "step inside the legacy".
Held at Arches London Bridge and opening in October 2023, the exhibition promises that UK-based fans will "see Elvis like never before".
Posting on the official Graceland Instagram account, the news was announced alongside the caption: "For fans who cannot make the journey to Elvis’ home in Memphis, Graceland is coming to you in London!"
"Direct from Graceland: Elvis is a major new retrospective exhibit that will open October 2023 at @Arches.LondonBridge."
"The exhibit will feature over 400 artefacts that have never been seen in the UK! Additionally a VIP: White Glove Experience is on offer, including the chance to handle some of Elvis’ personal items."
Among the hundreds of Elvis' personal possessions and timeless outfits will be his famed gold lamé tuxedo, which he first wore on stage in Chicago’s International Amphitheatre on March 28, 1957.
He also famously appeared wearing it on the front cover of his LP, 50,000,000 Elvis Fans Can’t Be Wrong - Elvis’ Gold Records – Volume 2.
A description of the upcoming exhibition on the official website states: "Over 400 plus artefacts, from his prized Ferrari Dino to his iconic Gold Lamé Suit, chart Elvis’s humble beginnings to his meteoric rise to fame in this kaleidoscopic chronicle of the King."
"Journey through multiple gallery spaces from Elvis the man to the global sensation, the performer and movie star – and experience first-hand featuring towering tributes to The 68 Special, Aloha From Hawaii, and Las Vegas with an immersive spectacle to relive the iconic performance."
"Finally, explore his legacy and his continuing influence on pop culture from the opening of Graceland to the critically acclaimed Baz Luhrmann film Elvis (2022)."
Elvis Presley's fandom has seen a resurgence in recent years with Luhrmann's Elvis Presley biopic, and Austin Butler's lauded, BAFTA-winning performance.
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There's yet another Presley biopic on the way in 2023 too, with Sofia Coppola at the helm of Priscilla, which will explore the love and marriage of Elvis Presley and his wife Priscilla.
Before Priscilla hits the silver screen later this year however, you can get up-close-and-personal with Elvis' memorabilia at Direct From Graceland: Elvis when it comes to London in October.
Pre-sale tickets for Direct From Graceland: Elvis are set to go on sale on August 22 and you can join the waiting list here.
