The Virtual Dementia Bus Tour is Coming to The Burlington

What the Tour Involves

Understanding dementia from the outside is one thing. Understanding it from the inside is another. On Saturday 26th September 2026, The Burlington in Shepperton will host the Virtual Dementia Bus Tour, an immersive training experience that puts delegates directly into the sensory and cognitive world of someone living with dementia.

The tour takes place aboard a specially equipped mobile unit, parked in The Burlington’s car park at 68 Manygate Lane. Inside, guests take part in a guided simulation designed to recreate the confusion, disorientation, and altered perception that dementia can bring to everyday tasks. It’s a training method built on experience rather than explanation: rather than being told what dementia might feel like, delegates find out for themselves.

The Burlington is running two sessions on the day, each welcoming 16 guests. Because the simulation builds through the full session, guests need to be available for the entire slot they book.

Why It Matters

Dementia training usually happens in a classroom, through case studies and checklists. The Virtual Dementia Tour works differently, and Home Manager Margielyn (“Margie”) believes that difference is the point.

“You can read every guide there is on dementia care, but nothing changes how you support someone quite like feeling, even briefly, what their day might be like. It builds a different kind of patience, and a different kind of understanding, that stays with you long after you step off that bus.”

The event isn’t only for families weighing up care options. Admissions Manager Kirsty notes it’s just as relevant for local businesses and community groups whose staff regularly interact with people affected by dementia, whether that’s in a shop, a bank, or a GP surgery. Better understanding, in any of those settings, tends to translate into better, more patient support.

For The Burlington, the day also serves a second purpose: opening its doors to the wider Shepperton community and showing, in person, the kind of home it is.

Practical Details

• Date: Saturday 26th September 2026
• Location: The Burlington, bus parked in the car park, 68 Manygate Lane, Shepperton, Surrey, TW17 9EE
• Time slots: 10:00am–1:00pm (16 delegates) or 1:30pm–4:30pm (16 delegates); full attendance for the chosen slot is required
• Cost: Free (places are limited, so advance booking is essential)
• Refreshments: Provided
• To book: Call 01932 504 214