MADAME TUSSAUDS ULTIMATE GUIDE

Open: Every day: 9-10AM to 3-5PM, with daily variations

Time Needed: 3 hours

Price: £29

Often referred to as “London’s favourite tourist attraction”, Madame Tussauds in London has been visited by around 500 million people since it first opened, and attracts over 2.5 million visitors every year. For many, this is an essential stop in London, perfectly complementing the journey of free tours and museum explorations throughout the city.

Madame Tussauds in London (which is one of a chain of wax museums located all over the world) features more than 400 life-like replicas of some of the most recognizable faces in the world, ranging from legends and superstars, historical icons and geniuses, and even religious figures and murderers.

The museum was founded and named after the famed wax sculptor Marie Tussaud, who was born in Strasbourg, France in 1761. During her lifetime Tussaud made a name for herself by sculpting realistic, life-like wax figures of famous people like Lord Nelson, Winston Churchill and Sir Walter Scott.

The first exhibition of Madame Tussauds in London opened in 1835 on Baker Street, but was later moved to its present location on Marylebone Road in 1894.

Madame Tussauds Highlights

Do you want to take a selfie with Adele or Barack Obama? Or maybe even lock lips with Prince Harry or a member of One Direction? Well, luckily, Madame Tussauds is the only place in London which allows you to do so.

All of the waxwork figures in Madame Tussauds London are separated into different categories, so you can strike a pose with The Beatles, Justin Bieber or Marilyn Monroe in the Hollywood section, before moving on to seeing Wills and Kate or Queen Elizabeth II up close and personal in the Royal Family section.

There’s also an entire section dedicated to religious leaders and political icons like Pope John Paul and Nelson Mandela, and other sections dedicated to movies and comic books like Spiderman, Shrek and James Bond.

If you have the guts to venture down into the Chamber of Horrors (one of the most popular exhibitions at London’s Madame Tussauds), you will see the likes of Guy Fawkes, Vlad the Impaler, Genghis Khan, Adolf Hitler, the head of Stalin, and even the death masks of King Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette,

But Madame Tussauds in London isn’t just a celebrity wax figure museum. The attraction also offers "taxi rides" through London’s historic tales (called “The Spirit of London”), a Marvel Universe 4D mini-movie experience for children, and even a full bar for adults to enjoy!

Special Tips

If you are a Star Wars or Marvel fan, it may be a good idea to purchase a Standard Ticket online beforehand to get into both the Star Wars Experience and the Marvel Universe 4D Experience.

If you plan on visiting another London tourist attraction, you can buy the “multi-attraction ticket” (costing from £50.50 for adults), and visit other popular tourist attractions in London for up to 30 days after visiting Madame Tussauds. The ticket allows you to combine your visits to up to four different attractions in London, some of which include the London Eye, the London Dungeon, the SEA LIFE London Aquarium, and Shrek's Adventure.

There's also the option of purchasing a Merlin Pass (Silver Pass £169 for adults), which is valid for 12 months, allows up to five 50% off tickets for friends and family, and can be used at 30 of the most popular tourist attractions in London.

Getting There

Address: Marylebone Rd, London NW1 5LR, United Kingdom.

By Tube: If you are arriving by tube, Baker Street tube station is a minute's walk from the Museum.

By Train: If you are travelling by train, Marylebone station is a 10 minute walk from the Museum.

By Bus: If you are travelling by bus, you can get to Madame Tussauds via routes 13, 18, 27, 30, 30, 74, 82, 82, 113, 139, 189, 205, 274 and 453.

By Express: If you are travelling by express, there is a stop on Marylebone Road.

By Car: If you are travelling by car, the museum can be reached via the A40 to Marylebone Road, which connects to Euston Road.

Visiting Madame Tussauds

Recommended visiting time for Madame Tussauds is around two to three hours, depending on when and what time you visit. If you visit during the peak tourist season or on a weekend, be aware that the museum can get incredibly busy and add extra time to your visit.

Most online tickets are assigned to a time slot. To avoid queues, make sure to arrive on time (but not too early, as you won't be allowed entry until the time designated on your ticket!) and approach the front gate with your ticket ready, either printed or on your phone. Fast Track Ticket holders can enter the museum via a dedicated entrance at the time slot designated on their ticket.

If you don't mind risking the queues and prefer to buy tickets on the day, try to arrive very early in the morning or visit in the early afternoon (between 1 and 2 pm). The kiosks can be found inside the Box Office, located next to the front entrance.

Ticket Costs

There are a several online ticket options for you to choose from:

• Standard Ticket

  • Adults: from £29
  • Children (2-15): from £26

• Afternoon Saver Ticket (available for one hour every day from 1 p.m.)

  • Adults: from £19
  • Children (2-15): from £17.50

• Fast Track Ticket

  • Adults: from £44
  • Children (2-15): from £41

• Champagne Bar Experience (with a complimentary drink)

  • Adults: from £65
  • Children (2-15): from £62.50

It is highly recommended that you pre-book your tickets online beforehand, as you can save a lot of money on ticket prices and get faster entry into the museum as well. Also, remember that carers for visitors with disabilities and all children under 2 can enter for free, but they also require a ticket.

If you want to discover the best attractions and museums in the city, you might be interested in the free tours in London departing daily.