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.
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 Super Heroes 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 Super Heroes 4D Experience.
- If you plan on visiting another London tourist attraction, you can buy the “See London Your Way” ticket (costing from £39 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 (£169 for adults or £129 for each member of your family) which is valid for 12 months, and can be used at 32 of the most popular tourist attractions in London.
