Madame Tussauds

More than 260 years ago, Madame Tussaud was born in France. At age 16, she started making waxwork models, beginning with philosopher Francois Voltaire. In 1835, 33 years after she introduced her first traveling exhibition to the British Isles, a base for a permanent collection of waxworks was established at The Baker Street Bazaar in London. After Madame Tussaud’s death, her grandsons secured what is now one of the capital’s most popular attractions its new and current home on Marylebone Road. The 20^th century brought two disastrous events: a fire and, 15 years later, a WWII bomb, both of which led to extensive renovations of the site.

Visitors can now explore different interactive star-studded zones dedicated to famous faces from awards parties, masters of music, the royals, Marvel and Star Wars characters, sport stars, and well-known figures in the fields of fashion and film and more. One highlight of a visit is the ‘Spirit of London’ mini taxi ride to see some of the key people in London’s history. Each one of the 300+ waxworks on display in Madame Tussauds is meticulously crafted. Up to 200 measurements are recorded and photos capture every angle with hair, skin and eyes colour-matched from samples. Real human hair is sourced for the head, eyelashes and eyebrows. Visitors will learn about the behind-the-scenes process – sitting, sculpting, moulding and finishing – used to make new waxwork personalities, with each taking as long as 4 months to produce, utilising the skills of up to 20 artists.

Madame Tussauds is open daily from 10am to 3pm. Pre-book a standard adult ticket online for £33.50. There are a variety of discounted rates with the option to add on events, 4D film viewings and other attractions as well as a fast-track ticket (highly recommended for busy times). Food and drink are available onsite on a cashless basis.