Madame Tussauds wax museum has been wowing (and startling) London tourists for nearly two centuries now, its collection of lifelike wax models of historic figures, stars of stage and screen, rock legends and other celebrity icons proving an irresistible draw for millions of visitors every year. Here’s where you can get up close to the Royal Family, come face-to-face with Jack the Ripper, and experience impossible festival line-ups that team Bob Marley with Beyoncé and David Bowie with Dua Lipa. Read on for our ultimate guide to Madame Tussauds London, including when to visit, how to get tickets, and the waxwork highlights you simply mustn’t miss!
Madame Tussauds London: The Lowdown
It’s nearly 250 years since the teenage Madame Marie Tussaud, then a trainee wax sculptor in Paris, created her first waxwork, an effigy of writer and philosopher Voltaire. Tussaud’s journey to fame and fortune was long and arduous, taking in imprisonment during the French Revolution, a spell in swinging London in the early 1800s, and a 33-year-long tour of Britain with which she finally made her name. In 1835, she finally settled in a permanent exhibition space on Baker Street, a stone’s throw from the larger Marylebone premises opened by her grandson in 1883, where the iconic wax figures have been displayed ever since.
Marie Tussaud died in 1850 at the grand old age of 88, leaving behind a wax legacy that included a sculpture of herself. The immortal figure of Madame Tussaud can still be seen today, welcoming guests through the museum’s entrance on Marylebone Road. She’s joined by some 150 fellow models, a rotating circus of the great and good (and not so great and good) that moves with the times, capturing the zeitgeist and national mood. Zones like the Chamber of Horrors, with its roster of ghosts, ghouls and bad guys of yore, pay tribute to Tussaud’s original vision, while the Marvel Universe, Awards Party, Impossible Festival and Star Wars zones keep pace with the latest trends and fashions. There are several epic immersive areas, and you can even cast your own hand in wax and take it home as a fun (if slightly macabre) souvenir of your visit!
Madame Tussauds London Highlights
- The Royal Palace. Practice your best curtsy as you come face-to-face with King Charles III and Queen Camilla, and snap a selfie with Wills and Kate. You’ll also encounter royal guests such as Dame Judi Dench, Mo Farah CBE, and former US president Barack Obama.
- Awards Party. Hit the red carpet and pap Angelina Jolie, Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson, Harry Styles and others.
- Impossible Festival. Impossible by name, impossible by nature, the line-up at this dream festival boasts Jimi Hendrix, David Bowie, Beyoncé, Ed Sheeran, Amy Winehouse and Taylor Swift.
- Chamber of Horrors. Not for the faint of heart, this immersive zone reveals London’s dark underbelly, and features relics rescued from genuine crime scenes. Meet notorious gangsters the Krays and other London monsters like John Christie, Dennis Nilsen and, of course, Jack the Ripper himself.
- Spirit of London. Take a black cab ride through the city’s turbulent past, from the plague to the Great Fire of London,and Carnaby Street in the swinging 1960s.
- Star Wars. Space cadets, rejoice! Here’s where to spot Chewbacca helming the controls of the legendary Millennium Falcon, encounter C-3PO and R2-D2 on the shifting sands of Tatooine, and watch Luke and Darth battle it out on the Death Star. Meanwhile, in the swamps and forests of his native Dagobah, Yoda you must meet.
Madame Tussauds London: When to Visit
Madame Tussauds London's opening hours vary throughout the year. It’s generally open from 9AM or 10AM until 3PM or 4PM, with longer hours (usually 9AM–5PM) during school holidays. Check the official Madame Tussauds London website for opening hours on the days you want to visit.
Generally speaking, the first and last tours of the day (after around 2PM) are less prone to overcrowding, but avoid weekends and school holidays if you can, when the crowds of tourists inside can occasionally make getting close to your favorite wax icons… challenging.
Book in advance to lock in your 15-minute time slot; turning up on the day and buying a ticket then and there is possible, but unadvisable. This, after all, is one of London’s most popular attractions, so doing it this way will likely require you to while away several hours in nearby Regent’s Park as you await your slot.
Madame Tussauds London: Tickets
One of the best ways to visit Madame Tussauds London is with an All-Inclusive attraction pass from Go City. Just select the number of consecutive days you plan to sightsee (up to 10), and fill your boots with as many bucket-list London experiences – including tours, activities, attractions and more – as you can in that time. The pass offers savings of up to 50% against regular entry prices, with the value increasing the more things you see and do. The All-Inclusive pass comes packed with dozens of essential London attractions, including Madame Tussauds, plus the London Eye, Tower of London, the View from The Shard, London Zoo, the London Bridge Experience and many more.
You can also book direct via the Madame Tussauds London website, where options include multi-attraction tickets, fast track passes and a champagne bar experience.
Fun Facts About Madame Tussauds London
- Waxworks at Madame Tussauds take around six months to create, from concept to completion. They are groomed and touched up throughout their lifetime and, when retired, have their heads and extremities removed and placed in storage. Those archives must be a sight to behold!
- Figures are made 2% larger than the human (or movie character) they represent, to account for melting during the modeling process.
- The museum’s oldest waxwork is of Louis XV’s last mistress Madame du Barry, sculpted by Marie Tussaud’s teacher Philippe Curtius in 1765.
Closest Transport Links to Madame Tussauds London
Madame Tussauds is a two-minute walk from Baker Street station on the London Underground; access to multiple Tube lines including the Bakerloo, Circle, Jubilee and Metropolitan make this by far the easiest way to get here. Marylebone train station is a 10-minute walk and several bus routes also service the area.
All images shown depict wax figures created and owned by Madame Tussauds.
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