Madame Tussauds is renowned across the planet for life-like wax figurines that enable the public to imagine they’re face to face with a beloved musician, movie star, athlete, fictional character, or superhero. The original London branch of this popular brand unsurprisingly proves no exception to this sterling reputation. Prominently located on bustling Marylebone Road just south of The Regent’s Park since the late nineteenth century, Madame Tussauds London is home today to multiple themed zones of wax sculptures, a 4D movie theatre, and a whole lot more.
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History of Madame Tussauds London
Anna Maria Grosholtz was born in France during the middle of the eighteenth century. After her father died when she was just six years old, she moved to Switzerland with her mother, who had found work there as a housekeeper for a local doctor trained in the ways of wax modeling. This doctor taught young Anna Maria the tricks of the trade. Eventually she would move to France, marry one François Tussaud, become known professionally as Madame Tussaud, and practice her craft for some of Europe’s most notable individuals of the early nineteenth century.
After touring England for decades, Madame Tussaud settled in London and opened a shop on Baker Street in 1835 to showcase her handiwork. She died in 1850, but the family business remained strong, and in 1885 her grandsons moved their operations to the current location of Madame Tussauds London. In the approximately 140 years since, the site has been ravaged by fire and damaged by bombs during World War II, but each time it has been rebuilt better than before.
Madame Tussauds London Highlights
Madame Tussauds London is divided up into eight distinctive zones, each one featuring a different theme. The Impossible Festival contains a who’s who of music stars past and present like Ariana Grande, Jimi Hendrix, Amy Winehouse, and Rihanna. The Marvel Hall of Heroes lets you stand face to face with Captain Marvel, Black Panther, and the Incredible Hulk. The Awards Party is where you’ll be able to rub shoulders with Leonardo DiCaprio, Mo Salah, and John Boyega.
This is Madame Tussauds London, of course, so you’ll have the chance to step into the Royal Palace and mingle with Princess Diana, Elizabeth I, and their special guests Dame Helen Mirren and former President Barack Obama. Other popular zones found here include Star Wars, where you can explore the flight deck of the Millennium Falcon just steps from the surface of Tatooine and an ongoing lightsaber duel; Film, which places ET, Terminator, and James Bond alongside one another; and Culture, an ever-evolving selection of society’s major public figures.
Madame Tussauds London is also home to a Marvel Universe 4D theatre. This immersive movie experience enables visitors to feel as though they’re the ones actually teaming up with superheroes like Thor, Spider-Man, and the Black Panther as they struggle to stop Loki from destroying the world.
More to See and Do at Madame Tussauds London
Madame Tussauds is an internationally successful franchise for a reason. Here are several more things to see, do, and know ahead of your upcoming stop at the London branch of this popular brand.
*Chamber of Horrors is a recent addition to Madame Tussauds London. This exhibit thrusts visitors into the midst of 150 years of London criminal activity; you’ll be face to face with serial killers, gangsters, and a host of other infamous individuals notorious for their shocking and gruesome crimes.
*Kong: Skull Island is an adventure-filled exhibit where you’ll be forced to fight your way through a dense bamboo jungle resembling the setting of the blockbuster movie only to eventually come before an 18-foot animatronic ape’s head that’ll snarl and roar in your face as part of a terrifying encounter.
*The Spirit of London is a fun ride where you hop into a replica London black cab and go for a wild trip through hundreds of years of British history. Along the way you’ll see the city change and evolve in the wake of fires, plagues, wars, and a whole lot more.
*Madame Tussauds London features its very own in-house shop, where you can pick up a gift or souvenir to remember your experience by. Those individuals seeking a unique, customized memento of their visit here will want to consider stopping at the Wax Hands station; there, in a process that takes only 15 minutes or so, you can have a wax model of your hands created by a professional as you wait. You can even select your very own hand gesture in the wax color of your choice!
Why Madame Tussauds London Should Be on Your Must-See List
Sure, nowadays there are Madame Tussauds located all over the world, but none of them quite compare to the original London location, which has been delighting visitors in one form or another since the days of Queen Victoria. If you’ve ever dreamed of standing next to a lifelike wax figure of your favorite musician, actor, celebrity, or superhero, then what are you waiting for? Place Madame Tussauds London at the top of your upcoming travel itinerary—and while you’re at it, pencil in nearby popular attractions like the London Zoo and the Sherlock Holmes Museum right underneath it, too!
