The attraction is set over multiple floors and offers an exciting self-guided experience. Inside this unique museum, you’ll find over 400 lifelike wax replicas of some of the most famous faces in history. From international superstars to members of the Royal Family, it’s home to sculptures of all kinds of celebrated people.
What’s in this guide?
- What is there to do at Madame Tussauds London?
- Madame Tussauds London history and facts
- Restaurants, bars and shops near Madame Tussauds London
- Opening times and ticket prices
How to get to Madame Tussauds
Madame Tussauds is located on Marylebone Road in the City of Westminster. If you’re spending the day exploring central London, you’ll be able to walk to the museum in no time.
Alternatively, you can get to the museum from anywhere in London using the city’s straightforward transport system. London’s underground train system (tube) is quick and easy to use. If you’re unsure about where you’re going or need directions, you can head to any tube station and speak with someone who works for TFL (Transport for London).
Baker Street station is Madame Tussaud’s nearest station, located only a 5-minute walk away. This station is on the Bakerloo (brown), Circle (yellow), Jubilee (grey), Metropolitan (purple) and Hammersmith & City (pink) lines. It’s an easy journey from anywhere on the central London tube network.
Marylebone is the closest train station to Madame Tussauds.
What is there to do at Madame Tussauds London?
Madame Tussauds boasts plenty of things to see and do, perfect for visitors of all ages. The museum is the best place in London to star-spot, where you can expect a fun-filled few hours learning about different global celebrities.
There are 11 zones to discover, each with different themes. Some of these include Music, Culture, Film, Sport, Awards Party and Fashion Week. Stroll through Madame Tussauds’ many rooms and view the intricately sculpted wax figures, recognising your favourite celebrities as you go. Several interactive experiences include the Spirit of London Ride and a unique Star Wars Experience.
The waxwork figures are separated into categories, and you can explore them at your own pace. You should allow at least 2 hours to tour the museum.
James Bond
Fans of the James Bond film franchise can marvel at sculptures of its heroes. Due to the release of the latest James Bond instalment, No Time to Die, waxes of all six stars have since been gathered for this permanent exhibition. From Daniel Craig to Pierce Brosnan, this Agent 007 sculpture display is unmissable.
The Royals
Learn more about the British Monarchy and witness waxes of the Royal Family, including the Queen, the Duchess of Cambridge and Prince William. Over the years, the Queen has been the subject of at least 22 Madame Tussauds wax figures, displaying her at different points in her lifetime.
Madame Tussaud
In 1842, Marie Tussaud created a self-portrait wax model that still stands in the museum today. As you make your way around, make sure to look out for this impressive sculpture of Madame Tussaud herself, without whom the rest of the museum wouldn’t exist.
Star Wars Experience
The Star Wars exhibition is an immersive experience featuring incredible waxwork replicas of favourite characters from Star Wars Episodes I-VI. You can also explore several iconic Star Wars locations, including Jabba’s Throne Room and the flight deck of the Millennium Falcon.
Spirit of London Ride
Enjoy an exciting journey through history with the Spirit of London Ride. Take a seat in one of London’s famous black cabs and learn about the events that have moulded London into one of the greatest cities in the world. The ride is enhanced by historical characters and includes smoke machines for added effect.
Madame Tussauds London history and facts
The museum’s founder, Marie Tussaud, learned wax modelling very early. Born in 1761 in Strasbourg, France, she completed her first wax replica of author and philosopher Francois Voltaire at 15 years old.
During the French Revolution, Tussaud was imprisoned for three years, and it was her talent in wax sculpting that meant she could be released. She proved her support for the Revolution by creating replicas of the heads of executed aristocrats.
Original Madame Tussauds location
Tussaud inherited a wax sculpture collection from her mentor, Dr Phillipe Curtius and put together an exhibition. In 1802, Tussaud took her presentation on tour to the British Isles, leaving her husband, François Tussaud, behind.
After 30 years of travelling with her exhibition, she settled in London. She created the first Madame Tussauds museum in Baker Street in 1835. Tussaud died in 1850.
Due to the limited space at the Baker Street location, Tussaud’s grandsons moved the exhibition to Marylebone road, which was opened to the public in July 1884. Since then, Madame Tussauds has become a successful chain of wax museums, with galleries open worldwide, including China, Germany and Turkey. There are 24 Madame Tussauds wax museums worldwide.
During World War II, Madame Tussauds London was hit by bombs, destroying over 350 wax head moulds that needed to be recreated. It also destroyed a cinema which was part of the museum at the time.
HThe wax sculptures
Each of the museum’s detailed wax sculptures requires around 2,4000 lbs. of wax and costs $45,000 to make. The subjects are invited to a sitting to gather the correct body measurements; approximately 180 photographs are captured to recreate the figure. All portrait waxes in the museum have their hair washed and makeup retouched regularly. Two maintenance teams run a quality check of the sculptures daily.
The wax figures are 2% larger than the size of their subjects, due to the amount the wax expected to reduce during the making process. Each strand of hair is individually added to the sculpture, and a whole head of hair takes around five weeks to complete!
During the museum’s early days, one of its most significant selling points was its statues of infamous criminals, displayed in the Chamber of Horror. Advertising was used to bring people into the exhibition.
Standing at 4.5 metres tall, The Incredible Hulk is the museum's most enormous wax figure ever displayed. The most petite figure is the famous fictional character Tinker Bell.
Restaurants, bars and shops near Madame Tussauds London
Thanks to its central London location, Madame Tussauds is only minutes from excellent restaurants and bars. Fancy a refreshment during your visit? The museum features several grab-and-go kiosks and a chocolate fondue station. There are plenty of eateries to choose from nearby for a more substantial meal.
Royal Afternoon Tea
Enjoy a quintessentially British tradition with the Royal Afternoon Tea experience. This traditional royal tea includes scones, cakes, sandwiches and tea, and you can sit next to a sculpture of Her Majesty the Queen while you eat. Royal Afternoon Tea is available as an add-on to a general admission ticket.
Madame Tussauds Gift Shop
When you’ve finished your tour, why not pick up a souvenir in the museum’s gift shop? The shop is full of quirky memorabilia that will serve as a reminder of your visit to Madame Tussauds.
The Globe
Situated just across the road from Madame Tussauds, the Globe is the perfect spot for some freshly cooked classic pub food. Open since 1735, this restaurant boasts an exciting history. The world’s first underground railway, the Metropolitan line, was opened next to the Globe in 1863.
The Globe features a large bar and restaurant space and an outdoor seating area. Cosy up and enjoy a traditional British dish, like steak and ale pie or fish and chips. Enjoy a cup of coffee or choose beers from around the world, as well as delicious wines.
II Baretto Wine Bar and Restaurant
For a spot of Italian cuisine after your tour of Madame Tussauds, visit Il Baretto Wine Bar and Restaurant. Between Marylebone High Street and Baker Street, Il Baretto is only a 9-minute walk from Madame Tussauds. With its extensive menu of authentic Italian dishes, this restaurant is popular with locals and tourists alike.
Aubaine Marylebone
Aubaine is a stylish French restaurant located just around the corner from Madame Tussauds. With a relaxed-yet-contemporary style, it’s the perfect place to indulge in delicious French cuisine and wine.
Opening times and ticket prices
Madame Tussauds London is open every day from 10:00 to 15:00.
A standard ticket costs £30.50 for adults when booked online. You can also purchase a family ticket, which is £24 per adult. If you fancy skipping the queues, you can buy a fast-track ticket for £40.
Want to immerse yourself in the world of Marvel? Choose the standard ticket + Marvel Universe 4D option and access the museum’s exclusive 4D Cinema. Tickets cost £35.50 per adult.
Taking the train to London?
Planning on spending some time in the capital of England and want more information on travelling to London by train? Start your journey now! Travelling to London by train is simple due to the high-speed rail connections operated by 28 major train companies across the UK. You can travel to London from some of the most popular cities in the UK, including Bristol to London (1h 35m), Birmingham to London (1h 21m) and Oxford to London (47m).
Need more information about travelling to London by train? Check out our dedicated page to trains to London.