As a Merlin Pass holder, I’m scouring the country for things to do before theme parks open and found myself a little London attraction you may have heard of to explore, here’s my Madame Tussauds London review.

The world-renowned wax museum is full of movie, TV and music influences and even the recently reopened Chamber of Horrors brings a wonderfully traditional Merlin attraction to the public.
Madame Tussauds London is the flagship attraction for the Madame Tussauds brand, steeped in its rich history, impressively realistic wax figures and interactive exhibits.

During my midweek visit, I was surprised to see no queues outside of the building which is usually the case at Madame Tussauds. Visitors are usually lining the streets to get into the venue but we just walked in with absolutely no one in sight.
A quiet day at Madame Tussauds is always a better guest experience for me as you can take whatever photos you want without guests climbing all over the figures to take a photo.

The building is absolutely huge and it’s split up into sections with the Chamber of Horrors down in the basement full of infamous serial killers (including real-life artefacts belonging to Dennis Nilsen) and there is even a Spirit of London dark ride where guests board an omnimover themed taxi and are taken through one of the best themed dark rides in the UK.
If that wasn’t enough there’s even a 4D Marvel film which I thought was very impressive indeed but there will be more on that later!
Celebrities

The backbone of Madame Tussauds is a focus on celebrity culture where guests can admire sporting greats, musicians, film stars and more all in a variety of themed spaces to improve your Instagram photo gallery.
The level of detail in the wax figures is truly remarkable, capturing not only the physical likeness of the celebrities but also their expressions, postures, and even their signature styles. Just look at Bob Marley below and Jimi Hendrix above, the level of detail and likeness is uncanny, they’re truly works of art.

Some Madame Tussauds figures are even wearing clothes donated by the celebrity themselves although it never says which wax works are wearing authentic costumes or not. I know that the KSI wax work at Madame Tussauds Blackpool for example is wearing the same outfit that KSI himself wore in the Patience music video. 
They really should disclose that as it’s a nice little addition to an already impressive display.
Historical Figures and Royals

A more esteemed and notable section of Madame Tussauds would be the historical figures and royals section where the attraction pays homage to its roots.
The history of the museum dates back to the 18th century, and this section showcases wax figures of historical figures ranging from political leaders to cultural icons.

The attention to detail in recreating historical moments and clothing is commendable, providing an educational component to the overall experience.
What I found quite ridiculous though however was the fact that King Charles and Camilla now have a professional camera in front of them and guests are being charged to have a photo with wax works that were just standing around before Charles became king.

Quite a cheeky upcharge that one and one that left a bit of a sour taste to capitalise on the overseas tourism (or diehard royals) who wish to have a photo with them both.
Chamber of Horrors

I’m so glad that Madame Tussaud’s Chamber of Horrors in London has reopened as this horror-themed attraction sends guests down into the bowels of Madame Tussauds to show off some real-life horrors.
Exploring a darker side of human nature these beautiful sets thrust us into the macabre and mysterious and it’s certainly not for the faint of heart.
Come face to face with Jack the Ripper, browse through serial killer Dennis Nilsen’s real-life artefacts on display and engage with actors who are on hand to immerse you even more so in this creepy and wonderful experience.

I do love it when Madame Tussauds goes all out on the theming, lovely sets and incredible photo opportunities galore and this walkthrough experience is a horror fan’s dream.
The exhibits are organized in a way that takes visitors through different eras and aspects of horror. From gruesome crime scenes to depictions of medieval torture methods, each display is carefully curated to evoke a sense of dread and fascination. The use of atmospheric lighting, sound effects, and detailed set design further enhances the immersive nature of the experience.

I’m not sure where I stand on having selfies with Dennis Nilsen or other known serial killers but there’s always a grand fascination with killers and true crime will never cease to amaze me from a psychological standpoint.
Marvel at Madame Tussauds 

Cashing in on the Marvel success at Madame Tussauds has guests posing with their favourite superheroes before entering a cinema and indulging in a wonderfully created 4D movie where the Avengers interact within the space you’re sitting inside.
It’s quite an immersive display and the dome-shaped room you’re in lends a hand to the immersion with some very clever visuals that truly throw you into the heart of the action alongside your favourite Marvel characters.

There’s a reason they didn’t go with DC as Marvel has been far the more superior and popular brand for many many years now but sadly even Marvel seems to be on a downward slide of copy-and-paste movies and superhero fatigue is well and truly in full flow.
All the same, we can appreciate the classic movies of the past, take a photo with Iron Man, laugh alongside Groot and Rocket and take some incredible photos in Avengers-themed sets that easily rival the ones Disney built at the Avengers New York Hotel in Paris.

I thoroughly enjoyed the Marvel section of the attraction which just further adds to the ridiculously long time you’ll be spending here. Time flies when inside Madame Tussauds and before you know it 2 or 3 hours have passed as the attraction feels like an entire journey from start to finish.
Spirit of London Ride
 
Speaking of rides, this dark ride system takes visitors on a journey through the city’s history, from the Great Fire of London to the swinging ’60s. The use of multimedia elements and special effects enhances the overall experience, creating a dynamic and engaging atmosphere.
The set builds and level of detail within this Merlin attraction angers me as much as it pleases me.
It pleases me because the attention to detail and the immersive nature of the ride is unlike anything else in the entire country.
What saddens me is that all of the effort has been put into an attraction at Madame Tussauds as opposed to the Merlin theme parks whose dark rides all lack in certain areas that the Spirit of London ride just doesn’t.
It’s crazy to me that the UK’s best dark ride is located within a Madame Tussauds attraction and not at one of the UK’s best theme parks.
Star Wars

Just like with the Marvel section, there’s a whole section dedicated to Star Wars and for me, this is the most detailed area of the entire attraction outside of the ride.
Set detail and some wonderful photo opportunities (some of the best in the attraction) are located in this section and have been seriously ramped up.

Step into actual scenes as you sit next to Chewbacca in the Millennium Falcon or stand on the infamous spaceship ledge opposite Darth Vader himself.
Better yet, why not kneel next to Princeless Leia as another of Jabba the Hut’s prisoners, this section is by far the most impressive. 

The level of detail in this scene alone is insane to the point where you’re encouraged to get up close and personal with each wax figure and the closer you get the more creeped out I always seem to become!
My inner nerd was going off the charts seeing little Yoda on his log in a forest-themed environment. The force needed to be very strong that day to pull me away from those sets that’s for sure! 

Lightsabers at the ready as you immerse yourself in the world of Star Wars and whether you’re on the good side or the dark side there is something for everyone to enjoy in this encapsulating space.
Overall 

While Madame Tussaud’s London undoubtedly offers a captivating and enjoyable experience, it’s essential to be prepared for the crowds.
We thankfully landed on a very rare Madame Tussauds day where it was next to empty from start to finish with no queue to get in and absolutely no queue to board The Spirit of London ride.

The attraction can get rammed during peak tourist season but the attraction offers VIP experiences to help you skip the queues should you need it.
Still going strong all these years later as you step into a world of fame, film and history. It’s hard not to be impressed whenever you walk through the attraction as the craftsmanship is nothing short of extraordinary.

A memorable experience that will leave a permanent smile on your face much like the wax works within it. 
For more information please visit https://www.madametussauds.com/london/