London
London
+ Central London
Sights
* Apsley House
* Banqueting House
* BBC Experience
* British Airways London Eye
* Buckingham Palace
* Cabinet War Rooms
* Chelsea
* Clink Exhibition
* Courtauld Gallery
* Design Museum
* Dickens House Museum
* Docklands
* Fleet Street
* Guildhall
* Hampstead
* Harrods
* HMS Belfast
* Highgate
* Hyde Park
* Imperial War Museum
* Inns of Court
* Jermyn Street
* Jewel Tower
* Kensington Palace and Kensington Gardens
* Kenwood House
* Leighton House
* Lloyd's Building
* London Aquarium
* London Dungeon
* London Planetarium
* London Transport Museum
* London Zoo
* Madame Tussaud's
* Monument
* Museum of Childhood, Bethnal Green
* Museum of London
* National Army Museum
* National Portrait Gallery
* Oxo Tower
* Piccadilly Circus
* Regent's Park
* Royal Academy (of Arts)
* St Bartholomew-the-Great
* St Bride
* St James's Palace
* St James's Park
* St James's Piccadilly
* St James's Street
* St Katharine's Dock
* St Stephen Walbrook
* Shakespeare's Globe Exhibition
* Sir John Soane's Museum
* Soho
* Southwark Cathedral
* Spencer House
* Tate Britain and Tate Modern
* Theatre Museum
* Tower Bridge
* Trafalgar Square
* Wallace Collection
* Westminster Cathedral
* Whitehall
* Winston Churchill's Britain at War
Vicinity
+ Vicinity
Walk/Drive
Food&Drink
In The Know
Did You Know?
( Do not miss )
The grand old dame of London tourism, Madame T's has for several years been the capital's top entrance-paid attraction, as infamous for its queues (which you can now avoid) as for the excellence of its lifelike figures. Madame Tussaud began her career making death masks of guillotine victims, moved to England in 1802 and set up in London in 1835. You can still see artefacts of the French Revolution, including the waxworks' oldest figure - Madame Dubarry (Louis XV's mistress), made in 1765. She is cast as The Sleeping Beauty, with an ingenious breathing mechanism to keep her slumbering eternally. Highlights are very much a personal thing, though you'll doubtless linger in the Garden Party area which features current popular celebrities.
The 200 Years exhibition explores Tussaud's fascinating history and remarkably little-changed techniques. The display of discarded heads of former waxworks is an illuminating barometer of who is in fashion and who has dropped from favour. The Grand Hall brings together politicians and royalty, while The Chamber of Horrors is more horrible than ever. Far better to whisk young children off on the enjoyable Disney-like Spirit of London ride, replete with animatronic figures and special effects.
Address: Marylebone Road
Phone: (020) 7935 6861 WEBSITE: www.madame-tussauds.com
Open: Mon-Fri 10-5:30, Sat-Sun 9:30-5:30. Opens earlier during school hols. Closed 25 Dec
Restaurant: Café (Inexpensive)
Metro: Baker Street
Accessible: Superstars area and Spirit of London ride not accessible to wheelchairs
Admission: Very expensive. Combined discount ticket with London Planetarium available
Practical: To avoid waiting in line book in advance (for either or both attractions) by credit card
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