A complete guide to visiting Madame Tussauds London

Yes, I queued up to take a picture with Paddington… and I have absolutely no regrets.

By <a href="#author-bio">Alice Padfield</a>
By Alice Padfield
Published: June 19, 2025
Madame Tussauds London

Let’s be honest: Madame Tussauds is a bit bonkers, but that’s all part of the fun. You’ll go from red carpet glamour to royal audiences to a scary chamber of serial killers with basically no warning. But beneath the celeb-spotting chaos is an unexpectedly fascinating experience, with over 250 wax figures, themed zones, and a hefty dose of London history. 

I recently braved the crowds (and the Chamber of Horrors…) to bring you the ultimate guide to visiting Madame Tussauds London – what to expect, where to eat, and how many wax figures it’s socially acceptable to pose with before your camera roll gets out of hand. 

What’s included with your ticket? 

With standard admission (which you’ll get with the London Pass Plus), you’ll get: 

  • Entry to all themed zones across the attraction 

  • Access to the Chamber of Horrors (brace yourself, seriously) 

  • The Spirit of London ride (an indoor mini theme park ride through the city’s history) 

  • Selfie opportunities galore  

  • And yes, it’s all included – you don’t need to pay extra for the main highlights, but be warned: some interactive bits will try to upsell photos, VR add-ons and merch. 

Top tip: if you’re using The London Pass Plus, your entry is covered – just make sure you pre-book your visit online before you go, as Madame Tussauds gets very busy. 

Here are five things you never knew you could do at Madame Tussauds. 

paddington at Madame Tussauds

Everyone's favourite little bear

How to get there 

  • Madame Tussauds is super easy to reach, whether you’re coming from central London or further afield. 

  • London Underground (the tube): Baker Street Station (Bakerloo, Circle, Hammersmith & City, Jubilee and Metropolitan lines) is literally across the road, just look for the domed building. 

  • National Rail: Marylebone Station is about a 10-minute walk away. 

  • Bus: Several buses stop nearby including the 18, 27, 30, 205 and 453. 

Follow the route: what you’ll see (and where the scary bit is) 

The layout of Madame Tussauds is like a glitzy maze – you’ll be directed to follow a one-way route through various themed zones, don’t worry you won’t get lost. It’s mostly smooth-flowing, but occasionally bottle-necky when everyone’s trying to snap the same celeb. 

Here’s a rough breakdown of the areas: 

1. A-list party / film & tv zone 
Start strong by brushing shoulders with Hollywood royalty. I accidentally photo-bombed a stranger’s shot with Brad Pitt, but honestly, I think that just adds realism. You’ll find everything from Marvel stars to Netflix icons here. 

2. Royal Family & political figures 
Yes, King Charles is there. Yes, you can stand awkwardly close and pretend you’re invited to a state banquet. My personal fave was pretending to be royal myself and waving at the crowds from the Buckingham Palace balcony. 

3. Sport & fashion icons 
Mo Farah, Tom Daley, the Beckhams and more – great for a flex on Instagram. I also learned I absolutely do not have a model’s runway face. 

4. Music legends 
Pose with Queen Bey, Ed Sheeran, Rihanna, and The Beatles – though not all in the same room, which is a missed opportunity for a supergroup if you ask me. 

5. The Chamber of Horrors (WARNING: scary content) 
Not gonna lie, this bit made me jump more than once. Graphic crime scenes, unsettling mannequins, and real stories of London's darker past. It’s fascinating but intense – you can skip it if it’s not your thing. 

6. Spirit of London ride 
This is a surprisingly adorable highlight – you hop into a black cab ride and get whisked through moments in London history, complete with moving sets, lights, and some very enthusiastic voiceovers. Think: a tiny theme park attraction. 

7. Star Wars zone 
A galaxy far, far away recreated in impressive detail. I may or may not have tried to hug Chewbacca while I sat next to him in the Millennium Falcon. 

spirit of London ride at Madame Tussauds

Taxiiii!

Food opportunities 

There’s no full café or restaurant inside the experience itself, but there is a small snack stand near the Marvel Hall of Heroes where you can grab drinks, crisps, sweet treats and coffee. There’s also a Ben & Jerry’s ice cream counter at the end for a post-celeb cool down. 

If you’re really hungry, I’d recommend grabbing food in the nearby Baker Street area afterwards – there are plenty of cafés, pubs, and sandwich shops in easy walking distance. 

Gift shop opportunities 

The gift shop is classic exit-through-the-souvenir-shop style – big, bold, and full of waxy merch. Think: 

  • Royal family mugs and crowns 

  • Marvel and Star Wars toys 

  • London-themed knick-knacks 

  • Keychains, postcards, and of course, branded hoodies 

They also have personalised items and (slightly terrifying) wax hand sculptures if you want a very unique souvenir. 

The Madame Tussauds photo challenge  

Let’s face it – you don’t go to Madame Tussauds and not take photos. But to make it more fun, I set myself a personal challenge during my visit: get a selfie in each themed zone with at least one figure. Bonus points for creativity. 

Some of my top shots: 

  • Whispering sweet nothings to Harry Styles (he didn’t respond) 

  • Recreating Love Actually with Hugh Grant (I wish) 

  • Giving The Rock a run for his biceps (spoiler: I did not win) 

  • Joining the Avengers (someone would need to make notes surely?!) 

Pro tip: go early or late in the day if you want more space for photos! 

gift shop at Madame Tussauds

Time to shop!

The fascinating history behind it all 

It’s easy to forget that Madame Tussauds is a proper part of London history. It all started with Marie Tussaud, a French wax sculptor born in 1761. She learned her craft from a physician who created wax models to teach anatomy (yep, that’s how this all started), and she made her first figure – Voltaire – at the age of 16. 

She survived the French Revolution (she even had to make death masks of guillotine victims – yikes), and eventually brought her travelling wax exhibition to London. By 1835, she’d set up a permanent attraction in Baker Street, and it’s been growing ever since. 

Read more about the strange history of Madame Tussaud. 

How are the waxworks made? 

Short answer: slowly.  

Long answer: each figure takes about 4 to 6 months to complete and costs around £150,000 to make. That’s one very fancy mannequin. 

The process is incredibly detailed: 

  1. Research & sitting – celebs often come in to be measured and photographed from every angle. Eye colour, hairline, pose… all gets noted down. 

  1. Clay sculpture – artists sculpt the figure in clay to get the proportions right. 

  1. Moulding & waxing – the sculpture is moulded and filled with wax. A hot wax bath gives it that realistic sheen. 

  1. Painting & finishing – artists hand-paint the skin tone, freckles, veins, and more. Hair is added strand by strand. (Yes, seriously.) 

  1. Styling & dressing – real clothes, accessories, and props complete the look. Often donated by the celeb themselves. 

The result? Uncanny realism. (And yes, I did double-take more than once, and I did apologise for nearly bumping into ‘someone.’) 

madame tussaud and madame tussauds

Only a little bit freaky...

Is there anywhere nearby I should visit? 

Yep! There’s plenty to explore nearby once you’ve posed with all the wax celebrities. Whether you're keeping it budget-friendly or ticking off more London Pass attractions, you’re in a great spot. 

Here are a few top picks: 

The Wallace Collection (Free)  
Just a 10-minute stroll away, this gorgeous art gallery is housed in a historic townhouse and filled with paintings, armour, and general rich-people opulence. Bonus: no entry fee! 

Regent’s Park (Free) 
Right next door! Perfect for a wander or picnic after your visit. You can stroll through Queen Mary’s Gardens, rent a pedalo on the boating lake, or just lie down and recover from all the celeb excitement. 

London Zoo (On the London Pass) 
Also located within Regent’s Park – home to gorillas, penguins, reptiles and more, ideal if you want to keep the family-friendly fun going. 

That’s a wrap… 

Madame Tussauds is a weird and wonderful place – part museum, part theme park, part fever dream. Is it a bit touristy? Absolutely. Is it a blast anyway? Definitely. 

Whether you’re geeking out over Marvel heroes, posing with pop stars, or just admiring the incredible craftsmanship, it’s a fun, photo-filled adventure that’s uniquely London. 

And hey – if you’ve ever wanted to see how you measure up next to The Rock… this is your moment. 

Enjoyed this? 

Find out more about the strange history of Madame Tussauds or discover which classic movie moments you can re-create! 

Step up your sightseeing with The London Pass®. We make it easy to explore the best a city has to offer. We’re talking top attractions, hidden gems and local tours, all for one low price. Plus you'll enjoy guaranteed savings, compared to buying individual attraction tickets.  

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Alice Padfield
Alice Padfield
Content Manager

Alice is a copywriter in the Content team at Go City®, where she combines her love for travel, literature, food and theatre to craft inspiring content for cultural explorers. From blog articles to TikToks, she creates engaging stories that help travellers uncover hidden gems and must-see spots in every city. Passionate about exploring new destinations, Alice shares her discoveries to help others curate unforgettable itineraries.

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