The Stars Come Out at Madame Tussauds: Part 3

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Madame Tussauds is known for its dark and grizzly history. Since its move to Marylebone Road, the basement of the attraction has always been known to house the world famous ‘Chamber of Horrors’. This contained waxwork of some of London’s most notorious murderers.

Once named the ‘Separate Room’, the ‘Chamber of Horrors’ was removed in 2016 in favour of a more family friendly adventure called ‘The Sherlock Holmes Experience’. This actor-led experience brought to life London’s most famous (and fictional) detectives, for an upcharge to the general admission price, leaving no more than a Victorian Street containing Robert Downey Jr’s Sherlock Holmes waxwork for others to see in the area. Apart from a Halloween overlay of the experience back in 2019 when ‘Tales from the Chamber’ ran for two weeks, all artifacts and references to the ‘Chamber of Horrors’ had been removed, taking out a fundamental part of the attraction’s history! Since the pandemic, ‘The Sherlock Holmes Experience’ has never fully reopened, but interestingly on our visit various artifacts and waxworks from the previous ‘Chamber of Horrors’ had been reintroduced to the area meaning that there may be hope for ‘The Chamber of Horrors’ to make a future comeback in some way!

In front of the old shop windows, the heads of many criminal minds can be viewed on stakes. Marie stands outside the former entrance to 221b making a cast of a beheaded victim. As the street scene plays out, you can find a wooden cart ready to transport the dead, while an actor dressed in a Victorian costume stands waiting to jump out at passing visitors, ready to tell the grim origins of Marie Tussaud’s story when it comes to life. Information boards can also be found on the walls giving further insight into Marie’s past before guests ascend the staircase to discover how today’s waxworks are made in a video display, narrated by Beyoncé Knowles-Carter.

It will be interesting to see how long the current ‘The Story of Marie Tussaud’ exhibition will last. However, we do believe it is a step in the right direction in bringing back a much-missed part of the Madame Tussauds London experience.

Next up, ‘The Spirit of London Ride’ which is considered by many as one of the best, if not the best dark ride in the country – and the jewel in the crown of the Madame Tussauds brand!

Relive Tudor England, see the streets being ravaged by the plague and catch the moment the Great Fire engulfed the city in flames. Emerging from the ashes is Sir Christopher Wren’s masterpiece – St Paul’s Cathedral. Encounter a monumental recreation of Nelson’s Column, ahead of arriving in a city at war where the familiar voice of Prime Minister Winston Churchill calls out, rallying the nation.

Roll on the bright lights of the swinging 1960s in Carnaby Street and the vibrant colour of the 80s, before stepping out of your black cab and continuing your journey through the attraction.

Madame Tussauds London (2022)

To be honest, there are no words to describe this attraction, it is just jaw-dropping and worth the admission price alone! There is so much to experience as you see, hear, smell, and travel through five hundred years of history all within a London black cab! Once you’ve travelled through history, you’ll wish you could do it all over again as there are so many well themed scenes to see, which remain timeless and unchanged since their introduction in 1993, that you’ll want to see what else you can spot! While it is hard to choose, our favourites scenes include the fireman (which used to squirt water), Charles Dickens, the plague, and Great Fire of London, along with the Nelson’s Column firework display!

After stepping off your cab, visitors make their way into the old London Planetarium building to experience final two zones full of Marvel and Star Wars characters and scenes. There is also an opportunity to watch the Marvel 4D experience for an additional charge, however we decided to give this a miss as unfortunately it has been removed from the Merlin Annual Pass benefits.

Within the Marvel zone, guests can come face to face with some of their favourite characters, including Captain America, Hulk, Spiderman, Captain Marvel and many more characters, while scenes from the Star Wars franchise allow fans to capture themselves next to their favourite heroes and villains in the last section before exiting to the gift shop!

If timed right, these areas are usually quieter than the rest, especially when the 4D show is running, however a surge will usually take place every 15 to 20 minutes when the show ends and viewers experience the final sections before exiting. Out of the two zones, the Star Wars zone is more impressive, while the Marvel zone looks more tired, and in need of a refresh soon to make it more modern and interactive.

Overall, Madame Tussauds London is a must visit attraction, especially if you have Merlin Annual Passes! It is an attraction that you can be entertained in for two to three hours, whilst trying to take those much-needed selfies for your socials!

Check out the latest exhibits and prices by visiting the Madame Tussauds London website.