SUMMER VISITS - MADAME TUSSAUDS, LONDON

M A D A M E T U S S A U D S - L O N D O N

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SUMMER VISITS 2015

FEATURES | Kyle Pedley

'Summer Visits' is a brand new series of features for (A)musings that will feature UK Visitor and Tourist attractions themed around or linked to Film, Television, Videogames or Theatre. In this first part, Kyle reviews Madame Tussauds, London, including it's recently unveiled Star Wars exhibit.

It’s oft-said that you haven’t made it big until you have a Madame Tussauds waxwork of your likeness crafted, and with celebrity culture at an all-time high, and the acquisition of a slew of highly lucrative franchises including the Marvel superhero universe and, most recently, Star Wars, it isn’t surprising to see the London arm of Tussauds proving more successful than ever. On paper, it sounds a shallow, even ersatz, notion of a day out - what is essentially a museum filled with accurate, lifelike wax replicas of our favourite idols and ‘celebs’ - and yet few can deny the irrepressible appeal of getting a photo or ‘selfie’ with Helen Mirren before bustling around a corner to find a photo opportunity with One Direction, The Incredible Hulk or, naturally, The Royal Family.

With a collection of themed zones, including ‘Film’, ‘Music’, ‘World Leaders’, ‘Sport’ and more particular avenues as ‘Bollywood’ and ‘Culture’ (see: Einstein, Shakespeare et al) and so on, naturally there will be certain areas that appeal more to individual visitors. Being one of the flagship Tussauds experiences, what is most welcome about the London museum is the diversity and breadth of figurines and individuals each area showcases. Naturally, more niche zones such as ‘Bollywood’ and even the Royal Family aren’t quite as expansive as, say, Film or Music, but this is perfectly understandable.

When it comes to the premier attractions in particular, the quality of the waxworks and their likeness is second to none. Some fare better than others, and there are the odd older works which are showing their age, but generally speaking the standard here is completely world-class - you will not be disappointed, and the uncanny authenticity of the likes of Helen Mirren, The Queen and even indeed Helen Mirren *as* The Queen, will give you a whole host of selfies and photo opportunities that could very likely fool your friends and family as well! From recent additions including Benedict Cumberbatch and Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss Everdeen keeping contemporary film fans satisfied, through to Miley Cyrus and Tom Daley in Music and Sport respectively, back through to the likes of Margaret Thatcher, Princess Diana, Henry VIII and other figures of yesteryear, Madame Tussauds London is a wonderfully varied experience that will offer plenty of mileage for visitors of any age.

A base ticket for Madame Tussauds London costs £33 for ages 16 and over, with children a slightly cheaper £28.80. There are group discounts and various online offers available that reduce entry cost, and under 4’s go free, though it is worth noting that due to the layout and levels of the experience, pushchairs are not permitted. At these prices, some may consider it a rather expensive outing for what is roughly a couple of hours’ entertainment, particularly for families, but the overall Tussauds experience, not to mention the slew of photographs and memories you will take from the day, make it a fair admission price, particularly so in comparison with similar London attractions, and considering a host of recent additions.

Amongst these include a revamping of the Chamber of Horrors to incorporate ‘Scream’ - a ‘Scare Zone’ which features a short, frightening walk-through where live actors jump out and startle visitors as they pass through. Such walk-through’s are becoming increasingly popular this side of the Atlantic after becoming prominent at various theme parks etc. in the US, and whilst 'Scream' isn’t particularly innovative or original - and in fact it is a shame they don’t utilise more of the horror franchises and historical figures at their disposal - as a free addition to the Tussauds experience, it is an entertaining detour, though will likely be too intense for younger visitors.

To appease them, the inclusion of a ‘4-D’ cinema themed around the Marvel superhero universe, is another recent development that continues to expand upon and flesh out the core experience visitors are treated to at Madam Tussaud’s. The cinema features a short 3D animated film wherein Captain America, Wolverine, Spiderman and others from Marvel-dom attempt to save Buckingham Palace and London as a whole from the threat of Dr Doom. With a host of interactive ‘4-D’ features (including the customary water spray), it’ll prove a welcome reprieve and a lot of fun for old and young alike.

Whereas previously the now dated but charming ‘Spirit of London’ ride was the only deviation from the general waxwork experience, the 4-D cinema and ‘Scream’ walk-through show a conscious and welcome development by Tussaud’s to give visitors more bang for their buck. Where this isn’t quite so applicable is with the recent Star Wars expansion zone, which requires an extra £3 be paid for a wristband if paying on the day (and not already purchased or included in ticket) to allow admittance to the area after the cinema experience (which can also be bypassed if necessary). It is worth noting that the extra charge, and separate pricing for any official photographs you have taken by staff in the Star Wars exhibit, are both explained as being due to licensing costs of the franchise.

The Star Wars exhibit is undoubtedly one of the highlights of the London arm of Tussauds, and whilst it does cost extra for entry, for any fans of the series it is an absolute must and easily worth the reasonable admission charge. The emphasis is heavily on the original trilogy of films, with only one waxwork of Revenge of the Sith’s Anakin (Hayden Christensen) available to be photographed directly with (the Obi-Wan/Qui-Gon/Darth Maul duel from The Phantom Menace is there, albeit partitioned off). From the original films, however, there is the chance to have a photograph manning the cockpit of the Millennium Falcon with Chewbacca, with faithful droids C-3PO and R2-D2, close up and personal with Imperial Stormtroopers, a Dagobah-themed area for a photo with Yoda and the climactic duel between Darth Vader and Luke Skywalker from Return of the Jedi, complete with an overseeing Emperor Palpatine. There is also the opportunity to place yourself in two of the most iconic Star Wars moments of all time - the cloud city revelation with Darth Vader at the end of Empire Strikes Back and that gold bikini moment with Princess Leia, Jabba the Hut and Salacious Crumb.

Madame Tussaud’s London is an experience which continues to adapt and evolve in keeping with not just who is popular, but also what it’s visitors want. Upon leaving you are invited (by Jerry Springer, no less) to input your visitor feedback, including which waxworks you did and didn’t feel were particularly accurate, and who you would like to see a figure of in future. In many ways, with such a broad canvass of characters and personalities to choose from, there’s no real reason why Madame Tussaud’s should ever become stale, and with the addition of new experiences in ‘Scream’, the Marvel 4-D Cinema, and the recent Star Wars exhibit, there’s clearly a very welcome expansive and diversifying of what can be expected during your visit. Whilst a visit with a family unit in particular commands a considerable entry fee to see everything, and it would likely not be an annual visitor experience (having last visited 6 years ago, there was definitely enough new content to warrant a return), Madame Tussauds is nevertheless one of the premier London tourist attractions with just cause. Featuring an impressive, ever-changing collection of figurines across time and area of interest, the irrepressible appeal and lifelike nature of the waxworks, a host of new experiences and additions that diversify your visit, and the opportunity to create a veritable photo album with your favourite stars, and Madame Tussaud’s London is currently at it’s absolute best, and a fun, memorable must-do for any readers London-bound list this summer.

MUSINGS

+ Fantastic standard of attainment and accuracy in the waxworks

+ Fun, memorable, family-friendly experience for all ages

+ Terrific breadth of characters and individuals featured - something for everyone

+ New additions inc. Star Wars and 'Scream' diversify the Tussauds experience

+ Very welcome London-centric elements and attractions

+ The Star Wars exhibit is an absolute must for fans of the franchise

- For the full experience, it is an expensive visit for families

- Pushchair's not being allowed may be a deal-breaker for those with babies/young children

(A)MUSINGS (A)TTRACTION (A)DVICE

- BOOK ONLINE AND IN ADVANCE: The savings can be considerable and the queues on the day outside the museum can reach hours in length. Booking in advance is practically a must.

- PICK YOUR DATES WISELY: Naturally, weekends are the busiest - in the school holidays try pick mid-week dates.

- PICK YOUR TIME EVEN MORE WISELY: Where possible, go for the earliest or latest visit you can make, early morning or evening. By lunchtime and early afternoon, the museum and queues outside will have reached their apex.

- PLAN AROUND YOUR FAMILY: There are no pushchairs allowed and the only food outlets provide light beverages and snacks. Eat a meal beforehand if with youngsters or plan your day accordingly. You will likely be in the museum roughly 2 - 2 and a half hours.

- TAKE A SELFIE STICK IF YOU HAVE ONE!: These are permitted and sometimes the waxworks look more candid and believable in front-facing cameras and they work great for snapchat et al as well as sometimes getting some height over the crowds!

- BE PATIENT AND MINDFUL: Madame Tussauds is regularly at capacity and there will be plenty of people vying for the more popular waxworks in particular. If you try to rush through the experience you will likely not only blitz through the museum but also face the wrath of fellow tourists in the process.

- BUDGET ACCORDINGLY: Whilst you can take photographs on your camera / phone throughout, at the major exhibits there are staff photographers whose snaps you can collect and buy at the end of the tour. These aren't cheap, however, nor is a lot of the merchandise in the shop at the very end. You also can't combine Star Wars photographs into packages from any of the other exhibits due to licensing, so fans of the franchise be prepared to shell out a little extra.

Tickets: 0871 894 3000 / Official Website: click

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