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London Madame Tussauds Tickets: how to buy and what to see

In the most famous wax museum in Europe you can have your photo taken with your idols and the most famous characters of history and current events.

Vicky Del Moral

Vicky Del Moral

9 min read

London Madame Tussauds Tickets: how to buy and what to see

Madame Tussauds London | ©Wolfgang Kopp

I always remember visiting Madame Tussauds as one of the most fun experiences I had in London. Do not miss this magical place, especially if you are traveling with family or friends, where you will laugh, hallucinate and discover more than 250 characters.

:::product-alias-card|id=666|badge=The best option|title=The best tickets to Madame Tussauds in London with access to all the halls|description=Pose with the most famous characters in the world in this fantastic museum. Enjoy the different sections such as the one dedicated exclusively to the Star Wars saga.:::

In the hilarious Madame Tussauds museum in London you can take the best pictures with the most popular characters in the world. Get :::link|text=your tickets for the wax museum|element=pa-666::: and get up close and personal with the countless hyper-realistic figures. From Madonna to Albert Einstein to Johnny Deep or Queen Elizabeth II.

Enter the magical Star Wars universe and take a selfie with Yoda or Princess Leia. You can also hop in the classic London black cab and take a tour of the city's history with the Spirit of London Ride, included in your tickets.

Where to buy tickets

Part of the Star Wars Section at Madame Tussauds
Part of the Star Wars Section at Madame Tussauds

On the internet

I recommend you to :::link|text=buy tickets in advance online|element=pa-666:::: the queues are huge every day. You can choose between standard (general) and Premium tickets. And if you are going to spend several days in London, you can buy the London Explorer Pass, which includes this ticket and many others.

At the ticket office

Buying your ticket at the Madame Tussauds box office is possible, but it is a museum that attracts 2.5 million visitors a year and queues can last up to 3 hours. My advice is that if you are thinking of buying your ticket there, go very, very early.

:::link|text=Book your tickets for the Madame Tussauds Museum|element=pa-666:::

General or standard admission

One of the recreated scenes from Star Wars
One of the recreated scenes from Star Wars

With this ticket you will have access to the museum through a faster line than other visitors. As well as enjoying a tour of the entire wax figure exhibition, general admission to Madame Tussauds gives you access to an interactive 4D experience alongside the Super Heroes of the Marvel Universe, or you can settle into a typical London cab as you virtually ride through the history of the city on the Spirit on London Ride.

You can also immerse yourself in the Star Wars galaxy alongside Yoda, Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia in a stunning exhibition created in collaboration with Disney and Lucas Film.

What does general admission include?

  • Fast-track entry to Madame Tussauds London
  • Access to the Marvel 4D movie
  • Ride in the Spirit of London Ride Taxi
  • Immersive Star Wars experience

What is not included in this general admission ticket?

  • Gratuities
  • Hotel pick-up and drop-off
  • Sherlock Holmes Experience (pass available for purchase there for approximately £5)

:::link|text=Book your tickets for the Madame Tussauds Museum|element=pa-666:::

Premium ticket

The British Royal Family in wax
The British Royal Family in wax

Looking for direct access to the Madame Tussauds Museum and all its activities? Get the Premium Ticket and enjoy a VIP experience. With this ticket you will skip the queues and get the most out of your visit to the museum.

The Madame Tussauds Premium Ticket opens the doors to the entire Madame Tussauds and all its immersive experiences. You can attend the Sherlock Holmes Experience, a theatrical passage full of actors, sound effects and emotions that will transport you to the universe of the most famous detective in history.

The force will accompany you on your journey to a galaxy far, far away in the interactive exhibition of some of the most iconic scenes and characters of the Star Wars saga.

Finally, you can enjoy free popcorn while watching a 4D movie with the legendary characters from the Marvel comics and travel through the key episodes and places of London's history aboard a typical cab on the Spirit London Ride.

What does the Premium Ticket include?

  • Direct entry to the Madame Tussauds Museum
  • Access to the Sherlock Holmes Experience
  • Fast track access to the Spirit of London Ride
  • Free popcorn during the Marvel 4D Experience
  • Fast track access to the Star Wars Experience

What is not included in the Premium Ticket?

  • Drinks
  • Souvenirs
  • Pick up and drop off at the hotel.

:::link|text=Book your tickets for the Madame Tussauds Museum|element=pa-666:::

London Explorer Pass and other passes

London Eye| ©Bruno Abatti
London Eye| ©Bruno Abatti

There is also a third possibility to access the Madame Tussauds museum, which I encourage you to consider if you are going to spend several days in the city. As you will find out in this other article I have written on London Passa tourist pass is really practical, as it includes access to the main attractions of London saving a lot of time in queues and quite a lot of money in tickets.

The London Explorer Pass is the must-have pass in London, as it offers the possibility to choose up to 7 attractions out of the 31 available, including Madam Tussauds.

The Magic London Pass, on the other hand, is the best pass for family travel as it includes access to 5 dream attractions: the London Eye, the spooky rides at the London Dungeon, the fun adventures of Shrek's Adventure and the amazing London Aquarium at SEA LIFE London.

Vicky's Top Traveller Tip

Consider purchasing a tourist pass to save on your trip if you want to visit other attractions such as the London Eye.

The best sections of Madame Tussauds

Figure of Albert Einstein| ©Luke Rauscher
Figure of Albert Einstein| ©Luke Rauscher

As for the distribution of the Madame Tussauds museum, I will tell you that it is divided into several thematic sections, all equally interesting, but I leave them here so you can organize your visit, emphasizing the characters that you most want to know.

Explore

This is the collection that includes immersive experiences in the Marvel and Star Wars universes and where you can see the singer Dua Lipa and Princes Harry and Meghan up close;

Our Stars

It features characters from the spheres of film, social life and music and where you'll verify the measurements of the quarters on which Kim Kardashian rests. You will take selfies with the incombustible Beyoncé, the delicate Audrey Hepburn and two of nature's primes like George Clooney and Brad Pitt, among many others.

Culture and History

Here you will travel through history through its Spirit of London Ride and the looks of some of the characters that marked it, such as Albert Einstein, Hitler, Van Gogh or Nelson Mandela, besides being able to compare your height on a catwalk with some of the biggest top models in the world, such as Cara Delevigne.

Other experiences

Thanks to this section, you can come face to face with the dreaded Alien or King Kong and his animatronic head, over 5 meters tall, and become Sherlock Holmes or a real YouTuber for a day.

:::link|text=Book your tickets for the Madame Tussauds Museum|element=pa-666:::

A little bit of history about Madame Tussauds

Representation of the Royal Family
Representation of the Royal Family

Who would have thought centuries ago that Marie Tussauds, born in France, would end up becoming one of the most popular names in the world when she learned to mold in wax while working as a housekeeper. From her first exhibition in 1776 at the Royal Palace in Paris, her success was such that she was called to work as art teacher to the sister of King Louis XVI and ended up living in the Palace of Versailles itself!

When her mentor died, Tussauds inherited his entire collection of wax figures and her fame and recognition gave her the nickname of Madame Tussauds and to inaugurate and install, in 1884, what today is the largest collection of figures of celebrities in the world, the Madame Tussauds Museum.

:::link|text=Book your tickets for the Madame Tussauds Museum|element=pa-666:::

Organize your visit

Madame Tussauds Building, London| ©Citizen59
Madame Tussauds Building, London| ©Citizen59

How to get to the Madame Tussauds Museum

The museum is well served by the city's public transport lines. Located on Marylebone Rd, you can reach Madame Tussauds by various combinations of subway, train or bus:

  • Subway: Baker Street Station.
  • Train: Marylebone Station is a 10-minute walk away.
  • Bus: lines 13, 18, 27, 30, 30, 74, 82, 113, 139, 189, 205, 274 and 453.

Public transport in London

The best way to get around London is with your Oyster Card, a season ticket that you can buy and recharge at any of its subway stations. Nowadays, you can also use your contact-less debit or credit card on London's public transport (subway or bus) and the fare will be deducted from your bill.

Madame Tussauds opening hours

Madame Tussauds is open every day of the week, from Monday to Sunday, but before venturing to visit check their website for opening times according to the calendar date on which you are traveling.

Within the opening hours of 8.30 am to 6.00 pm, opening times may vary according to the months and days of the year.

Services available at the Madame Tussauds Museum

  • Restrooms on each floor of the museum.
  • It is wheelchair accessible and has an elevator for the mobility of people with disabilities. Wheelchairs are available for loan, subject to reservation and availability.
  • Gift store.
  • Snack bar located in the gift store and a snack and beverage stand.
  • Luggage room, for a fee, to store items such as coats, backpacks, handbags...
  • WiFi.
  • Baby changing facilities.

:::link|text=Book your tickets to Madame Tussauds Museum|element=pa-666:::

Surroundings of Madame Tussauds

Sherlock Holmes House Museum| ©Elliott Brown
Sherlock Holmes House Museum| ©Elliott Brown

Marylebone

As if that were not enough, you can take advantage of your visit to the Madame Tussauds museum to visit other attractions offered by the district in which it is located, Marylebone. This area, south of Regent's Park, has the largest concentration of Georgian houses in London. Several terraced houses by John Nash, the famous English architect, embellish the southern end of the busiest royal park in the city.

Regent's Park

To complete a perfect day of sightseeing and relax a little after your long tour of the museum, you can not miss a visit to Regent's Park, less than 900 meters from Madame Tussauds. Its beautiful Queen Mary's Gardens are fabulous to spend a pleasant summer afternoon, as well as its lake, with a variety of waterfowl.

The Sherlock Holmes House Museum

Just 200 meters from the museum, at 221b Baker Street, you can discover where Arthur Conan Doyle's most perceptive detective ever lived. Converted into an exhibition, the Sherlock Holmes Museum building, dating from 1815, is furnished exactly like the apartment described in the books.

Marble Arch

Moving a little further away, but only a kilometer away from Madame Tussauds, you can discover the Marble Arch, a great triumphal arch that witnesses a whirlwind of daily traffic and, also designed by John Nash in 1827, once served as the entrance to Buckingham Palace.

Oxford Street

If you have shopping to do, take the opportunity to stop by London's 'Fifth Avenue'. A little more than 1 kilometer from Madame Tussauds, on Oxford Street, you will find almost anything, from the most basic souvenirs to the latest fashions of great designers. It's a must-see at Christmas, when the streets are decked out in lights and decorations creating a really special atmosphere.

Vicky's Top Traveller Tip

Take advantage of your visit to Madame Tussauds to discover its surroundings: a wonderful park and a typical English neighborhood that tourists always overlook.

If you are interested in Madame Tussauds, you might also be interested in

I hope I have solved all your doubts about the museum, how to organize your visit, the best of its surroundings... But if you are thinking of visiting any other attraction, my recommendation is that you value the London Eye. Here you have an article where I collect all the information about the London Eye. London Eye Tickets: how to buy, prices and schedules.

It is also a great idea to take a one hour cruise on the Thames, as it will allow you to rest a little after your long walks while you continue contemplating the London Skyline from the water. You have all the information in this guide on Thames River Cruises in London.

But if in addition to leisure you want to take a little more of English culture as a souvenir, I encourage you to visit other historical places like Westminster Abbey or the Tower of London. You will find all the details on how to visit them in these two articles: London Westminster Abbey Tickets: how to buy and prices y Tower of London Tickets and Tours: how to buy, prices and schedules.

:::link|text=Book your tickets to the Madame Tussauds Museum|element=pa-666:::

Frequently asked questions

  • How long does it take to visit all the Madame Tussauds in London?

    In total, it takes approximately two hours to see all the exhibits and sections of Madame Tussauds London, however there is no time limit so you can stay in the museum as long as you wish.

  • What makes the Madame Tussauds museum in London so special?

    Madame Tussauds Museum was the first wax museum, opened in 1835 and moved in 1884, and is the same museum you can visit today. While there are now more smaller Madame Tussauds wax museums around the world, Madame Tussauds London is the original wax museum, and can boast of being over 200 years old.

  • What is the best time to visit the Madame Tussauds Museum in London?

    Considering that large crowds can form at the museum, it is best to avoid Madame Tussauds on weekends, and generally the earlier in the morning the better, as you will avoid running into younger visitors who don't want to get up early. Late afternoon is also an option, but you run the risk of not being able to access the museum or of closing time arriving in the middle of your visit.