Basic moments
About 2.5 million people visit the famous London museum every year. This figure speaks for itself: the interest in the unique collection is enormous. The characters presented at Madame Tussauds are always relevant. They reflect our past and present, while remaining above time and perceived as part of global history. The collections collected by Madame Tussaud and her followers teach us tolerance, the ability to appreciate different eras from the outside and do it objectively and unbiasedly.
Of course, the exposition is not educational nature, and in this regard, Madame Tussauds in London is inferior to the Louvre in Paris or the State Hermitage in St. Petersburg. But visitors from all over the world come here not for new knowledge, but to look at famous figures and their own idols. Moreover, for many this is not entertainment, but the only opportunity to realize their secret dream of seeing them, if not live, then at least in copies as close as possible to the originals, to look them in the eye. Man is designed in such a way that he always strives for the stars. And it doesn’t matter that they are on Earth and made of wax...
Who is Madame Tussauds?
It would be wrong to talk about the museum without telling about its founder. Who is she, Madame Tussauds? As it turned out, he is a person with an original and rich biography.
Marie Tussaud, born Anna Maria Grosholtz, was born on December 1, 1761 in Strasbourg, in poor family. Her father died in the Seven Years' War shortly before her daughter was born. In this city at that time, Dr. Philip Curtis lived and worked, in whose house our heroine’s mother worked as a housekeeper. He was engaged in making wax models, completely devoting himself to his favorite work. The girl watched him and showed interest. He readily shared the secrets of his craft with her, taught and mentored her, seeing that she had more than just childish curiosity.
In 1765, Monsieur Curtis made a truly masterpiece - a wax figure of the mistress of the “Sun King” Louis XIV, Marie Jeanne Dubary. Five years later, Maria’s teacher presented his first collection to the public, which subsequently enjoyed great popularity. The following exhibitions were organized in Paris: in 1776 at the Palais Royal, in 1782 on the Boulevard du Temple. Around the same time, the future Madame Tussauds began to make herself known. Her first work was a wax copy of Voltaire, made in 1777. She was followed by models of Jean-Jacques Rousseau and Benjamin Franklin.
She also created posthumous casts of members of the royal Bourbon dynasty, overthrown during the Great French Revolution 1789. In 1794, an event occurred that became a turning point in her fate: Philip Curtis and a rich collection died suddenly. wax figures passed to her. This was a reward for thirty years of devotion, for assistance in organizing the doctor’s exhibitions and managing his affairs. In 1795, Maria married engineer Francois Tussaud. The marriage produced two sons: Joseph and Francois. However, this union did not become happy. Her husband began to abuse alcohol and became addicted to cards, in which he lost almost everything she earned at exhibitions.
In 1802, having decided to leave her hopelessly degenerate husband, Madame Tussaud moved to London with her collection. But a year later, another Anglo-French war began, which closed her path to returning to her homeland. Maria decided to tour with her exhibition throughout Great Britain and Ireland, and this continued until 1835, until, on the urgent advice of her sons, she decided to “settle down” at a permanent address. The famous sculptor died in her sleep on April 18, 1850 at the age of 88, leaving behind a one-of-a-kind wax museum. Subsequently, branches of Madame Tussauds opened in cities such as Amsterdam and Washington, New York and Hong Kong, Las Vegas and Copenhagen, Berlin and Shanghai, Vienna and Los Angeles.
Excursion into the history of the museum
In 1835, the London authorities allocated premises to Mary on the famous Baker Street, known to us from Conan Doyle’s works about Sherlock Holmes. One of the central places in the museum was occupied by the so-called “Cabinet of Horrors”, the predecessor of which was the already mentioned exhibition on the Parisian Boulevard du Temple. In the adjacent rooms there are figures of those who fell during the French Revolution, as well as murderers and other criminals whose names were well known at that time. Subsequently, the collection was replenished with models of other famous people. For example, permanent “registration” was received here worldwide famous writer Walter Scott and the famous British Vice Admiral Horatio Nelson (in wax, of course).
Initially, the total number of figures did not exceed three dozen, and they looked as if they were alive. However, then the realism began to be lost, as the quality of the material deteriorated over time. Finding a way to extend the life of models became task number one. And it was found and patented. Since then, nothing has threatened the figures, except for the big fire that happened in 1925 and the devastating German air raids in 1941. After this, the museum had to be restored from ruins, this was done by Tussaud’s great-grandchildren. Then he was already at a new address - in the Marylebone area.
Madame Tussauds: what to see?
The first thing a visitor to the famous treasury of wax masterpieces will have to face is... a queue. It is truly huge and seems endless. But you won’t have to wait too long: 30-40 minutes, and now you’re at the ticket office, where you can buy the coveted ticket. At the entrance, guests are greeted by the figure of a thin elderly woman in black, but with a kind face and round glasses on her nose. Meet Madame Tussauds herself. More precisely, a self-portrait sculpture that the founder of the museum personally sculpted from wax - just don’t be surprised! - at the age of 81. She seems to invite you to enter.
So, let's enter... In front of us are several thematic halls, throughout which exhibits are dispersed. See everything for a short time It won’t work, it will take two or three hours, or even more. All the figures in Madame Tussauds are so remarkable that you literally want to photograph each one as a souvenir. You can also take your own photo with a celebrity in the background, so make sure your camera has enough charge before the excursion. And try not to use it up on the World Arena, the largest hall, where figures of politicians and cultural figures are collected, covering the period from the Middle Ages to the present day. The oldest of them cause special awe, because they were made by Madame Tussaud herself.
Oscar Wilde and William Shakespeare, Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain and her husband Prince Philip, Princess Diana and her sons Princes William and Harry, Duchess of Cambridge Kate Middleton - this is not a complete list of famous people whose figures are in this room. Moreover, in the other half of it the most important political and religious figures, whose decisions had an impact noticeable influence on the course of human history. Among them are the most famous British Prime Minister Winston Churchill and the odious Nazi leader Adolf Hitler, Indira Gandhi, who died from the bullets of Sikh separatists, and the former French leader Nicolas Sarkozy. The setting of the famous Oval Office in the White House is even recreated around the figure of the 44th President of the United States, Barack Obama. There is a figure to the left of the American colleague Russian President Vladimir Putin, remaining calm and balanced.
The most famous hall of Madame Tussauds London is the “Chamber of Terror”. The name itself suggests that it is preferable for children under 12 years of age, expectant mothers and people with a labile psyche not to come here. The exhibits collected here show us the dark and frankly bloody pages of human history. Medieval torture instruments are the most harmless thing you can see here. The severed heads of all eight wives of the English King Henry inspire real horror. VIII Tudor, figures of notorious murderers and maniacs, “famous” for their terrible crimes throughout the world.
The museum staff also adds adrenaline and thrills. They, dressed in black, suddenly emerge from the darkness and grab the hands of visitors. If they hit a woman, a loud squeal is guaranteed. However, such “special effects” do not stop other tourists who, in pursuit of thrills express a desire... to stay here overnight. 100 pounds sterling in the cash register - and the dream comes true. And they say there are plenty of such brave souls.
Another part of the World Arena hall will help you take your mind off politics and horror. It is dedicated to music and musicians. Here on the sofa sat the famous Liverpool four, the Beatles. Robbie Williams and Freddie Mercury in company with Jimi Hendrix and Beyoncé seem to be looking somewhere in auditorium and expect applause. And here comes flirtatious Christina Aguilera, ready to give an autograph. In the gaze of Justin Timberlake, a nine-time Grammy winner, one can read incredulity: maybe it just seemed like it? Placido Domingo, as befits a legend opera stage, aristocratically positioned himself a little away from everyone.
Let's look into the next hall of Madame Tussauds. It's called "A List Party." It’s as if the world’s celebrities have gathered here in an elite club for the elite. Inseparable Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt are sitting at the same table with George Clooney. Near - star couple David and Victoria Beckham. Fans of the acclaimed disaster film Titanic are happy to shake hands with Leonardo DiCaprio, who played the role of Jack Dawson. There are many people who want to get a photo with Robert Pattinson, who played Edward Cullen in the Twilight vampire saga. There is no end to those who want to take a closer look at erotic forms American actress Jennifer Lopez.
“Premiere Night” has become a real mecca for film buffs – a hall where wax figures of American Hollywood stars are collected. The gaze immediately focuses on Arnold Schwarzenegger, who is presented in the image of his cult hero Terminator. There are also copies of Michael Douglas, Jim Carrey, and Harrison Ford here. The stars of the Indian “dream factory” are not deprived of attention either. The famous Bollywood is represented by the figures of such actors as Amitabh Bachchan, Aishwarya Rai, Shah Rukh Khan, Mathuri Dixit, Salman Khan, Hrithik Roshan. The last one, one of the most sexy actors India, is one of the ten most kissed sculptures at Madame Tussauds in London.
Side by side with statues of real actors are copies of cartoon characters: Spider-Man, Hulk, Shrek. Other characters can be seen at Madame Tussauds Marvel comics Comics. They were filmed in a 10-minute 3D film that was loved by both children and adults. Moving chairs, wind and even real splashes add realism to the animated action.
Features of creating shapes
The wax figures at Madame Tussauds are not only impressive - they literally shock you with their realism. Celebrities often take pictures here with their doubles and display them in social media. When examining them, it is not always possible to distinguish a living person from a museum clone. This similarity is the result of the painstaking work of a team of talented craftsmen, whose hands create real works of art.
Before starting work, they carefully take all measurements. Stars of politics and art sometimes stay with sculptors for several hours. But they steadfastly endure this routine, because being immortalized in wax is considered an honor.
But what if the prototype of the future model is no longer alive? Who to take measurements from? In such cases, photographs come to the rescue.
The actual production of the sculpture begins with the choice of pose and its fixation. This stage is done without wax: the legs are made of hard metals, and the arms are made of malleable aluminum. In a week, when the frame is ready, it will be covered with a layer of clay. Wax parts are then cast from the casts based on it. The better the cast, the more realistic the future exhibit.
Then purified beeswax, heated to 74 degrees, is poured into clay molds, into which dye is mixed to give it a natural shade of human skin. The final stage is called “cosmetic”: irregularities and burrs are removed from the cooled surface of the figure. Work on one model usually lasts more than a month, so the collection of Madame Tussauds in London is replenished slowly, only 15-20 copies a year. The cost of each is 50 thousand dollars and above.
Opening hours, directions, tickets
The location of Madame Tussauds has remained unchanged for almost a century and a half; this is the Marylebone area - one of the most fashionable in the capital Foggy Albion. Full address in English: Marylebone Road, London, NW1 5LR.
The building that houses the exhibits was formerly a planetarium, and is located near Regent’s Park, located between the historic district of Westminster and the London borough of Camden.
Nearest metro station: Baker Street. You can get there by bus. Route numbers: 3, 13, 18, 27, 30, 74, 82, 113 and 274.
Madame Tussauds London welcomes visitors every day. On weekdays it is open from 10:00 to 17:30, on Saturdays and Sundays from 9:30 to 17:30, and on holidays until 18:00. The tourist season makes its own adjustments to the schedule: in July-September it is open until 19:00.
The cost of visiting varies and depends on many circumstances. On the official website www.madametussauds.com tickets can be purchased with a 25% discount. If you pay at the cash register, you will have to pay the full price.
Significant savings await those who decide to visit the museum in the evening. It is difficult to say what this is connected with, but the fact remains. Tours after 5pm cost just £15.
Madame Tussauds Wax Museum is one of the most popular in the world. The central office is in London, but there are currently 19 branches around the globe.
The very first branch was opened in 1971 in Amsterdam - Madame Tussauds Amsterdam.
The collection at that time consisted of 20 figures. Today there are already about 50 of them. Moreover, every year the number of exhibits grows, and the storylines become more and more numerous.
The figures are made in full height and many bear a striking resemblance to the originals. It is natural to say how similar the wax Rembrandt is to his own real character difficult. But the figures of famous actors and musicians or great athletes or famous politicians It is quite possible for anyone to appreciate it.
Moreover, you can not only photograph the museum exhibits, but also touch, hug, and pat on the shoulder. Original, well-thought-out interior design, music and sound, unexpected effects - all this will leave a lot of impressions and, if desired, a huge number of photographs.
Among the shortcomings, two can be noted:
- There are always a lot of people in all the halls and in order to take a photo with one or another character you will have to stand in line.
- The ticket price (22.5 euros) can hardly be called affordable.
Back in 1770, the first exhibition of wax figures took place in France. The works of Dr. Philip Curtis, who served at the court of Louis XV, were presented to the general public. These were figures of famous people, including the king and his young wife.
One day, when she was almost a child, Maria Tussaud, the daughter of Curtis’s housekeeper, entered the workshop and what she saw amazed her and captivated her, as it turned out, for life. The doctor, seeing such strong interest, began to teach 6 - year old girl the craft of creating wax sculptures. First famous work Mary is the figure of the famous French philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau, who brought her fame and popularity. Orders began to arrive. Next came the figures of Voltaire and the American politician Benjamin Fanklin.
The revolution in France made certain adjustments to the girl’s work. Marie Tussaud made a large number of wax masks of French celebrities whose lives were cut short by the guillotine.
After the death of the master and mentor, Maria became the owner of a rather interesting collection. Having taken all the pieces, Maria moves to London. For a long time she has been traveling around England with a traveling exhibition. And in 1835 he opened his own museum on Baker Street, which 50 years later moved to Marylebone Street.
In 1925, as a result of a fire, most of the exhibits became unusable. But since the forms of the models remained, and the exhibition itself was very popular, it was decided to restore the exhibits. A few years later, the museum was again open to everyone. And at the end of the twentieth century there was a wave of opening branches in many tourist meccas of the world.
Exposition
Madame Tussauds Amsterdam is the oldest of all the branches. Each room is dedicated to a specific topic. It is worth noting that the museum has a certain national flavor.
At the entrance, visitors are greeted by a pirate who introduces them to the history of Amsterdam and takes them back to the era of the Great Geographical Discoveries. At a time when Holland, along with England, was the queen of the oceans. Everything is done in compliance with proportions and even the most small detail The interior is carefully thought out and masterfully executed.
Also, peasants and artisans in national costumes create a special atmosphere. Of the familiar faces - the greatest representative of the Golden Age Dutch painting Rembrandt Harmens van Rijn.
The next person to meet everyone is Madame Tussaud herself. This is an elderly serious lady in a dress victorian era. She strictly examines all visitors through round glasses.
Then meaningful encounters with the past and present begin. You can recognize someone right away. Some faces are unknown to the Russian public, and the similarity of some figures to the original is very distant.
It is worth arming yourself with a camera or video camera. Since you can take pictures everywhere (except for the hall of horrors). You can touch the exhibits - this makes it possible to take unforgettable and original photographs.
In a room with a galaxy of bright politicians, it is worth taking a photo with Vladimir Ilyich Lenin, the leader of the world proletariat, or with Mikhail Sergeevich Gorbachev. If you don’t recognize Russian authorities, then shake hands with the spiritual mentor of Buddhists - the Dalai Lama or the smiling Barack Obama. “Chat” with European monarchs, such as Her Majesty Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands or beautiful lady Di.
Receive the blessing from Pope Benedict XVI.
It is also impossible to remain indifferent and pass by the most eccentric celebrities: extravagant artists Salvador Dali and Van Gogh, physicist Albert Einstein.
But the biggest queues to take photos as souvenirs line up for pop (rock) stars and actors. This is where there is the widest field for imagination - you won’t see any funny options. Sometimes, while you are studying a wax sculpture, you get great pleasure from all sorts of ideas being photographed:
- And they manage to look under Marilyn Monroe’s skirt and hug Angelina Jolie in different places (all this in front of the waxen Brad Pitt).
- You can have coffee with George Clooney over a pleasant conversation or try to beat David Beckham.
- Why not walk famous moonwalk with Michael Jackson, or not to “fun” rock and roll with Elvislam Presley.
- Capture yourself with the Mona Lisa.
- Hold the hand of “beautiful” Julia Roberts.
There is also always a line to the horror room, where interactive maniacs of all times will greet you. The administration of the museum and the visitors themselves recommend that impressionable people, pregnant women and children avoid this part of the exhibition; fortunately, there is a special path that allows you to view the rest of the museum’s exhibition without entering this room.
The museum has a mini-workshop where you can try yourself as a sculptor and create a keepsake figurine from soft, pliable wax.
Practical information
Address: Dam 20, 1012 JS Amsterdam
Ticket price: Adults = 22.5 euros, children from 5 to 15 years old = 18.5 euros, children from 0 to 4 years old = free.
By purchasing a ticket online on the official website of the museum www.madametussauds.com, you get a discount of about 2 euros.
On the website you can get acquainted with various price offers, depending on your preferences, you can choose additional program and buy a walk along the canals of Amsterdam or another visit to 1-2 museums. This combination ticket will help you save some money.
Opening hours: from 10.00 to 18.30.
After 18.00 the museum is open only for exits.
Read to the end! Please rate
The legendary Madame Tussauds is a unique collection of wax figures in London, with numerous branches in Hong Kong, Amsterdam, New York, Copenhagen and Las Vegas. It is quite often called nothing more than an “attraction for tourists”, since numerous queues and a constant shortage of tickets cause precisely this association. The museum houses more than 1,000 exhibits, so viewing the entire exhibition will take you more than an hour.
A little history...
The history of the creation of the wax museum is very interesting. After the death of her husband, the mother of Marie Tussaud (the founder of the exhibition) worked as a housekeeper in the house of the master of wax figures, Philip Curtis. Little Maria was lucky enough to become an apprentice to F. Curtis and learn not only how to create masterpieces, but also how to run a business. After the death of the maestro, the figures became the property of his ward, Marie Tussaud.
With a mobile collection of wax figures (which included both her own masterpieces and the works of master F. Curtis) Maria for a long time traveled all over England. Only in 1835, at the insistence of her sons, M. Tussaud opened a permanent exhibition.
Initially, about thirty figures were exhibited, which after a three-year period lost their realism. Despite the small number of exhibits, the exhibition had resounding success. Particularly popular was the wax “Cabinet of Horrors,” which contained plausible pictures of death and inhuman suffering, as well as figures of real murderers and other legendary criminals.
Only after the death of their mother (1850) did the sons invent the newest way preparation of wax, which allowed the figures not only to “extend their life”, but also to replenish the collection. In 1884 the museum moved to Maryblen Road, where it remains today.
These amazing sculptures
The figures at Madame Tussauds are not limited to historical figures. There are exhibits here that reflect changes in the world around us. In the museum you can take pictures with wax figures legendary singers, musicians, politicians, comedians and scientists. It is noteworthy that at the entrance to the museum there is a portrait of Marie Tussaud, which she created during her lifetime.
Some of the relatively new wax figures are: Britney Spears, Paris Hilton, Hugh Jackman in the guise of Wolverine, Barack Obama, Nicole Kidman, Chuck Liddell, George Bush, Kate Winslet, Tony Siragusa, Kareena Kapoor, Madonna, Johnny Depp and many others. etc. It is noteworthy that the museum contains a copy of the famous white bull terrier, nicknamed Bullseye. In fact, this is the first wax sculpture of an animal at Madame Tussauds.
In the wax exhibition, tourists are still attracted by realistic figures of legendary criminals and famous killers.
This is how wax masterpieces are created
The art studio has been creating wax masterpieces for over 150 years. A close-knit team of sculptors, consisting of twenty people, works to complete each exhibit. But, despite the skilled labor of quite a large number of people, the creation of a masterpiece takes at least four months. Each hair on the sculpture is inserted one at a time, and thanks to numerous layers of paint, a natural skin tone is created. That is why wax sculptures have been renowned for their indistinguishable resemblance to living originals for over a hundred years.
Useful information for tourists
Before Donald Trump became President of the United States (the inauguration ceremony had not yet taken place), his figure was already ready at Madame Tussauds in London - “Do you want to take a photo with Mr. President? Yes please!". You can even give Trump a hug and a familiar pat on the back - this is not forbidden in the Museum. As they say, every whim is for your money.
Madame Tussauds museum- one of the most popular museums in London, ranking in the top twenty entertainment places in the British capital. Even if you (suddenly!) don’t like looking at wax copies of celebrities, visiting a museum with more than 250 years of history in an ancient building - why not feel the atmosphere of “good old England”, which all visiting tourists want to feel in one way or another?
Madame Tussauds' first museum was located on Baker Street (the same street where Arthur Conan Doyle settled Sherlock Holmes), but then, after the death of the sculptor Marie Tussaud in 1850, his sons and heirs moved the exhibition to an area nearby, on Marylebone Road, where it remains to this day.
In this regard Getting to Madame Tussauds Wax Museum in London is easy: You need to get off at the Baker Street subway station, it's easy to remember. The museum is just a couple of minutes walk from the metro, any Baskerville dog can tell you there.
Alternatively, you can take the train to Marylebone Station (10 minute walk to the Museum), as well as city buses 13, 18, 27, 30, 74, 82, 113, 139, 189, 205, 274 and 453.
It is better to check the Museum’s opening hours in the calendar on its website; they vary depending on the season.
Who can you see at the Museum in London?
Naturally, the main and oldest museum in the world under the Madame Tussauds brand in London holds the mark of the best. This is where the Studio is located, in which a large team of specialists from different fields produces figures. Creating characters since Marie Tussaud made her first models in late XVIII- the beginning of the 19th century, changed dramatically.
