Do you enjoy electrifying experiences,terrifying stage settings and dark places ? If you do, you have to visit the museum Madame Tussauds.
It is one of the most exciting museums and a major touristic attraction in London. It has become so important that has branches in several European cities and New york, Las Vegas, Washington DC,Hong Kong, and Shangai. Since next July, Madame Tussauds Hollywood will open and you'll be able to walk by glamorous celebrities.
The museum in London presents four levels and from the main entrance an elevator takes you to the second floor where the visit begins. It has three main divisions:the Tableaux, the conservatory and the superstars' hall.
At the tableaux you'll see those involved in some of the most famous historical events such us the princes in the tower who were murdered on the order of their uncle King Richard III in 1483; Mary Queen of Scots, before her execution ;Madame du Barry and Guy Fawkes.
In the conservatory, decorated with plants and palms you'll find a display of Agatha Christie in her own clothes, the beatles in their traditional suits and Humphrey Bogart as he appeared in the movie Casablanca are exhibited.
In the third section the Superstars Daley Thompson,Dolly parton,Michael Jackson, Boy George among others are displayed.
The Grand Hall on the first floor shows Marie Antoinette's budoir at Versailles and Louis XVI, king of France, wax images made by Madame Taussuds herself. Other important personalities are Henry VIII and his six wives together with Elizabeth I, known as the Virgin queen ,Charles I and Charles II, Abraham Lincoln, Sir Winston Churchil,Charles Dickens, Shakespeare and Picasso.
In the basement, the Chamber of horror was reopened in 1980 with the addition of sound to ensure a thrilling experience to all the visitors, sighseeing different methods of execution, death masks and Victorian London settings.
From here you go to the ground where you'll find an exciting exhibit, the Battle of Trafalgar. Gun fires can be heard, creating a very vivid experience for visitors.On the same level a souvenier store, coffee shop and the planetarium await yo to have some fun before leaving.
Marie Tussaud (1761–1850) was born Marie Grosholtz in Strasbourg, France.Her mother was Dr. Phillippe Curtius's housekeeper, and this man was a physician who loved wax modelling. He taught the little girl, Marie the art of carving figures out of wax.
Marie became an expert on shaping wax figures and she was an art tutor to the king 's sister Madame Elizabeth shortly before the French revolution.
In 1795 she married Francois Tussaud who lent a new name to the show "Madame Tussauds." In 1802 she tavelled to London but couldn't go back home because of the Franco-English war.So, she travelled all over England and Ireland showing her collection.
In 1836,the exhibition got its first permanent home on Baker Street between Dorset and King streets and they have remained in that area. Since 2007, the museum has been the property of a company called Merlin Entertainments.
After this introduction to what you can see at Madame Tussauds, I'm sure you're ready to enjoy this wondeful museum, take pictures and hold a celebrety or historical personality's hand though they are a bit cold.
Have a look at some pictures an video herevideo