What is Madame Tussauds?
Madame Tussauds is a famous wax museum in London featuring lifelike wax figures of celebrities, royals, sports stars and historical figures. It was founded by Marie Tussaud, a French wax sculptor, in the 1830s.
Marie Tussaud learned wax modeling in Paris and made death masks of victims of the French Revolution. She moved to Britain in 1802 and toured her exhibition before settling in London.
The museum opened on Baker Street in 1835 and moved to its current location on Marylebone Road in 1884.
Meeting the stars
Visitors can pose with figures of famous people, from members of the royal family to Hollywood actors, musicians and athletes.
Each figure takes months to make, with sculptors measuring the subject and matching details such as hair and eye color.
The museum also features themed areas and a ride through London's history. Madame Tussauds now has branches in cities around the world, including New York, Amsterdam and Hong Kong. It is owned by the entertainment company Merlin Entertainments.
Tickets are usually cheaper when booked online in advance.