Madame Tussauds
 

I'm going to England for a holiday in April some time with my son and granddaughter. My granddaughter really wants to go to Madame Tussauds. Rick Steeves, the travel guy, says its expensive "but dang good". I checked and it looked like for the three of us it would cost the equivalent of $150 for the day.

Somewhere or other on the Internet I found an offer that was cheaper, it was Madame Tussauds and the London Eye. Does anyone else know of any websites that would give us a break on Madame Tussauds. I would really like to go on the London Eye. I am scared of heights but I think I could handle that - probably better than going up the Eiffel Tower in an elevator - I am not keen on fast trips skyward!

My son said he didn't want to spend ages on the London Eye but I think it only takes half an hour doesn't it?

Any tips gratefully received!

Re: Madame Tussauds
 

Yes a "flight" (as they call it) on the London eye is about half an hour and well worth it. But Madame Tussauds? WHY??? Really, what's the attraction? Why do so many people who visit London, one of the world's greatest cities (if not THE greatest) for culture, art, history, and entertainment seem to put paying a fortune to gawp at a load of wax dummies top of their to do list. I will never understand this.

Re: Madame Tussauds
 

Agreed, the cost becomes almost prohibitive so I hate to think what it would cost to go to the top of the Eiffel Tower. I was at Madame Tussauds in 1979 and the Eiffel Tower twice, in 1968 and 1953.

I seem to recall that many years ago both were reasonably priced.

I thought Tussauds was excellent but I enjoyed the Tower of London more.

Re: Madame Tussauds
 

Go to the British Museum instead.

It's free and infinitely more interesting.

Your granddaughter will love the Egyptian mummies, and much else besides.

:)

PS: Agree with MM - the Tower is another must!

Re: Madame Tussauds
 

Hi
If your family in the UK collect "clubcard" points from Tesco or Nectar (Sainsburys) it is often cheaper to redeem their points for vouchers for these types of attractions - you can get a tussauds annual pass which also covers chessington, alton towers and warwick castel i think.

Also, for 2 for 1 London attractions check this site out:
http://www.daysoutguide.co.uk/
you can 2 for 1 entry to a lot of attractions up town if you have a rail ticket.

Cheers
Flossie

Re: Madame Tussauds
 

Well, to tell you the truth, I would never both with Madame Tussauds. I would rather go to any one of the free museums. I do, however, draw the line at the Tate Modern! It's just not my style of art. My son and his wife both have Fine Arts degrees and my son wanted to go there. The building was spectacular I have to admit, but I don't think that a square of cindercrete blocks would qualify as art. Well, it was actually two layers of blocks - maybe not cindercrete - but they sure as heck looked like it to me. I would go to the Tate though.

I am actually trying to talk her out of it. St. Pauls would be better value for money in my opinion. I haven't been to the Victoria and Albert for years. I would prefer that. I have absolutely no idea why she decided she wanted to go to Madame Tussauds - I think it's a waste of money. Rick Steeves may think its good, but then he has pots of money and I don't. I guess if my son and his daughter wanted to spend their money, I wouldn't have to go in with them.

Re: Madame Tussauds
 

Then I doubt whether you will be impressed with 'voice of fire' for which we all paid close to two million dollars in 1989 (a lot of money back in those days). I recall being scandalized when it was purchased, yet others insisted we got a bargain.

Go figure

http://temagami.carleton.ca/jmc/cnews/22101999/c1c.htm

Re: Madame Tussauds
 

London Dungeon, it's on tower bridge, it's much cheaper and a lot more fun...seriously, better value for money....and you don't have to queue for hours to get inside.

Re: Madame Tussauds
 

I'm guessing the appeal to the granddaughter is mostly with being able to take loads of photographs with "famous" people, albiet wax ones... thats what would appeal to me if I were a teenager again anyway :)

Re: Madame Tussauds
 

Can someone please explain to me the difference?

Re: Madame Tussauds
 

The "wax" versions make for pretty candles :)

Re: Madame Tussauds
 

Actually, that Day's Out link was really useful. I might go to Madame Tussauds if we got a two for one price!

Thanks for the tip.

Actually, your name (Flossie) reminded me of a cute story that has absolutely nothing to do with Madame Tussauds!!

My nephew's three year old is also called Flossie. She was to be a horse in the Nativity Play. She came home and said to her Mom that she was going to be a dog instead, becuase she had the costume! Her Mom said "You don't have a dog costume!" "Yes I do - I was Scooby Doo at Halloween!"

So Flossie went back to play school and announced that she was going to be Scooby Doo in the Nativity Play. Whereupon the boy who was to be Joseph, decided he would far rather wear his Spiderman outfit! So now they have Scooby, Spiderman, and the three Wise Queens - because there weren't enough boys!!

Re: Madame Tussauds
 

Thank god you clarified that last bit, I was shocked at first thinking the boys knew WAY too much too soon :eek:

Re: Madame Tussauds
 

LOL!

Re: Madame Tussauds
 

Actually, they have all sorts there and the building is spectacular - you wouldn't get the sense of it from pictures - it has sheer scale inside. I went there when there was a light depicting the sun and clouds and it really was fab - failing to describe this properly.

http://arts.guardian.co.uk/news/stor...063863,00.html

I also walked the river up the South Bank and there are interesting shops and galleries in places like the OXO building.

Covent Garden and Camden Market are good for crafts and little shops.

Re: Madame Tussauds
 

Go to the National Gallery for free and the paintings are well worth looking at, some even take your breath away.
If a member of your party gets bored and you decide to leave you won't feel as though you have wasted your money.

Re: Madame Tussauds
 

I wouldnt pay to go to Madame Tussauds, I lived in London for 26 years and only went the once as it was a free dinner/disco thing. It was good, but not worth all the £££, and tho the models are very impressive they just dont come across well in the photos your friends take of you hugging Lenin, Bill Clinton, Jean Luc Picard. So disappointing.

The Natural History Museum and Science Museums have great interactive stuff, kids really enjoy it there, and so do grown-ups. The Science Museum has an IMAX cinema too, not feature films but amazing short films showing of the IMAX effects.

The London Eye is said tobe very good, and worth the ££ and i have had very good reports of the London Dungeon but as I scare easily i havent been.

Whereabouts in England are you staying? perhaps we can suggest something local?

Re: Madame Tussauds
 

I always stay with my sister near Maidstone. I am trying to talk them into going to Leeds Castle. I was there a couple of years ago, but I would do it again. We also want to go to Dover Castle and see the stuff from the last war. We got there too late last time - at least I did - my son hasn't been to England since he was about 4 and my granddaughter was only 5 when I took her the last time and can't remember much.

It's not me that wants to see Madame Tussauds - its them. When I was there last year with my older son and his wife, we did the Big Bus tour and that was really good. Even though I lived in Purley and worked in London - that was 35 years ago and it was nice to do the tour. I went to places I had never been to when I lived there.

Re: Madame Tussauds
 

I think you are right there, you rarely do the touristy things when you live somewhere- unless you have people to show round so maybe thats why i didn't get to Tussauds. I've only been to Kent as a tourist and enjoyed Leeds castle very much- it shoud leb lovely in the Spring with the daffodils out. We went to Chatham dockyard and enjoyed that very much.

Anyone else with suggestions for Kent?? I hope you have a good holiday.

Re: Madame Tussauds
 

The thing about Madame Tussauds is two-fold - for starters if I had to see things in London, wandering around looking at lifesize statues of Brad Pitt would not be my idea of typical London. I don't know that Brad Pitt is there, but I wouldn't mind betting! Also, my granddaughter will be nearly 14 then. I know her. We will pay a bunch of money and within ten minutes she will be saying how boring it is and can we go and do something else. That is fine if it's free, but MT is pretty darn expensive.

I like walking around. Covent Garden always has really neat stores. And walking up Regent Street and around Soho in the evening - that is something you can't do anywhere else and besides which - its free!

I also like shopping in Cranbrook - it has some really neat stores but maybe nothing that would appeal to a 14 year old. Maybe she can stay at my sister's and chat to her friends on MSN Messenger!!!

I've heard that Whitstable is a neat place too. Never been there. And Rye is one of my favourite places and Camber Sands. We used to go to Camber Sands all the time and party on the beach all night!

Re: Madame Tussauds
 

I've heard of parties at Camber Sands! :eek: I see you in a new light!
We enjoyed Whitstable but I think a 14 yr old would be bored silly. Theres always Brighton, very trendy and buzzy lots of little shops and with the Pavilion for culture.

Re: Madame Tussauds
 

Get a day ticket for all-regions tube travel. Get to see some classic Victorian architecture and marvel at how a once-world class city has deteriorated to look like some eastern-European underworld Gulag complete with authentic gothic/zombie population strung out on various sedatives. Mind the rats though.

Rich.

Re: Madame Tussauds
 

"I've heard of parties at Camber Sands! I see you in a new light!"

Well those were a long time ago, but if you heard of a bunch of people who had had quite a bit to drink and then stole those red lights from the night watchman's shed - or around the hole in the roadworks and then demolished the fence to make a fire . . . it wasn't us!!!

Re: Madame Tussauds
 

As long as you're down there, Bodium is a lovely castle, four towers, a moat, what a kid would draw.

Re: Madame Tussauds
 

Coincidentally I am right now watching TV5, a French channel (from Europe which we get by cable in Montreal). They are now showing a program on another museum. I checked it out on google and admission price is quite reasonable.

(As I type I am watching Celine Dion in the flesh admiring Celine Dion in wax)

http://www.grevin.com/english/tarifs.asp

Re: Madame Tussauds
 

Yes, Bodiam Castle was one thing I suggested. Also, the train ride from Tenderden is really neat too - specially as we don't have any passenger trains here!

A couple of photos from last year. A view from the top of a turret - and my son - also on a turret.