Madame Tussauds 250th Birthday - London

A bit random for a website called My Favourite Books to have an article about Madame Tussauds but we were invited along to this special event - part of celebrating their 250th birthday - and we thought, why not.  A lovely MFB outing is called for.

Mark, Sarah, her husband Andy and I met up in town for the event.  Sarah had been as a child and remember crying at the Dalek they had on display.  Andy and I had never been and Mark and I attended last year when they showcased their Marvel exhibit and new 4D movie.

The evening was great fun.  Once all the day visitors had left, the staff checked and tidied the exhibition and let the invited lucky few in.  And by lucky few, I mean just that.  There were maybe 100 of us - I am bad with numbers - so it was really empty and everyone got to get up close and personal with superheroes, A list stars, monsters and famous people.

Here are some photos we took on the night.

Sarah and Daniel R

Bond and M

Mark and Nicole

Bruce baby, aka the actor who looks like my brother in law, Shayne

Rob and Liz (please note the super short hair)

Captain Jack Johnny Sparrow

Mark being punched by Jonah Lomu 

Fist to face with Mohamed Ali 

Wills and Sarah - it's true love!

My heroes

Bob Marley

Freddie - you are still the best

Jimi - too fast, too soon

Captain America

IronMan

Mark and some sweary mofo dude called Nick Fury 

Sean Connery 

Morgan Freeman 

Russell Brand - freakishly life-like

Colin Firth being sculpted

Johnny is so awesome I had to put another picture up

Before I ever attended Madame Tussauds I never thought it would be this much fun - and it is!  You admire the artistry that's gone into making these figures, how everything is copied in minute detail and exactly how on the spot some of them are.  It was fantastic having the chance to chat to the one artist who sat there, sculpting and modelling Colin Firth's head and hearing how it is done.  The picture of the sculpture we have above took five weeks to reach this stage and there is still much to be done.

The staff were all lovely and encouraging us to step right up to the exhibits to have our photos taken or to take photos of them.  They looked like they were having as much fun as we were.  We were plied with drinks and canapés and cake goodness and it was lovely and fun.  I think going to Tussauds is seeing how much fun other people get to have too - especially the kids.

It was a lovely treat, and one that Team MFB thoroughly enjoyed!