Ripley’s Believe It Or Not London is a fun trip out when you’re visiting London. It contains bizarre and weird object from around the world.
Situated in the heart of London’s west end in Piccadilly Circus it is perfect for a trip out with kids (or without). It is very large, standing six stories tall and is absolutely jam packed full of odd things to see.
It can feel a little overwhelming to start with so we have rounded up some of our favourite things to see at Ripleys London.
Please note – this location is currently closed as of 2024 while they search for a new one so it is not possible to visit at the moment. However I hope you still enjoy reading our post of all the things it was possible to see there.
Read on for lots of inspiration from Ripley’s Believe It or Not London from when it was open. Or check out our guide to 50 of the best things to do in London if you’re looking for other things to do.
Table of Contents
Measure yourself against the World’s Tallest Man
Robert Wadlow was the world’s tallest person in recorded history. By the time of his death in 1940 he was 8ft 11 and he was constantly growing, right up until his death.
Stand next to a full size model of Wadlow to see where you would have come up to on him if you were side by side.
Feel water the temperature of the sea when the Titanic sank
Plunge your hand in to the tank of water set to the temperature of the ocean at the time the Titanic sank in 1912. It is pretty horrifying to feel, if only for a moment.
The water really is very cold. It must have been terrifying to have thrown in to the water in the darkness of an Atlantic Ocean night.
See JFK made out of moths at Ripley’s Believe it or Not London
There’s something mesmerising about this picture and let’s be honest, a little bit creepy. A picture made from moths and from a distance it’s a really good likeness to JFK.
This is a bit strange but once you start looking you can’t stop. They have a number of portraits like this, not made out of moths but of other odd items.
For example there’s also a Diana, Princess of Wales made out of lint.
Test your skills in the laser maze in the basement
Make sure you don’t miss the chance to have a go at the tricky laser maze in the basement. Here you can live out all your James Bond dreams.
This is a timed event so you can pit yourself against other visitors too which is great fun.
The views down on London
There are some wonderful views from the top floors of Ripleys Believe it or not London. They are great for photos of this picturesque area of London.
Look out of the port holes on the top floor for great views over the theatres and London buses driving past.
Get lost in the mirror maze
There’s a really fun mirror maze that is much more difficult than it looks. You have to wear gloves to pass through it (so you don’t leave marks on the glass).
This is a really fun group activity.
Michelle Obama created from bottle tops at Ripley’s Believe it or Not London
This elaborate mosaic is made from over 2000 bottle tops and weighs over 2 stone (28 lbs). Created by Molly B Right of South Carolina, USA.
Molly spends months collecting the right colour bottle tops and putting together the portrait.
Top Tips for visiting Ripley’s Believe it or Not London
- If you’re with children you can visit with a stroller/push chair very easily.
- There’s a great cafe area part way through the museum. This is a good place to rest and get refreshments, while the children can play and still look at the exhibits.
- Ripley’s Believe it or Not is in a good location in bustling central London and is a great place to spend a few hours experiencing some of the stranger sides of the world.
- It is definitely good fun for families with just so much for every age group.
- This location is currently closed. They are looking for a new place for the museum.
Frequently asked questions about visiting Ripley’s Believe it or Not London
1. When did Ripleys London close?
Unfortunately this location closed in September 2017. There still hopes to be a London location opening and we will update this post as soon as it does.
2. Is there a Ripleys in UK?
Sadly there isn’t currently Ripley’s in the UK. However they do hope to open a location in London again and we will update this page in case they can.
Check out our post on London with kids to find lots more fun things to do in the capital city.
