10 Weird and Wonderful Things at Ripley’s London

You’ll discover incredible oddities at Ripley’s London, including a life-size model of Robert Wadlow, the world’s tallest man at 8’11”. Marvel at a 4-meter Tower Bridge made from 264,345 matchsticks and Leonardo da Vinci’s “Last Supper” painted on a single grain of rice. Navigate the mirror maze, examine genuine Amazonian shrunken heads, and create digital graffiti art. You’ll also find portraits made from toast, Olympic torches, and interactive trails that’ll reveal even more extraordinary surprises.

Stand Next to the World’s Tallest Man Robert Wadlow

Imagine standing next to someone who’s nearly nine feet tall – that’s exactly what you’ll experience at Ripley’s London when you meet the life-size model of Robert Wadlow, the world’s tallest man who ever lived. You’ll find this incredible exhibit right outside the museum on Piccadilly Circus, where you can snap amazing comparison photos.

Robert reached an unbelievable 8 feet 11.1 inches tall! Born in Illinois in 1918, he was already taller than most adults by age five. His extraordinary height came from a condition that made his pituitary gland produce too much growth hormone.

Despite needing leg braces and size 37AA shoes, Robert remained kind and humble throughout his life. He enjoyed hobbies like stamp collecting and photography, though his large hands prevented him from playing guitar. Don’t miss this jaw-dropping photo opportunity during your visit!

Marvel at Tower Bridge Built From Matchsticks

When you step into Ripley’s London, you’ll discover an absolutely mind-blowing masterpiece that’ll make your jaw drop – a four-metre long Tower Bridge built entirely from matchsticks! This incredible replica contains 264,345 matchsticks and showcases amazing craftsmanship that’ll leave you wondering how anyone could create something so detailed.

You’ll find this stunning display spread across Ripley’s six floors at The London Pavilion in Piccadilly Circus. The bridge sits alongside over 700 other weird exhibits, including shrunken heads and Olympic torches. Don’t forget to grab an audio guide to learn fascinating facts while you explore!

You can visit this matchstick marvel 365 days a year from 10am to midnight, with last admission at 10:30pm. It’s perfect for amazing photos! While you’re there, challenge yourself with the Ripley’s Explorer Trail featuring 10 interactive points that test your travel knowledge.

See the Last Supper Painted on a Single Grain of Rice

Prepare to have your mind blown by one of the tiniest masterpieces you’ll ever see – Leonardo da Vinci’s “The Last Supper” painted on a single grain of rice! This incredible micro-artwork sits in Ripley’s miniatures collection, where you’ll need a magnifying glass to spot every tiny detail.

The artist used super-fine brushes and worked under magnification to recreate the famous scene on something smaller than your fingernail.

You’ll find this grain-sized wonder in a special showcase with perfect lighting that won’t create glare on your viewing lens. It’s part of Ripley’s collection of impossibly small paintings that also includes art on pumpkin seeds and quail eggs. These remarkable works are created by artist Enrique Ramos, whose incredible skill transforms everyday objects into extraordinary canvases.

This quiet exhibit offers a peaceful break from louder attractions while showcasing mind-boggling human skill and creativity.

Examine Genuine Shrunken Heads From Ecuador

Deep in the Amazon rainforest of Ecuador, the Jivaroan peoples created some of the world’s most mysterious artifacts – genuine shrunken heads called tsantsas. You’ll discover these weren’t made for show – warriors believed they trapped vengeful spirits called muisak from fallen enemies.

The Shuar and other tribes carefully skinned heads and boiled them for two hours, shrinking them to one-third their original size. The final step involved hanging the heads over a fire to prevent haunting and complete the protective ritual.

At Ripley’s London, you can examine authentic tsantsas that survived centuries of history. Be amazed knowing that 80 percent of shrunken heads in museums are actually fakes made from monkeys or goatskin!

The genuine ones you’re seeing used elaborate rituals and took incredible skill to create. These rare artifacts tell fascinating stories of ancient Amazon cultures.

Navigate the Marvellous Mirror Maze

After exploring ancient artifacts, you’ll find yourself stepping into a completely different kind of adventure – one where reality bends and your eyes can’t trust what they’re seeing. Welcome to Ripley’s Marvellous Mirror Maze, London’s largest mirror maze!

You’ll wander through mirror-lined rooms that create the illusion of infinite hallways stretching endlessly ahead. With over 100 mirrors, colorful LED lights, and music, this maze challenges your sense of direction at every turn. The mirrors create mind-bending reflections that’ll have you questioning which way is forward. This interactive experience is designed to keep visitors engaged and entertained throughout their journey.

Don’t worry if you get completely lost – most visitors do! You might even need to exit through the entrance. The whole experience takes about five minutes, but you’ll be laughing and amazed the entire time.

Conquer the Impossible Laser Race Challenge

Think you’re nimble enough to dodge invisible beams like a secret agent? At Ripley’s Impossible Laserace, you’ll duck, lunge, and tip-toe through a maze of laser beams racing against the clock.

Before entering behind the curtain, you’ll choose your difficulty level to match your skills. Your mission: navigate to the back wall, then the side wall, and finally reach the exit without breaking any beams.

You’ll need athletic clothing for all that squeezing through tight spaces, and proper footwear is essential (wrong shoes earn you a 10-second penalty!). The fastest completion time wins, so speed matters as much as agility. Success requires combining physical agility with sharp mental focus to make split-second decisions about the best path forward.

Whether you’re a beginner or laser-dodging expert, this heart-pounding challenge will test your ninja skills!

Explore the World’s Largest Olympic Torch Collection

From heart-pounding laser dodging, let’s shift gears to something that’ll spark your Olympic dreams! You’ll discover the world’s largest collection of original Olympic torches right here in Ripley’s Legends Gallery. With 32 authentic torches on display, you’re looking at pieces of Olympic history spanning multiple Summer and Winter Games.

Each torch tells an amazing story! You’ll see how designs evolved over decades, from the first modern torch relay in 1936 Berlin to more recent Games. This collection rivals those found in major Olympic museums around the world.

Don’t miss the London 2012 torch signed by cycling champion Laura Trott! These aren’t replicas – they’re the real deal from Ripley’s incredible $10 million global collection of 116 torches. It’s like holding pieces of sporting legends in your hands!

Create Digital Graffiti Art on Interactive Walls

When you’re ready to release your inner street artist, head to Ripley’s incredible Digital Graffiti Wall! This amazing interactive exhibit lets you create virtual graffiti without any mess or getting in trouble. You’ll grab motion-tracked spray cans and paint directly onto a large digital screen, just like real street art!

You’ve got about 50 seconds to create your masterpiece, so think fast! Choose from different colors, brush sizes, and cool effects to make tags, characters, or full murals. The best part? You can experiment freely since there’s an undo button for mistakes.

Located near a real piece of the Berlin Wall, this exhibit connects you to street art’s history while letting you tap into your inner Banksy. Your digital artwork can even be saved as a souvenir! The Digital Graffiti Wall is spread across 6 floors with other diverse and interactive exhibits that will keep you entertained throughout your visit.

Discover Portraits Made From Toast and Chewing Gum

How could anyone turn breakfast bread into stunning artwork? At Ripley’s London, you’ll discover incredible portraits crafted from hundreds of toast slices! Artists carefully control toasting levels, creating different browns and blacks to form faces and shadows. It’s like pixel art, but with breakfast food!

From far away, you’ll see recognizable faces of famous figures. Step closer, and you’ll spot individual bread pieces—it’s an amazing optical illusion.

You’ll also find portraits made from discarded chewing gum by London’s “Chewing Gum Man,” Ben Wilson. He transforms tiny pieces of sidewalk gum into miniature paintings using blowtorches and fine brushes. Each artwork takes hours to complete and measures about the size of a coin. Wilson’s gum art can be discovered on streets across London, including well-known areas like Piccadilly and Trinity Wharf. These unconventional materials prove that art can come from anywhere!

Test Your Skills on the Ripley’s Explorer Trail

Want to become a real-life explorer like Robert Ripley himself? The Explorer Trail turns your visit into an exciting adventure quest! You’ll collect a special booklet packed with quiz questions, observation challenges, and mini-games that’ll have you examining every bizarre exhibit up close.

As you navigate through five floors of weird wonders, you’ll hunt for hidden details in amazing artifacts, test your knowledge about world records, and solve puzzles about curious cultures. The trail smartly guides you from Amazing Art to Incredible Nature without any confusing backtracking. With 10 trail points scattered throughout the attraction, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to test your travel knowledge and observation skills.

Your skills get put to the ultimate test in the Mirror Maze and Impossible LaseRace, where you’ll dodge laser beams against the clock. Complete all challenges, and you might snag a cool reward at the finish line!

The Sum Up

You’ve discovered just a taste of Ripley’s London’s mind-blowing attractions! From towering giants to tiny masterpieces, there’s something incredible waiting around every corner. Don’t forget to bring your camera and your sense of wonder when you visit. Whether you’re fascinated by the bizarre or love hands-on activities, Ripley’s will leave you speechless. So what’re you waiting for? Head to London’s most extraordinary museum and prepare to believe it or not!