The National Wax Museum Plus, a popular tourist attraction, resides in the heart of Dublin, Ireland. It is an interactive museum that showcases an extensive collection of wax figures and immersive experiences. The museum provides visitors with an entertaining and educational journey through Irish history, culture, and popular culture.
The National Wax Museum first opened its doors in June 1983. It was initially known as the National Wax Museum and was situated on Granby Row in Dublin, near Parnell Square. The Lord Mayor of Dublin officially opened it. In 2005, the original Wax Museum on Granby Row closed down.
After a few years, in 2009, the museum found a new spot and changed its name to the Wax Museum Plus. It moved to Foster's Place in Temple Bar. In 2016, the museum moved again to an even bigger and better home in the Lafayette Building, located right in the center of Dublin on Westmoreland Street. The museum officially opened its doors there on April 25, 2017. Currently, the museum is owned by Patrick Dunning.
The National Wax Museum Plus offers a diverse range of exhibits that cater to various interests. Visitors can explore different themed areas, each with its own distinct atmosphere and set of wax figures. These include:
The Children's Fantasy World section provides a family-friendly environment with interactive displays and beloved characters from fairy tales, movies, and cartoons. When you visited the old museum, you would see a giant Irish mythical figure at the front. Inside, you could find figures like Crocodile Dundee and E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial. As you went upstairs, you would see a fun "jack in the beanstalk" scene. Then, you would enter the Children's World. Here, you could find characters from storybooks and kids' TV shows. Moving downstairs, you could see the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Then, you would explore Irish history with figures like Wolfe Tone and Michael Collins. There were also Irish presidents like Éamon de Valera and Mary McAleese. The museum also featured world leaders and famous people. You could see Princess Diana and leaders from World War II. Further downstairs, you would pass Christopher Reeve as Superman. You could also see the Pope and Cardinals with the actual Popemobile used by Pope John Paul II in 1979. The tour would end with exciting scenes from movies. You could see Batman with Jack Nicholson as the Joker.
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In addition to the wax figures, the museum also features interactive exhibits that engage visitors in a hands-on experience. You can take part in virtual reality adventures, solve puzzles on the Murder Mystery tour, or explore the Science and Discovery Zone, where you can learn about scientific principles in a fun and engaging way. Highlights include the Father Ted Sitting Room, the eerie Haunted House with jump scares, and the immersive Hall of Mirrors. The museum also hosts seasonal events, making each visit unique.
The interior design is thoughtfully crafted to enhance the museum experience, with each section offering distinct visual appeal. The museum’s layout guides visitors through various themed rooms, each beautifully designed to reflect different aspects of Irish history, folklore, and pop culture. From the Hall of Mirrors to the eerie Horror Walk, the attention to detail is evident in every corner.
Visitors often highlight the wide range of interactive activities available throughout the museum. From the animated wax figures that come to life to the exciting and sometimes spooky sections like the Horror Walk, there is something for everyone. Guests are encouraged to take part in hands-on experiences that bring the exhibits to life.
The museum has many different types of figures. While most are made of wax, some are made from other materials. This is because wax can be heavy or not suitable for certain characters. In the previous Wax Museum building, there was a mixture of wax figures and various other figures that were not modelled in wax (mainly because the wax materials were not suited to such. For example: the character of The Lord of the Rings, Gollum is made from fibre glass rather than wax).
The path through the museum brings visitors to a scene with figures such as Crocodile Dundee, E.T., and Irish sporting and entertainment stars. It went upstairs through a winding staircase, surrounding a jack in the beanstalk scene, complete with giant. From there, visitors entered the Children's World (with the head of the outside Giant peaking in), and witness various storybook characters, and children's television show characters. Visitors would then move downstairs to witness a scene of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, then on to view many Irish figures of historical importance including Wolfe Tone, the 1916 Rising, and Michael Collins. Following this were various Irish presidents including Éamon de Valera, Mary McAleese, and Taoisigh. This led on towards figures of Irish theatre, writers, television presenters and G.A.A. stars. Moving from Irish figures to famous world leaders and figures such as Princess Diana, World War II leaders, modern American and Middle-Eastern and Northern Irish leaders of the Northern troubles. As visitors went downstairs again, they passed Christopher Reeve as Superman, and see the Pope and Cardinals standing on top of the actual Popemobile from Pope John Paul II's visit to Ireland in 1979. Visitors then entered a room with the Simpsons family while a screen would play a film for people to sit down and enjoy or take a photo opportunity in a set of medieval stocks. Visitors were then given a choice to enter the Chamber of horrors (or bypass it and enter the next phase after it), with horror characters such as Dracula, Frankenstein, the Werewolf and the Mummy. Visitors then entered another tunnel opportunity for children again and then onto the "Hall of Megastars" with figures like Michael Jackson, David Bowie, U2, Tina Turner, Ronan Keating, and Irish rock star Phil Lynott taking the stage. The tour then ended with entertaining scenes dedicated to Batman with Jack Nicholson as the Joker, Arnold Schwarzenegger as Mr.
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The National Wax Museum Plus provides a variety of payment options to cater to all visitors. Accepted payment methods include major credit cards, mobile payments, and cash. For added convenience, there are also opportunities to purchase tickets in advance, especially for those using Dublin’s city passes.
To make the most of your visit to The National Wax Museum Plus, it’s recommended to purchase tickets in advance, especially during peak tourist seasons. Booking ahead allows visitors to skip long queues and enjoy more time exploring the exhibits. The museum is centrally located in Dublin, making it an accessible stop for both locals and tourists.
In June 2007, some of the wax figures were damaged when they were stored in warehouses while the museum was looking for a new home. Vandals broke in and damaged many figures, even smashing some heads. Some figures were also stolen, like Bob the Builder. This made it even harder for the museum to find a new location. The museum's main sculptor, P.J.
The National Wax Museum Plus in Dublin offers a mixed experience for visitors. Many find the wax figures interesting, particularly those of Irish historical figures and celebrities. The museum covers a range of topics including Irish history, science, and pop culture, which some visitors appreciate for its variety.
However, the quality of the wax figures is often criticized, with some guests finding them dated or not as lifelike as expected. The interactive elements and hands-on exhibits, especially in the science area, are generally well-received, particularly by families with children. Some visitors enjoy the quirky and sometimes campy nature of the displays, while others find it underwhelming compared to larger, more polished wax museums.
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The museum's location in the city center is convenient, but some guests mention that it can feel cramped and that the layout can be confusing. While some visitors find the ticket prices reasonable for the entertainment provided, others feel it's overpriced for the experience.
When my husband and I arrived in Dublin the very first thing we did was get lost in the airport. But aside from that we picked up our Dublin City Pass cards (DublinPass) and took a bus to Dublin proper. We got shuffled from the bus about a half mile from where out hotel was, but it was the closest stop to Blooms. Well, as luck would have it, we walked right smack dab to the doorstep National Wax Museum Plus on our way. I had wanted to visit it as 1. I have never gone into a wax museum before and 2. it was part of the City Pass!
The museum itself didn't look too big from the outside- boy was I wrong there! Coming in we saw a small lobby and gift shop, of course a gift shop, and they were kind enough to let us stow our bags behind the counter. Let that be a lesson, it never hurts to ask for a little help! Well, we started out in a hall of science and mirrors. Best believe we ran into our reflections a few times! Some of the science was left for nightmares, as you can see. The way it's all mapped out is spectacular. I got a kick out of the mad hatter looking clock filled staircases. It's no way to live, though- all those clocks ticking! There are centuries of waxed Irish history by way of vikings tales, religious history, pain, suffering- all the good stuff. The fairytale looking enchanted tunnel was really beautiful. I think I went through it twice! I enjoyed the change in atmospheres in each section, too. It seems like a lot was crammed into each section so at times it felt like the wax walls were closing in!
I really enjoyed the notable Irish writers section (am I the only one who thought the young Oscar Wilde was stud-ish?) I also loved the rock and roll section, which was short, and let's all mock how potatoey they made Trump look in the other notable Americans corner (not pictured because- why would I?). I was looking at Michael Jackson and Tina Turner thinking "God, what a slightly horrifying things these are, wax museums. What if they all came to life like in Toy Story? They sure as shite look like they come alive. Is he staring at me?" and a lot more along those lines. For some reason, maybe because we could get closer to the Hollywood figures and other artists- but they really jump into your brain as something to be weary of, am I right? So sketchy looking, like they're forcing you into an R. L.
I loved the Hollywood side, it looked like a little more time was spent on these guys. Or maybe they're just more modern? (see the Joker above) The details on some of these were incredible and I know not everything is made from wax, but geez, people work hard to make these! The artistry in each of these, insane! My favorite section was the Horror genre area. Like others, I wish it was a tad more interactive, but it the kind of scene in which you would picture Vincent Price narrating as you walk through. Creaky doors and random bursts of lightning-like light and the like. Some of the exhibits were made creepier by the fact that they were simply lurking wax figures, which made it a different kind of scary fun- more like a haunted house (possibly not the goal). It took it from looking at a was guy to seeing that wax guy come to life as a creepy Freddy in the kitchen about to look at you like you're next! This screen area was real cool.
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