Monsieur Tussauds in London

This is an extract from my new book Travel Sights Travel Guides don’t mention. This book describes a large number of little known tourist sights from around the world. A book for the discerning traveller who has been everywhere else.

Monsieur Tussauds is a collection of 9,000 candles made from the earwax of the rich and famous. Visitors should check in advance when the candles are lit as each candle is only alight for one minute every three months in order to preserve the candles for as long as possible. The largest candle is made from contributions from Jumbo the Elephant and it is estimated this candle will finally expire in 2018. A crowd of 5,000 attended the last flickerings of the Winston Churchill candle in 2007.