Kids in London - Ripley's Believe it or not Odditorium

This new attraction opened in the summer so I took along my 10 year old daughter and teenage son to check it out.

I had booked my tickets (around £50 for the three of us although there are discounts available) on-line which was just as well as, on arrival, their credit card machines were done and they were directing people to the nearest cash points. I got rather frustrated navigating their somewhat confused entrance and queuing system whilst the kids were happily looking at the foyer displays (a giant metal gorilla, three legged pigeons etc) and videos clips. Then we were photographed in front of a red telephone box and shown into an elevator with flashing coloured lights that took us to the 5th floor.

We entered out into an area decorated like a warehouse. There were amazing things all around for us to look at - on the walls, on moving conveyors on the ceiling and we could see a massive moving T Rex on the other side of the vast room.

We started exploring - all manner of strange things many of which were displayed in packing cases (e.g. a cow with a leg on its back, a real mini covered in millions of crystals, a turtle shell, a platypus skeleton and lots of shark jaws) and shelves stacked with an assortment of yet more curiosities from all around the world and all eras.
Meanwhile, there were plenty of screens showing us clips from the Ripleys (American) TV series - one of a giant metal robosaurus eating cars and stills of a pole that had pierced two people. Not for the very young ones then!

There were cultural things too - pillow boxes from China, Tibetan dance statues, Haille Selassie's chair, Mardi Gras costumes (based, apparently on ceremonies of Native American Big Chief Bo Dollis). And another display of weird creatures - many of which had polycephaly (multiple heads).

In this area there was also a huge rocking chair that you were allowed to climb into to try out or to take your own photos. There were lots of documents about Ripley and his travels to over 200 countries and a hologram of the great man himself. Impressive!

Then we moved through an arty area with pictures made from all sorts of materials such as butterflies, sweets and animal dung. The decor changed again and we were in a sort of curtained chamber with an upside down room and some models and exhibits with a London theme. And windows with views over Piccadilly.

Past some marquetry images, junk ducks and a section of the Berlin Wall and some incredible jade sculptures. And lots and lots of display boards with amazing facts and interesting stories. There was an incredible wooden carving of "The devil and the damsel" that rotated. And a huge portrait of Ray Charles made from coloured post-it notes. Then photos and displays of weird and wonderful people - gurning and with strange physical characteristics (not at all PC) and the story of a man who only had an upper body.

Then the torture area with models and displays showing some unpleasant torture kit (definitely not for the youngsters) all in a themed, darkened area.

Then through an authentic looking underwater area with more sharks and an albino crocodile. There was a fun bit where you were encouraged to see if you could roll your tongue in an interesting area designed like a library. You could weigh yourself (along with your friends) to see how many of you it took to weigh the same as a huge bloke. And an amazing computer image of a pool of water that when you stepped on it, showed realistic looking ripples. Some visitors posed against models of truly tall people.

There was a space and technology area - with meterorites and stories of aliens. And the final chicken run caused much hilarity and happy shreiking (and several dizzy parents).

My son's favourite area was where there were real shrunken heads - with videos giving the background on where and how these were produced. My daughter was fascinated with the women who had rings applied so that their necks grew very long and slender.

I have only given you a flavour of the many, many things on display - we were walking around for at least two hours and probably still missed a lot. My daughter thought it was the best "museum" she had been it. So much for her cultural educational!

Naturally, the tour ended up in a gift shop. But actually, the things on display and available to purchase weren't as bad as many attractions and provided yet more things to look at.

So. Not something for the really young kids but great entertainment (albeit some of it of questionable taste) for older kids and teenagers. And so very close to The Trocadero and all its games and amusements.