Ripley's Believe It or Not! Museum

You've probably heard of Ripley and his Believe It Or Not museums which are located around several cities around the world.  Or you might have caught Dean Cain - ex Lois and Clark star - earning his mortgage payments on the Ripleys TV show.  I only watched a few episodes but he managed to annoy me with the trademark closing statement....'Believe it ....... *insert over-dramatic pause*.........or Not!'

I'd seen the museums in Hong Kong and New York and now, one had opened in London.  Given my fascination with freaky things - who doesn't want to see a shrunken head? - I really wanted to see what the fuss was about.

Keep in mind that most museums in London are free and if they do charge the fee would be easily less than £10.  Ripleys was gonna set Smee and I back £20 each.  Wtf.  That's like going to the cinema 2.5 times!  I promptly searched for a 2-for-1 voucher and found a goodie on lastminute.com.  Smee and I thought we should 'splash out' and make the most of the experience, paying extra for the Hall of Mirrors.  I always wanted to go in a hall of mirrors!  It appears now that the ticket pricing has changed and now your experience in the Hall of Mirrors is included in your ticket - which now costs £25.

But first - yum cha in Chinatown.

I doodled on the table. The waiter complimented my skillz.

I love my mantou and had some deep fried ones dipped in condensed milk. Mmmm so healthy.

The museum was just around the corner from Chinatown, located at the awful tourist trapping junction that is Piccadilly circus.  Deep down inside Smee and I both knew that this would be a lame venture but we wanted to give Ripleys a chance to prove us wrong.  Look, I'm not denying that these oddities didn't exist or that the 'freakshow' people didn't have a hard life.  I mean I am fascinated with two-headed animals and other weird and wonderful stuff but when everything on display is just a badly made replica and honestly, I could have just read all of the information in a book, what on earth am I paying money for?

I'm used to museums being crowded in London, but this has got to be the most empty I've ever been in.  The ticket price certainly doesn't help but you know, if the exhibits seem worthwhile, people would undoubtedly pay.

Sitting in a giant chair - Believe it or Not!

The man with alligator teeth.  No he wasn't born that way, he wears alligator-shaped dentures - Believe it or Not!  I personally don't think this really qualifies as an oddity. 

The man who bore a hole in his head (why?  It wasn't explained) and then stuck a candle in the hole - Believe it or Not! 

An iron cast chastity belt - Believe it or Not! 

Ok, I have to admit this was kinda cool.  I'm all torso and no legs!  A testament to freakshow performer, Johnny Eck.  Believe it or Not! 

You're given a pair of gloves to feel your way around the Hall of Mirrors.  It was ok, I guess.  Believe it or Not! 

The final exhibit was the Spinning Vortex Tunnel.  The constant spinning and strobe lights disrupts your vestibular system and disorientates you when you walk through the tunnel.  You have to grab onto the handrails or fall over!  Me included!  Believe it or Not!

Anyway, obviously Smee and I felt Ripley's was not value for money and given it's prime location, clearly a tourist trap.  It'll probably be fun for those under 12 but unless you're really eager, I would save the £20 and go shopping instead.