The National Wax Museum Plus is one of those Dublin attractions that delivers more than the name suggests. Yes, there are celebrity wax figures - and plenty of them - but the museum goes well beyond the standard selfie-with-a-famous-face formula. Spread across three floors and 13,000 square feet of a historic Lafayette building on Westmoreland Street, the galleries cover everything from Irish literary heritage to scientific innovation, with a few delightfully unexpected detours along the way.
The Writers Room pays tribute to Dublin’s extraordinary literary legacy, putting you face to face with the figures who made this city the UNESCO City of Literature. The Time Vaults walk you through the key stages of Irish history with wax figures set in context, giving you a visual timeline that sticks in the memory far longer than a textbook would. There is a dedicated children’s section that keeps younger visitors entertained, Ireland’s only tribute gallery to its top scientific inventors, and - for those who enjoy a thrill - a horror section that takes full advantage of the medium.
Then there is the Father Ted room, which needs no further explanation for anyone who has seen the show. The whole museum has a sense of fun that runs through it, and the interactive elements mean you are doing more than just looking. It is a solid option for a rainy Dublin afternoon, and children in particular tend to love it.
