AD – Press visit. We received complimentary admission to the Museum of Illusions London in exchange for an honest review. As always, all thoughts and opinions are our own.
Finding an attraction that genuinely entertains three teenagers can be tricky, particularly when they have different personalities and interests. However, the Museum of Illusions London managed to get all three of ours laughing, experimenting and willingly appearing in family photographs—which is quite an achievement in itself!
We visited with Lillie, Ollie and Albie during a family day in London and thoroughly enjoyed our experience. Packed with optical illusions, interactive rooms and clever photo opportunities, it proved that museums certainly don’t have to involve quietly looking at objects behind glass.
Where Is the Museum of Illusions London?
The Museum of Illusions is located at 15–17 Tottenham Court Road, close to Tottenham Court Road Underground station.
My first reaction when we arrived was surprise—not at the museum itself, but at the fact that I hadn’t noticed it before. I have walked past the building at least four or five times already this year and had no idea it was there!
That makes its location incredibly convenient for combining with other central London attractions, shopping, lunch or a theatre visit.
We drove into London and parked at Q-Park Park Lane. From there, it took us approximately 25 minutes to walk to the museum. If you are travelling by public transport, Tottenham Court Road is the most convenient Underground station.
What Is the Museum of Illusions?
The Museum of Illusions London contains more than 70 interactive exhibits designed to challenge your perception and demonstrate how easily your eyes and brain can be tricked.
Rather than simply walking around and looking at displays, you become part of many of the illusions. There are rooms that alter your sense of size, perspective, balance and gravity, alongside visual puzzles and smaller optical illusions.
Instructions beside the exhibits help you understand what you need to do and, in many cases, where the photographer should stand to capture the illusion correctly.
It is an experience where having your phone or camera ready is part of the fun.
Our Museum of Illusions London Experience
The museum was quite busy when we visited, but this didn’t spoil our experience. We occasionally waited for around five minutes to use some of the more popular exhibits, which felt perfectly manageable.
In fact, waiting gave us a chance to watch how other families positioned themselves and see which poses worked best.
Top Tip: Google illusions like Downing Street before you go to see how other people pose or move around on their videos to get the best effects and memories.
The exhibits are very interactive, so you aren’t simply moving from one display to the next. You need time to work out what is happening, experiment with different positions and take photographs or videos.
We spent approximately 90 minutes inside, although that was mainly because we had another booking with City Cruises and needed to move on. We could happily have walked around again or spent longer experimenting with some of the illusions.
If you are not rushing elsewhere, I would allow between 90 minutes and two hours, particularly during a busy period or if your family enjoys taking photographs.
The Vortex Tunnel
The Vortex Tunnel was the unanimous favourite with all three children.
As you walk through it, the tunnel rotates around you and completely disrupts your sense of balance. Although the bridge beneath your feet is stationary, your brain becomes convinced that the floor is moving and tilting.
Watching the children attempt to walk through it had us all giggling – especially when they tried to walk through without holding on. It was one of those shared family moments where everyone forgot about being self-conscious and simply enjoyed how ridiculous it felt.
It is an incredibly effective illusion, but it is worth knowing that it can make you feel quite disorientated. If you suffer from motion sickness or problems with balance, you may prefer to give the Vortex Tunnel a miss—or at least approach it cautiously.
The Infinity Room
One of my personal favourites was the Infinity Room. The clever use of mirrors and lighting makes the space appear to continue endlessly in every direction.
It was visually impressive and created some brilliant photographs. It is also one of those illusions you understand in theory, but your brain still struggles to make sense of what your eyes are seeing.
The Ames Room
I also loved the Ames Room, which plays with perspective to make one person appear enormous while another looks tiny.
The room is carefully designed so that, from the correct viewing position, it appears perfectly normal. In reality, its distorted shape and angles create a dramatic difference in the apparent size of the people standing inside.
This was another excellent exhibit for family photographs and demonstrated just how easily our perception can be manipulated.
Hanging Around at 10 Downing Street
The 10 Downing Street exhibit was another highlight for me.
This London-themed illusion allows you to create photographs and videos that make it appear as though you are climbing or hanging from the famous black door. Once the finished image is rotated, gravity seems to have disappeared completely.
A member of staff was stationed at this exhibit during our visit, which made a real difference. They knew exactly where we needed to stand and how to position ourselves to make the illusion work.
More importantly, they could take the photographs and videos for us. It meant the whole family could appear together instead of one person always being left behind the camera.
Were Any Exhibits Disappointing?
I wouldn’t describe any of the exhibits as disappointing. They were all clever, and different family members were naturally drawn to different things.
The colour-changing room was probably my least favourite. It was still clever, but the visual effect simply wasn’t as appealing to me as the perspective-based rooms.
People who are sensitive to changing or coloured lights may also find this room uncomfortable, so it is something to be aware of when planning your visit.
What Were the Staff Like?
The staff were friendly, approachable and very helpful throughout our visit.
Their assistance was particularly useful around the larger photographic exhibits. Some illusions only work when the camera is held in a precise position, so having somebody explain where to stand or take the photograph for you helps you get much more from the experience.
Their help at the 10 Downing Street exhibit meant we could capture photographs and videos featuring all four of us, which made those memories even more valuable.
Is the Museum of Illusions Good for Teenagers?
Yes—without hesitation.
Our children were 18, 15 and 13 when we visited, and all three thoroughly enjoyed themselves. The museum didn’t feel too young for them, nor did we feel as though it was designed solely for small children.
The interactive elements, humour and unusual photo opportunities make it particularly well suited to teenagers. Even teens who wouldn’t normally be enthusiastic about visiting a museum may be won over by the fact that they can touch, test and become part of the exhibits.
You are also likely to leave with plenty of funny photographs and videos for their camera rolls.
Is It Suitable for Younger Children?
Although we visited with teenagers, there were plenty of younger children at the museum, and they all appeared to be having a wonderful time.
Young children may not understand the science behind every illusion, but they can still enjoy the colours, mirrors, changing perspectives and hands-on experiences.
Parents will need to supervise children throughout, particularly around exhibits that affect balance or involve unusual lighting.
Is the Museum of Illusions Accessible?
The museum has wheelchair-friendly areas, accessible toilet facilities and baby-changing facilities. However, the nature of some tilted and immersive rooms means that not every experience will be equally accessible to every visitor.
The Vortex Tunnel may be challenging for anyone with motion sickness, vertigo or balance difficulties. Visitors with light sensitivity may also prefer to avoid certain brightly lit or colour-changing exhibits.
I recommend checking the museum’s official accessibility information or contacting the venue before visiting if anyone in your party has specific access or sensory requirements.
Is the Museum of Illusions London Worth the Money?
In our opinion, yes.
Although our admission was complimentary as part of a press visit, we would happily have paid to visit. It entertained three teenagers and an adult, encouraged us to interact as a family and gave us some wonderfully funny photographs and videos to keep.
It also held our attention for the full 90 minutes. We only left because we had somewhere else to be—not because we had run out of things to see.
Tickets currently start from approximately £29 for adults and £24 for children, with concession and family tickets also available. Prices can change, so check the Museum of Illusions London website before booking.
For families, the overall cost will be worth considering, but the museum offers something genuinely different from many traditional London attractions. It would be especially good for a birthday treat, school-holiday activity, rainy day or as part of a longer day in central London.
Our Final Verdict
The Museum of Illusions London was one of those rare attractions that we all enjoyed equally.
It was clever without feeling overly educational, highly interactive and filled with opportunities to laugh together. The Vortex Tunnel was the children’s clear winner, while I particularly enjoyed the Infinity Room, Ames Room and 10 Downing Street illusion.
We would have liked more time to revisit some of the exhibits and try different photographs, so our main advice is not to rush your visit if you can avoid it.
We thoroughly enjoyed our time there and would 100% recommend the Museum of Illusions for a family day out in London—especially if you are looking for something that will appeal to teenagers as much as younger children.
Museum of Illusions London: Useful Information
- Address: 15–17 Tottenham Court Road, London, W1T 1BJ
- Nearest station: Tottenham Court Road
- Recommended visit time: Allow approximately 90 minutes to two hours
- Opening hours: Sunday to Thursday, 10am–8pm; Friday and Saturday, 10am–9pm
- Last admission: One hour before closing
- Adult tickets: From approximately £29
- Child tickets: From approximately £24
- Facilities: Toilets, accessible toilets, baby-changing facilities and free Wi-Fi
- Booking: Advance booking is advisable, especially during weekends and school holidays
Opening times, ticket prices and facilities were checked in August 2026 and may change. Always confirm the latest details on the official Museum of Illusions London website before travelling.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do you need at the Museum of Illusions London?
We spent approximately 90 minutes there but could happily have stayed longer. Allow up to two hours if you want to experience everything without rushing or take plenty of photographs.
Is the Museum of Illusions suitable for teenagers?
Yes. Our teenagers were 13, 15 and 18, and they all thoroughly enjoyed it. The interactive rooms and amusing photo opportunities work particularly well for older children.
Can you take photographs inside?
Yes. Photography is encouraged, and many of the illusions have been designed to create unusual family photographs and videos.
Does the Vortex Tunnel really move?
The walkway remains stationary, but the rotating tunnel surrounding it convinces your brain that the floor is moving. It can affect your balance and may not be suitable for visitors who experience motion sickness or vertigo.
Is the Museum of Illusions suitable for a rainy day?
Yes. It is an entirely indoor attraction and would be a good choice for a wet or very hot day in London.
Is it close to other London attractions?
Its Tottenham Court Road location makes it easy to combine with Oxford Street, the British Museum, Covent Garden, Soho or a West End theatre visit.