America's famous exhibition of the odd and the bizarre, Ripley’s Believe It or Not!, today announced tenancy of London's iconic Trocadero with the doors of a new Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Museum due to open in August 2008. The Museum will occupy approximately 25,000 square feet of the Trocadero, spread over five levels, and is set to become one of London's major tourist destinations.
“Opening a Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Museum in London has been one of our goals for many years. We're looking forward to providing visitors with some truly exciting and unusual memories and becoming one of London's most iconic attractions," said Jim Pattison, Jr., President of Ripley Entertainment Inc.
From a four-meter long model of London Tower Bridge made out of matchsticks to an authentic sixteenth century Iron Maiden from Nuremberg, Germany, a 545-pound meteorite and a 27-inch hairball found inside a cow's stomach, the London Museum will feature exhibits so bizarre, so odd and so strange that even the most worldly and knowledgeable guests will be awestruck.
Ripley Entertainment Inc. (www.ripleys.com) is a leading global attractions company with annual attendance of more than 13 million. In addition to its 60-plus attractions, the Orlando, Florida-based company has publishing and broadcast divisions that oversee projects including the globally syndicated Believe It or Not! television show, best-selling books and the popular syndicated cartoon strip, Ripley’s Believe It or Not!, that still runs daily in 200 newspapers in 42 countries. There are now 30 Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Museums (also known as Odditoriums) in operation, including one in Blackpool, UK and another to open in the first quarter of 2008 in India.
Pattison added, “London’s famous Trocadero is a fantastic location for us. We'll be in the heart of one of the world’s greatest cities showing visitors from around the world the best of the odd, unusual and truly bizarre. This is an opportunity to continue to expand our Ripley’s Believe It or Not! brand worldwide, allowing many more curious visitors to experience the fun, strange and unique world of Ripley’s.”
About London Bridge Entertainment Partners LLP
London Bridge Entertainment Partners LLP is a franchisee of Ripley Entertainment Inc. formed to develop and operate the Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Museum in London. London Bridge Entertainment Partners LLP is controlled by London Bridge Entertainment Group LLC, an investment vehicle established for the purpose of making investments in entertainment properties across the world.
For additional information, please contact:
Joanne Shepherd, GolinHarris 0207 067 0415, jshepherd@golinharris.com
Sophie Smith, GolinHarris, 0207 067 0415, ssmith@golinharris.com
Tim O’Brien, Ripley Entertainment Inc., 615 646-7465, obrien@ripleys.com