What is the Twist Museum?
Although the name is redolent of recent London immersive family experiences the Paradox Museum and the Balloon Museum, the Twist Museum does in fact teeter dangerously close towards being an actual museum - or at least an exhibition, not of ‘twists’ but illusions.
Where is the Twist Museum?
Located slap bang on Oxford Street, the Twist Museum has a relatively small, unassuming frontage but occupies a surprisingly large space under the street.
What can you see at the Twist Museum?
Genuinely it’s wall-to-wall illusions, in practical interactive displays that let you see the illusion at work, with helpful notes that explain both the illusion and the expected effect. From the Ames Window to the Beuchet Chair, all your illusion needs are covered.
Is it any good?
It’s slick and interesting and doesn’t have that same whiff of Instagram-appeasing basicness that other new London attractions with the word ‘museum’ in the name tend to possess. The staff are lovely. It’s very expensive though: you can save up to £30 online depending on when you book for, but the walk up ticket price of £92 for a family is eye-watering for something that takes around 45 minutes.
The Twist Museum is certainly interesting, but the fact it invites comparisons to an actual museum does flag up certain curatorial shortcomings: there is no wider context or sense of the historical here; it’s not the story of illusions, it’s just a lot of displays on a theme.
It’s definitely a very pleasant way to kill a bit of time – maybe ideally experienced bolted on to a central London shopping sesh – but you’d be advised to pre-book to justify the prices.