You’ve probably seen the “Believe It or Not” cartoons or walked past an odditorium and wondered what’s inside. For travellers weighing up a quick, quirky attraction for a rainy afternoon, Ripley’s Believe It or Not offers a blend of strange artifacts and interactive exhibits that can be squeezed into an hour or two.

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Founded: 1933 (first odditorium) ·
Number of attractions worldwide: 100+ ·
Locations in the UK: 2 (Blackpool, London – London closed 2017) ·
Typical visit duration: 1–2 hours

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
  • Whether future streaming services will pick up the TV series again (no official announcement as of 2025)
  • Exact provenance of the “asleep for 57 years” claim – no verified medical record exists
3Timeline signal
  • 1918: First “Believe It or Not” cartoon published by Robert Ripley (Wikipedia)
  • 1933: First odditorium opens at Chicago World’s Fair (Wikipedia)
  • 2008–2017: London location operated; now closed (Wikipedia)
4What’s next
The upshot

If you’re in Blackpool with an hour to spare, Ripley’s is a reasonably priced oddity museum that won’t eat your whole day. Travelers expecting a full day’s entertainment will be left wanting – this is a quick detour, not a destination.

This guide uses official details and real visitor feedback to help you decide whether a Ripley’s venue — especially the one still open in the UK — fits your itinerary and budget.

Five facts about Ripley’s Believe It or Not
Attribute Value
Founder Robert Ripley
First odditorium opened 1933 (Chicago World’s Fair)
Number of global locations Over 100
UK locations Blackpool (active) and London (closed 2017)
Typical visit length 1–2 hours

The pattern here is clear: Ripley’s has spent a century refining a formula that works best in short bursts.

What exactly is Ripley’s Believe It or Not?

Ripley’s is a chain of “odditoriums” – museums that display bizarre artifacts, rare collectibles, and interactive exhibits. The franchise began as a newspaper cartoon drawn by Robert Ripley in 1918 and grew into a global brand with over 100 attractions worldwide (Wikipedia (encyclopedic source)).

What kind of exhibits are inside?

  • Shrunken heads, two-headed calves, and other biological oddities (Ripley’s Blackpool official)
  • Illusion rooms, mirror mazes, and interactive optical tricks (Ripley’s Blackpool official)
  • Historical oddities like the smallest woman who ever lived and the tallest man (Creative Tourist (UK travel guide))
Bottom line: Ripley’s is a quick-hit attraction that delivers exactly what the brand promises – a cabinet of curiosities, not a deep museum. Families with children aged 5+ will find enough wonder for 60–90 minutes.

Who founded Ripley’s?

Robert Leroy Ripley, an American cartoonist, created the first “Believe It or Not” panel for the New York Globe in 1918. The panel’s popularity led to radio shows, television programs, and eventually physical odditoriums, the first of which opened at the 1933 Chicago World’s Fair (Wikipedia (encyclopedic source)).

The implication: Ripley’s has been riding the same premise for over a century – curating the weird – and that consistency is both its strength (recognizable) and its limitation (predictable).

Is Ripley’s Believe It or Not worth the money?

Ticket prices vary by location, but adult admissions typically fall between $15 and $30 USD. At the Blackpool venue, a visitor video from 2023 reported an adult ticket price of £15 and a child ticket at £10 (Visitor YouTube video (first‑hand account)). That’s roughly the cost of a cinema ticket for a shorter experience.

How do ticket prices compare to other attractions?

  • Blackpool’s Ripley’s is cheaper than the nearby Blackpool Tower attraction but comparable to the Sea Life centre.
  • Amsterdam’s Ripley’s, open 10 AM–10 PM, offers longer hours for the same price bracket (Headout (travel guide platform)).

What do visitors say in reviews?

Google Reviews and TripAdvisor ratings vary widely. Blackpool’s location tends to score higher for family value – several Reddit users in r/AskUK describe it as a “fun filler for an hour” but warn against expecting a full-day experience. The London site’s TripAdvisor page still attracts reviews years after closure, confusing some visitors (TripAdvisor (user review platform)).

The catch: the value proposition hinges on your time budget. If you have only an hour, Ripley’s is a good spend. If you’re planning a half-day activity, you’ll finish fast and wonder what to do next.

Bottom line: Ripley’s is worth the money as a short, indoor activity, especially for families. Solo adults or couples seeking depth should look elsewhere.

Is there a Ripley’s in the UK?

Yes – currently one open location in Blackpool, and a former location in London that closed in 2017. The brand’s official site directs UK visitors to the Blackpool attraction at Blackpool Pleasure Beach (Ripley’s official site (tier‑1)).

Which UK cities have a Ripley’s Believe It or Not?

  • Blackpool – 525 Ocean Boulevard, Promenade, Blackpool FY4 1EZ. Open daily 10 AM–5 PM (Ripley’s official site).
  • London – formerly at Piccadilly Circus; opened 20 August 2008, closed 25 September 2017 (Wikipedia (encyclopedic source)).

What is the Blackpool location like?

Creative Tourist describes it as an eight‑gallery museum spread over two floors, containing hundreds of exhibits including a two‑headed calf and artifacts from the world’s tallest and smallest people (Creative Tourist (UK travel guide)). It’s situated within Pleasure Beach, so you can combine it with other rides and attractions.

Why this matters: visitors planning a UK trip need to know that the London odditorium is a closed chapter – only Blackpool remains active. Booking a trip to London expecting a Ripley’s will lead to disappointment.

How much time do you need at Ripley’s Believe It or Not?

Most visitors spend between one and two hours. The Blackpool venue, according to a recent visitor, can take about an hour if you read all the descriptions (Visitor YouTube video (first‑hand account)).

Is 1 hour enough for a visit?

For the average adult or family with older children, 60 minutes is enough to walk through the exhibits and stop for photos. If you have younger children who want to linger at interactive stations, budget 90 minutes.

What if I want to see everything?

Queue times are minimal on weekdays, but peak season (school holidays, weekends) can add 20–30 minutes. The official site provides current hours, but doesn’t publish queue forecasts. Arriving early in the day helps avoid waits.

The trade-off: you can’t stretch a Ripley’s visit beyond two hours. It’s a quick dash through oddities, not an exploration.

Can you stream Ripley’s Believe It or Not?

As of 2025, the TV series “Ripley’s Believe It or Not!” is not available on Netflix in the US or UK. Select episodes can be found on Amazon Prime Video and the Roku Channel (Wikipedia (encyclopedic source)).

Is the TV show available on Netflix?

No – at the time of writing, Netflix does not list any Ripley’s series in its catalog. The show’s streaming rights remain scattered across smaller platforms.

How to watch the original series?

The original 1980s and 1990s episodes are intermittently available on YouTube and some niche streaming services. A 2019 revival hosted by Bruce Campbell aired on the Travel Channel, but has not been widely syndicated to major streaming platforms (Wikipedia (encyclopedic source)).

The pattern: for UK viewers, the content gap is notable — you can visit the physical museum in Blackpool, but you can’t watch the TV show easily. The brand’s digital presence is underleveraged.

Upsides

  • Unique, conversation‑starting exhibits
  • Short visit time – fits easily into a day out
  • Indoor attraction – good for rainy weather
  • Family‑friendly for ages 5+

Downsides

  • Not a half‑day or full‑day activity
  • Price per hour is relatively high compared to similar‑length attractions
  • London location closed – confusion from old web listings
  • Some exhibits may feel dated or low‑tech

Timeline of key events

  • 1918 – Robert Ripley publishes the first “Believe It or Not” cartoon in the New York Globe (Wikipedia).
  • 1933 – First odditorium opens at the Chicago World’s Fair (Wikipedia).
  • 1990–2000s – International expansion, including UK locations (Blackpool and London) (Ripley’s official site).
  • 2008 – London odditorium opens at Piccadilly Circus (Wikipedia).
  • 2017 – London location closes permanently (Wikipedia).
  • 2020s – Over 100 Ripley’s attractions operate worldwide; TV series briefly revived in 2019 (Creative Tourist).

What we know vs. what’s unclear

Confirmed facts:

  • Ripley’s Believe It or Not! is an active franchise with multiple odditoriums.
  • There is a Ripley’s in Blackpool, UK, open daily 10 AM–5 PM (Ripley’s official site).
  • The original TV series is not currently on Netflix (as of 2025) (Wikipedia).

What remains unclear:

  • Whether future streaming deals will bring the show back to major platforms.
  • The origin of the “asleep for 57 years” anecdote – no verified medical records exist.

What visitors and experts say

“Ripley’s Believe It or Not! is a museum of oddities aimed at families, with eight themed galleries across two floors.”

– Creative Tourist (UK travel guide)

“It’s about an hour to walk through if you read everything – more to look at than other Pleasure Beach attractions.”

– Visitor account on YouTube (2023)

“The London branch, once the world’s largest Ripley’s, housed over 500 exhibits including Marilyn Monroe belongings and a mirror maze.”

– Wikipedia (encyclopedic source)

For anyone planning a Blackpool trip, the verdict from real visitors is consistent: it’s a good value for an hour of strange fun, but go in with modest expectations.

Additional sources

en.wikipedia.org, studenttravel.pro

For those planning a trip to Toronto, the Ripleys Aquarium of Canada offers a similarly immersive experience beneath the waves.

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Frequently asked questions

Can I buy Ripley’s Believe It or Not tickets online?

Yes – tickets can be purchased via the official Ripley’s website for the Blackpool location. Walk‑in sales are also available.

Are Ripley’s attractions wheelchair accessible?

The Blackpool venue is located within Pleasure Beach, which is wheelchair accessible. Contact the venue directly for specific accessibility details for the odditorium.

Does Ripley’s Believe It or Not offer discounts for children?

Yes – child tickets are typically priced lower than adult tickets. The Blackpool location reportedly charges £10 for children vs. £15 for adults.

Is there an age limit for visiting Ripley’s?

No official age limit, but the content is best suited for children aged 5 and older. Very young children may not engage with the exhibits.

How long is the typical wait time at peak hours?

Wait times are usually short (under 10 minutes) except during school holidays when queues can stretch to 20–30 minutes.

Can I bring food and drinks inside the museum?

Outside food and drink are generally not allowed inside the museum. There are dining options within Pleasure Beach.

Does Ripley’s Believe It or Not have a gift shop?

Yes – each odditorium includes a gift shop selling branded souvenirs, books, and oddity‑themed items.

For UK travellers, the choice is straightforward: if you’re in Blackpool with an hour to fill, Ripley’s offers reliable oddball entertainment at a fair price. For anyone expecting a deep museum or a full day out, the truth is it’s a quick hit of wonder — nothing more, nothing less. Book your ticket online, show up, and you’ll have a story to tell over dinner.