Madame Tussauds entity ceased to exist. On 17 July 2007, as part of the financing for the Tussauds deal, Merlin sold the freehold of Madame Tussauds to private investor Nick Leslau and his investment firm Prestbury under a sale and leaseback agreement. Although the attraction sites are owned by Prestbury, they are operated by Merlin based on a renewable 35-year lease. Madame Tussaud's wax museum became a major tourist attraction in London, incorporating (until 2010) the London Planetarium in its west wing and a large animated dark ride, "The Spirit of London", opened in 1993. Today's wax figures at Tussauds include historical
Madame Tussauds Blackpool Golf. Merlin Entertainments were announced as the new operators of Blackpool Tower and Louis Tussauds, which was refurbished and rebranded as Madame Tussauds Blackpool. The process of making a wax figure can take anywhere from four to six months. After a survey has been conducted on who the attraction should include, researchers find out as much information as possible about the chosen celebrities including their hairstyle, common facial expressions, and clothing preferences. If they are able, celebrities visit the Madame Tussauds stylists who take more than 150 measurements and 200 photos, and use an oil-based paint to create a realistic