Without much fanfare, Ripley's Believe It Or Not?! — that curious tourist trap on the corner of Piccadilly Circus — updated its website with a statement announcing the attraction's immediate closure.
The saddest bit of all though? It was updated last month, on the 25 September, and at the time of writing, barely anybody seems to have noticed.
The statement reads that the 'Ripley's Piccadilly location is permanently closed [while they] actively search for a new location', and while it does seem that they plan to re-open on different premises sometime in the future, no reopening date is given. And thus it seems that the attraction that never closes (yes, Ripley's was open 365 days a year, until midnight most nights) has finally bitten the dust.
And sure, we're sad at the news, we can't say we're surprised... it's worth a visit for the art, perhaps, and we certainly weren't bored by the place — but the £27.99 entry price was always a bit of an ask. After all, the most surprising thing about Ripley's is just how this curious emporium managed to cling on so long.
Until next time, Ripley's.
