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This street in London is named after the French name for a certain woman; on this street you can find the London Planetarium and Madame Toussaud's Wax Works. What is the name of this street?

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MARYLEBONE ROAD - other illustration
MARYLEBONE ROAD — other

This prominent London thoroughfare is indeed home to two of the city's most famous attractions: Madame Tussauds Wax Museum and the adjacent London Planetarium. The street's name, however, has a history that stretches back much further than the establishment of these popular tourist spots. It is a corruption of "St Mary at the bourne," which referred to a church dedicated to St. Mary that was built on the bank of the Tyburn, a small stream or "bourne."

Over time, the name evolved. The area became known as St Mary-le-bourne, influenced by the French preposition "le" which was common in place names, and was eventually shortened to Marylebone. A common but unsubstantiated theory suggests the name comes from the French "Marie la Bonne," meaning "Mary the Good." The road itself was constructed in 1756 and was originally called New Road, serving as one of London's first bypasses to help drivers avoid the congestion of Oxford Street.

Today, Marylebone Road is a major artery in central London, forming part of the city's Inner Ring Road. While the London Planetarium closed as a separate attraction in 2006 and became part of Madame Tussauds, its iconic dome remains a landmark on the street. The road and the surrounding neighborhood retain their historic name, a reminder of the small church and stream that once characterized the area.