Arcturus

What Arcturus does

Arcturus is a London-based independent book publisher founded in 1993, operating with 11-50 employees across an active catalog of 645+ titles. Following a management buyout from founder Ian McLellan in October 2022, the company has continued as a privately held, multi-imprint publisher across classics, children's, reference, self-help, and stationery categories. Distribution operates asset-light: titles flow through major book-trade channels including Amazon UK and independent retailers, with Allen Carr's Easyway content reaching roughly 50 countries and 150+ cities globally, and North American distribution scheduled to launch in April 2026 via Simon & Schuster.

The business model is volume-driven trade publishing with a price-point architecture that mixes mass-market reference and activity titles, licensed brand partnerships (Kew Gardens, Bletchley Park, Royal Collection Trust, Allen Carr's Easyway), and a January 2026-launched Bermondsey Stationery & Gift imprint that extends the catalog into higher-margin giftable goods. Revenue is generated primarily through wholesale book sales to retailers, with adjacent monetization via stationery/gift product lines and a December 2023 audio co-production partnership with The Audio Agency expanding the audiobook channel. The company maintains continued frontlist cadence through Spring and Autumn catalog cycles in 2025-2026 and achieved WCAG 2.2 AA accessibility compliance ahead of the 2025 European Accessibility Act deadline.

Name

Arcturus

Legal name

Arcturus Publishing Limited

Website

https://arcturuspublishing.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Arcturus is a London-based independent book publisher founded in 1993 (post-2022 management buyout) producing 645+ titles across classics, children's, reference, self-help, and stationery for global retail channels via Simon & Schuster distribution (NA from April 2026).

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Operations, Supply Chain, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Physical Book Sales: Arcturus generates revenue primarily through the sale of physical books across multiple formats including hardcover, paperback, boxed sets, and board books. They offer titles at various price points from budget paperbacks to premium gift editions.
2. E-book Sales: Sale of digital ebook versions of their titles in EPUB format, distributed through major retailers.
3. Audiobook Sales: Sale of downloadable audiobook versions of titles, including works like 'A Degree in a Book: Psychology' and various true crime and classics titles.
4. Rights Licensing: Arcturus actively sells rights to all territories throughout the world, licensing their titles for international translation and publication in other markets.
5. Stationery and Gift Products: Revenue from the Bermondsey Stationery & Gift imprint, including journals, notebooks, and sketchpads with premium design and printing techniques.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Arcturus Publishing is an independent book publisher producing physical and digital books across adult and children's categories, including classic literature in multiple premium and budget formats, children's fiction and educational series, reference titles, self-help books, and stationery products. The company sells through direct e-commerce, major online retailers like Amazon UK, library platforms, and international territorial rights licensing, with a catalogue of 645+ active titles sold in nearly every country worldwide.

Product overview

Arcturus Publishing is an independent book publisher founded in 1993, offering a diverse portfolio of products across multiple imprints. The company publishes classic literature through Arcturus Classics, Arcturus Ornate Classics, Arcturus Epic Classics, and Arcturus Illustrated Classics sub-brands. Their children's division includes First Steps (early learning), Dino Quest, Hayley Comet Kid Genius, Escape Room Quest, Curious Kids, and Arcturus Genius Ideas series. Reference offerings include the A Degree in a Book and Instant Expert series. The company also produces Bermondsey Stationery & Gift (journals and notebooks), Allen Carr's Easyway self-help titles, and various adult activity books including coloring, puzzles, and true crime. Products are available in multiple formats including hardcover, paperback, ebook, audiobook, and boxed sets. The company operates globally with distribution in UK, North America, and internationally.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Arcturus Epic Classics: Stunning hardback gift editions of classic works presented with illustrated page edges and works by illustrators such as Gustave Doré and Harry Clarke
• Arcturus Ornate Classics
• Arcturus Illustrated Classics
• Arcturus Essential Orwell
• First Steps
• Instant Expert
• Dino Quest
• Bermondsey Soft-Touch Journals
• Arcturus Vintage Journals
• Arcturus Genius Ideas
• Curious Kids
• A Degree in a Book
• Arcturus Escape Rooms

Products and services

• Arcturus Classics World-leading imprint offering classic literature in various formats from value paperbacks to luxurious hardback gift editions with distinctive visual designs. Available for adult readers interested in classic fiction and non-fiction.
• Arcturus Epic Classics Stunning hardback gift editions of classic works featuring illustrated page edges and full-page illustrations by artists such as Gustave Doré and Harry Clarke, targeting collectors and gift-buyers.
• Arcturus Ornate Classics Beautifully bound pocket editions of iconic literary works with foil embossing, gilded page edges, and deluxe ivory paper for adult readers seeking portable premium classics.
• Arcturus Illustrated Classics Hardcover editions of classic works featuring full-colour specially-commissioned illustrations, patterned endpapers, and dust jackets for adult readers and gift purchasers.
• Arcturus Essential Orwell George Orwell's most acclaimed fiction and non-fiction titles presented with contemporary cover designs for adult readers.
• Bermondsey Stationery & Gift Curated collection of journals, notebooks, and sketchpads combining functionality with elegance, featuring tactile appeal, vintage botanical covers, and innovative printing techniques. Priced around £12.99 for premium soft-touch journals.
• Arcturus Vintage Journals Lined notebooks with vintage botanical covers, printed page edges, and silk ribbon markers, part of the broader stationery collection for adult consumers seeking decorative journals.
• First Steps Board books and early learning titles for children aged 2+ covering key life skills such as brushing teeth, potty training, getting to sleep, and weaning off dummies. Priced from around £7.99.
• Dino Quest Illustrated chapter book series combining medieval fantasy with prehistoric peril for children aged 7+. The Trouble with Tyrannosaurus title won the Moonbeam Children's Book Awards Gold Medal in Juvenile Fiction in 2025.
• Hayley Comet, Kid Genius Graphic novel series about a young inventor, featuring comic book-style storytelling for readers aged 7+, including titles like Hayley Comet, Kid Genius: Revenge of the Slime! priced from £4.99.
• Escape Room Quest Interactive branching narrative puzzle books with Egyptology themes for children aged 8+, combining reading with puzzle-solving activities.
• Arcturus Genius Ideas Children's series introducing groundbreaking scientific theories from history's greatest minds with full-colour illustrations for young readers.
• Curious Kids Beautifully illustrated STEM fact books covering physics, science, and educational topics for children with a modern visual style.
• Professor Kat's Science Facts Children's non-fiction series including titles like How to Count to Infinity and Other Incredible Ideas About Maths, introducing STEM concepts to young readers.
• A Degree in a Book Comprehensive reference guides covering psychology, anthropology, art history, economics, philosophy, engineering, and more, written by experts in their fields. Highly visual guides featuring infographics, flow charts, and accessible explanations. Priced around £17.99 for paperback editions.
• Instant Expert Introductory guides on complex subjects including AI and economics, featuring diagrams and illustrations to make complex topics accessible for adult readers.
• Illustrated by Khoa Le Children's picture books illustrated by multi-award-winning artist Khoa Le, including myth retellings and folk tale collections. Le has received the Northern Lights Book Awards Best Illustrator 2020, Toka Box Top Asian Children's Book Awards, and Samsung Kidstime Authors' Award.
• Allen Carr's Easyway Self-help books based on the Easyway method for quitting smoking, vaping, and overcoming anxiety and other addictions. Published in partnership with Allen Carr's Easyway International, whose seminars operate in 150+ cities across 50+ countries and have helped an estimated 50 million smokers worldwide.
• True Crime Casefiles True crime books covering notorious criminals and psychopaths with psychological profiles and court proceedings for adult readers interested in the genre.
• Adult Activity Books Coloring books, dot-to-dot, puzzles, and practical art titles providing gentle entertainment for adult consumers, including titles across the Arcturus leisure and colouring categories.

Quantifiable outcome

• Arcturus has been recognized with multiple awards including Moonbeam Children's Book Awards Gold Medal and Right Start Award, validating quality across children's and educational titles.
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Simon & SchustercoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 April 2026Starting April 1, 2026, Simon & Schuster became the North American distributor for Arcturus print books in the US and Canada. This is a significant expansion of Arcturus's trade business in North America. Simon & Schuster is a global leader in general interest publishing providing best-in-class fiction and nonfiction for readers of all ages.
• Audio AgencyminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 December 2023Audio Agency and Arcturus Publishing embarked on a new co-production scheme to enable more Children's non-fiction to be published in audio format, expanding accessibility of educational content.
• The Turing TrustminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 October 2017Arcturus and The Turing Trust jointly published 'The Alan Turing Codebreakers Puzzle Book' in 2017. The partnership combines Arcturus's publishing expertise with The Turing Trust's mission to honor Alan Turing's legacy.
• Allen Carr's Easyway InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerArcturus publishes the Allen Carr's Easyway series including titles on quitting smoking, vaping, alcohol, emotional eating, and anxiety. Allen Carr's Easyway is a global phenomenon with seminar centres in 150+ cities in more than 50 countries, and has helped an estimated 50 million smokers worldwide. The Easyway method has been successfully applied to various addictions and behavioral issues.
• Royal Botanic Gardens, KewminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKew Gardens is a partner brand of Arcturus for developing and publishing garden and botanical-themed books.
• Bletchley ParkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBletchley Park is a partner brand collaborating with Arcturus on historically-themed publications related to codebreaking and WWII history.
• Royal Collection TrustminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRoyal Collection Trust partners with Arcturus to publish books featuring content from the Royal Collection, including royal-themed gift editions and collectibles.
• PLSclearminorOthersArcturus manages permissions requests through PLSclear, a clearing house for permission requests related to copyrighted materials they publish.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• HarperCollins Publishers: Major trade publisher with broad fiction, non-fiction, and children's lines including illustrated classics. Overlaps with Arcturus on classics reissues and gift formats; competes for retail shelf space and author relationships.
• Scholastic: Global children's book publisher with strong presence in educational and activity titles. Overlaps with Arcturus's children's reference, puzzle, and early-learning categories.
• Octopus Publishing Group: Hachette UK's illustrated and gift/lifestyle publishing division. Direct overlap with Arcturus's gift editions, illustrated reference, and stationery-adjacent product lines at larger scale.
• Penguin Random House: Largest trade publisher globally; publishes classics, children's, reference, and gift titles overlapping with Arcturus's portfolio but at vastly greater scale. Represents both a competitor and a benchmark for retail reach.

Direct peers

• Quarto Group: Illustrated book publisher with comparable portfolio across children's, reference, and gift categories; operates co-edition and international rights licensing model similar to Arcturus's territorial rights strategy.
• Walker Books: UK independent children's book publisher with similar focus on illustrated children's titles, classics adaptations, and picture books. Comparable scale and independent-publisher identity.
• Usborne Publishing: UK-based independent children's and gift book publisher of comparable size, with similar breadth across children's activity, novelty, and reference titles. Highly comparable on product mix, retail channels, and indie-publisher positioning.
• Flame Tree Publishing: London-based independent publisher specializing in illustrated classics, gift editions, stationery, and journals. Direct overlap with Arcturus's Classics range, gift editions, and Bermondsey Stationery & Gift line.
• Bonnier Books UK: Independent UK publisher with portfolio spanning children's fiction, illustrated non-fiction, and gift/reference titles. Overlaps with Arcturus on accessible reference ('A Degree in a Book' style) and children's original series.
• Abrams Books: US illustrated book publisher with strong gift, stationery, and visual reference categories. Comparable on premium illustrated formats and gift/collectible positioning.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/arcturusbooks
• Facebookfacebook.com/ArcturusPublishing
• Instagraminstagram.com/arcturusbooks
• TikToktiktok.com/@arcturusbooks

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Arcturus