The Magic Circle

What The Magic Circle does

The Magic Circle is a private members' society and public entertainment venue for magicians and magic enthusiasts, founded in 1905 and headquartered at the Centre for the Magic Arts, 12 Stephenson Way, Euston, London. It operates a 162-seat theatre, a heritage library of more than 12,000 books, and a museum of magic artefacts, and serves a worldwide membership of 1,700+, with the Inner Magic Circle capped at 300 members as a credentialed tier.

The organisation monetises across multiple streams: public show ticket sales (close-up shows from £37, Saturday premium £38–£48, Sunday children's shows from £18), venue hire at £2,300–£3,350 per half or full day, recurring membership subscriptions, Find-a-Magician directory advertising, merchandise sales, and educational visits partially supported through its affiliated Foundation. Day delegate packages are offered at £36–£78.50 per person. Customer segments span general public ticketholders, corporate and private venue-hire clients, performing magicians seeking professional credentials, and amateur enthusiasts.

The Magic Circle operates as a private members' club without external investors and discloses no financial results. Its strategic positioning centres on the prestige of the Inner Magic Circle credential, the heritage brand established over 120 years, and a continuing programme of theatrical productions and high-profile member inductions (e.g., Penn & Teller, 2025; Christmas Show 2026) that sustain cultural visibility and audience demand.

Name

The Magic Circle

Legal name

The Magic Circle

Website

https://themagiccircle.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1905

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Magic Circle is a London-based private members' society for magicians founded in 1905, operating a 162-seat theatre, heritage library of 12,000+ books, and venue hire at its Euston headquarters, serving 1,700+ members and public audiences.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Live Entertainment and Magic Society Services

NAICS

All Other Amusement and Recreation Industries (71399), Amusement, Gambling, and Recreation Industries (713)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990), Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997)

akta.pro primary industry

Circus, Magic & Variety Shows (THAJAFAH)

Keywords

• Live magic performances
• Event venue hire
• Magic society membership
• Magician directory services
• Magic education programs

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Public Show Tickets: Revenue from ticket sales for Close-Up shows, Secrets of The Magic Circle premium experiences, Kids shows, Magic Showcase evenings, and annual Christmas Show. Tickets sold through SeeTickets and proprietary ticketing systems.
2. Venue Hire: Exclusive hire of headquarters facilities including The Magic Circle Theatre (162 seats), Devant Room, Clubroom, and Museum for corporate events, conferences, private parties, filming, and Christmas packages.
3. Membership Subscriptions: Annual membership fees for The Magic Circle with tiered pricing based on age and geography. Benefits include exclusive lectures, magazine, online events, and access to member-only facilities.
4. Find-a-Magician Directory: Platform where members pay to advertise their services. The organization earns advertising fees from members seeking to connect with clients for private and corporate events.
5. Merchandise Sales: Sale of Magic Circle branded merchandise including playing cards, apparel, and magic-related products through the online TMC Shop.
6. Educational Visits: Revenue from school trips and educational programs. State schools receive sponsored visits through The Magic Circle Foundation charity.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Magic Circle is a private members' magic society that runs live magic shows, tours, and educational programs at its London headquarters, rents out its theatrical and meeting spaces for corporate and private events, offers tiered membership subscriptions, and operates a Find-a-Magician directory connecting vetted member performers with event hosts.

Product overview

The Magic Circle is a premier magic society offering live magic performances, venue hire, and membership services. The core offering consists of various live shows including Close-Up at The Magic Circle, Secrets of The Magic Circle (premium experience), Kids Show Live, The Magic Circle Tour, Magic Showcase, and the annual Christmas Show. The organization also operates venue hire services at its Central London headquarters, with four distinct spaces: The Magic Circle Theatre (seating 162), The Devant Room (named after the first President), The Clubroom (interactive exhibits), and The Museum (historical artifacts). Additional services include a Find a Magician directory connecting clients with vetted member performers, membership programs (including The Young Magicians Club for ages 10-18), educational visits for schools, and a merchandise store. The society maintains a collection of magic artifacts documented through its '52 Objects' virtual tour.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• The Young Magicians Club: Youth initiative for aspiring magicians under 18 years of age, promoting the performance of magic among young people.

Products and services

• Close-Up at The Magic Circle A showcase of outstanding close-up magic performed in an intimate setting for a truly authentic experience. Shows run on select Fridays and include various dates throughout the year. Suggested for ages 10 and above; from £37 plus booking fee.
• Secrets of The Magic Circle A premium Saturday experience where visitors explore every corner of The Magic Circle headquarters, meet master magicians, enjoy close-up magic, and witness a spectacular finale in the theatre. £38-48 plus booking fee.
• Kids Show Live A one-hour magic extravaganza for ages 4 and above, packed with laughter, surprises, and audience participation. Runs on select Sundays. From £18.00.
• The Magic Circle Tour A guided tour of The Magic Circle headquarters where visitors learn about the history of the club, with stories, historical accounts, and fun surprises along the way. £29 for 1h 20m.
• Magic Showcase A Tuesday evening show featuring eight different performers, from top professionals to rising talent, showcasing diverse magic acts. From £15 plus booking fee.
• The Magic Circle Christmas Show An annual spellbinding spectacle featuring an incredible line-up of world-class magicians, running from 19-29 December 2026 with afternoon and evening performances. From £33.
• History & Mystery at The Magic Circle A Monday morning event aimed at retirement communities, combining magical entertainment with historical storytelling about the art of magic. From £27.50 for 2 hours.
• Monday Morning Magic A school holiday event designed for families to get a sneak peek inside The Magic Circle headquarters, featuring interactive magic experiences. From £25 for 105 minutes.
• Educational Visits An interactive school trip experience giving children insight into the performance and history of magic, including learning simple magic effects, museum tours, close-up magic demonstrations, and theatre presentations. State schools receive sponsored visits through The Magic Circle Foundation.
• The Magic Circle Theatre Venue Hire An intimate theatre on the second floor seating up to 162 guests (126 stalls and 36 balcony seats), equipped with modern audio-visual equipment, air-conditioning, and backstage dressing rooms. Available for corporate events, conferences, filming, and private parties.
• The Devant Room Venue Hire A large air-conditioned room on the first floor with natural daylight, accommodating up to 80 theatre-style or 30 boardroom. Contains magical props including Tommy Cooper's fez and Houdini's water chamber. Available for hire.
• The Clubroom Venue Hire A ground floor venue packed full of interactive magical exhibits and colourful posters, accommodating 50 theatre-style or 25 boardroom. Used for member gatherings and conference registration.
• The Museum Venue Hire Located on the lower ground floor, featuring a treasure trove of items illustrating the history of magic including Dynamo's shoes and rare first edition magic books. Available for hire as a venue space.
• Find a Magician Directory A directory connecting event organizers with vetted members of The Magic Circle available for hire at parties, events, and corporate functions across the UK and internationally.
• Membership of The Magic Circle Exclusive membership to the world's premier magic society, offering benefits including exclusive lectures, a members magazine, online events, and access to the society's facilities and networking opportunities. Application requires passing a proprietary examination.
• The Young Magicians Club A youth initiative for aspiring magicians aged 10-18, promoting the performance of magic among young people with educational resources and community support.
• Magic Circle Merchandise Store Official Magic Circle branded merchandise including magic sets, playing cards, and collectible items available for purchase online.

Named customers12 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• The Magic Circle FoundationcoreOthersThe official charity of The Magic Circle dedicated to educating the public in the history and practice of the art of magic. Sponsors educational visits to The Magic Circle for state schools at no charge, aligning with the Foundation's mission to preserve magic heritage.
• Young Magicians ClubcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerYouth initiative of The Magic Circle for aspiring magicians under 18. Separate membership program with its own website (youngmagiciansclub.co.uk) that promotes magic performance among young people and serves as a pipeline for future members.
• SeeTicketsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorThird-party ticketing platform selling tickets for Close-Up shows, History & Mystery tours, and other public events at The Magic Circle.
• TicketTailorminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTicketing platform for The Magic Circle Christmas Show and other selected events.
• Arsenal Football ClubminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMarvin Berglas has been the first resident magician in the Premier League at Arsenal Football Club since 1993, a role he continues to hold today.
• David BaldwinminorOthersAmerican member who generously donated the Faith Winter bronze sculpture of David Devant, unveiled in 1998 on opening of the Centre for the Magical Arts.
• TripAdvisorminorOthersThe Magic Circle displays TripAdvisor badges including Travellers Choice award and review links on their website.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Regional players

• Davenports Magic: London's longest-running magic shop and a hub for the UK magic community, with a basement theatre hosting live shows. Comparable as a UK-based magic venue and retail/community player, though structured as a shop-plus-theatre rather than a members' club.
• Wilton's Music Hall: A historic London performance venue offering hires, shows, and events in a heritage setting. Comparable as a London venue-hire competitor in the niche/theatrical event space, though without the magic-society specialisation.

Others

• Penguin Magic: Large US-based online magic retailer and community platform selling tricks, downloads, and instructional content. Comparable as a digital distribution and community layer adjacent to The Magic Circle's library and Find-a-Magician services.
• Ellusionist: A major online magic retailer and producer of playing cards and tutorials serving magicians worldwide. Comparable as an ecosystem player monetising the practitioner and enthusiast side of the magic community that The Magic Circle's membership and directory serve.

Direct peers

• The Magic Castle: The Hollywood Magic Castle is a private magic club and performance venue that most closely mirrors The Magic Circle: a membership-based society operating live magic shows, a library, and an exclusive venue for members and paying guests. Both anchor their city's magic community around a historic clubhouse.
• International Brotherhood of Magicians: The world's largest organisation for magicians, with chapters worldwide, an annual convention, awards, and youth programmes. Comparable to The Magic Circle as a global magic society providing membership services, competitions, and community infrastructure.
• Academy of Magical Arts: The organisation that operates the Magic Castle; comparable as a membership society running shows, lectures, and a youth programme from a flagship venue. Direct counterpart in the US for membership economics and live magic programming.
• Society of American Magicians: One of the oldest magic societies in the US (1902), offering membership, assemblies, and youth programmes. Directly comparable to The Magic Circle's role as a historic, membership-based magic society with regional and national reach.

Broad incumbents

• Penn & Teller: The most commercially successful live magic act globally, with a long-running Las Vegas residency, TV shows, and consumer products. Comparable as an aspirational benchmark for live magic monetisation, scale, and brand extension, though operating as performers rather than a society.
• The Bridge Theatre: A London theatre offering venue hire, conferences, and private events. Comparable as a central London competitor for corporate and private event hire in the same discretionary-spend bracket as The Magic Circle's venue packages.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/magiccirclehq
• Facebookfacebook.com/magiccirclehq
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/themagiccircle

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries1 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 The Magic Circle