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All the United Kingdom England London Davenports Magic Shop
Davenports Magic Shop is permanently closed.

This entry remains in the Atlas as a record of its history, but it is no longer accessible to visitors.

AO Edited

Davenports Magic Shop

The world's oldest family-run magic shop is hidden beneath a bustling London thoroughfare.

London, England

Added By
Kerry Wolfe
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CAPTION
Davenports Magic Shop.   SUZANNE Plunkett/used with permission
Davenports Magic Shop.   SUZANNE Plunkett/used with permission
Davenports Magic Shop.   SUZANNE Plunkett/used with permission
Davenports Magic Shop.   SUZANNE Plunkett/used with permission
Davenports Magic Shop.   SUZANNE Plunkett/used with permission
Davenports Magic Shop.   SUZANNE Plunkett/used with permission
Davenports Magic Shop.   SUZANNE Plunkett/used with permission
  Collector of Experiences / Atlas Obscura User
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About

The world’s oldest family-run magic shop is hidden below a bustling London street, tucked within an underground shopping arcade. The small shop is basically a magicians’ mecca, and its shelves are stacked with books waiting to reveal their secrets to those who know where to look.

Lewis Davenport founded Davenports Magic Shop 1898, and it has remained in the family ever since. Over the decades, the store bounced around a bit before landing in its current home in the Charing Cross Arcade in 1984.

Visiting Davenports is like stepping into another world, one where you never know what to expect. Step inside the red-carpeted space, and you’ll find tricks of the trade tailored to all levels, from first-time magicians to experienced professionals. The store is stocked with anything you may need—cards, scarves, DVDs, rare out-of-print books, you name it, it’s there.

But the shop is more than just a store. It’s also a meeting place for magicians, a place where everyone is welcome to pop in and hone their craft. Davenports also hosts an array of classes and workshops for visitors of all ages and levels of experience.

Update: In January 202, Davenports Magic Shop closed their Charing Cross location. They are currently operating as an online-only business.

Related Tags

Stores Shops Magic

Know Before You Go

When on the Strand, look for a staircase between a Starbucks and Paperchase. Go down and enter the underground arcade, then turn right. The store is open Monday through Friday from 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Saturday from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Community Contributors

Added By

Kerry Wolfe

Edited By

Collector of Experiences

  • Collector of Experiences

Published

January 4, 2019

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Sources
  • https://greatwen.com/2013/03/17/secret-london-davenports-magic-shop/
  • http://www.davenportsmagic.co.uk/acatalog/About-Davenports.html
  • http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/oldest-magic-shop
Davenports Magic Shop
7 Charing Cross Underground Arcade
The Strand
London, England
United Kingdom
51.509073, -0.125043
Visit Website
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