London is full of buildings that look completely unremarkable until someone tells you what used to happen inside them. Here are three that we visit on the London Magic Tour, and that most people walk past without ever knowing their story.
170 Piccadilly
It was recently renamed, which is a shame, the old name at least hinted at its history, even if most people wouldn’t have known why. In the late 1800s and early 1900s this was one of the most important venues in the world for magic, and the performer most associated with it also gave us a phrase that’s still used today although most people have no idea where it came from.
Irving Street
What looks like an ordinary street just off Leicester Square was once home to a magic shop but its owner became far more famous, and considerably more controversial, for what he wrote than what he sold. He exposed secrets that the magic world had guarded jealously, including some from our very first stop on Piccadilly. The magic community was furious, and you can understand why.
The Chinatown Gate
One of the most photographed spots in London. Millions of people have stood in front of it, and most of them have no idea what the building right next to it used to be, or why it matters to the history of magic.
Each of these stops is part of the London Magic Tour. If you’d like to hear the full stories – and there’s plenty more besides – take a look at our booking page.