Oberhausen: HOUSE OF MAGIC – powered by Ehrlich Brothers

Magic that lets you play, not just watch. At Oberhausen’s House of Magic (powered by the Ehrlich Brothers), you spend a couple hours testing illusions, solving puzzles, and treating your own body like a prop in the story, not a spectator in the back row. I especially like the hands-on exhibits where you actively do the magic, and the Ehrlich Brothers workshop-style rooms with mind-bending props that make you lean in. One possible drawback: a few effects may not look brand new, so go in for fun and participation, not perfection.

Plan your visit around the pace, not the clock. The layout is built to keep you moving, with photo spots, light tricks, and surprise transitions from one themed room to the next. If you want the calm, take-your-time museum experience, this place is more game show than art gallery, but that is also the point.

Key things that make House of Magic in Oberhausen worth it

• 110+ interactive exhibits that reward trying, not just watching
• Magic workshop props like objects that change behavior in front of you
• Shadows and mirrors used for real visual trickery (and great photos)
• VR flight and teleportation moments that feel like special effects you can touch
• 360-degree cinema magic lessons tied to Ehrlich Brothers style

Where to go in Oberhausen, and how to find it fast

The House of Magic sits right in Westfield Centro, Oberhausen. That matters more than you might think, because it saves you time once you are already in a shopping center. The meeting point is at the Westfield Centro Promenade. If you are coming from the Promenade, take the escalator, and you should see the entrance straight ahead.

For parking, multi-storey car park 1 and 2 have free parking at Centro. From multi-storey car park 1, you can reach the venue directly via level 2. That is useful if you are arriving by car and traveling with kids, because you avoid lots of street navigation with coats and bags.

This setup also makes it easy to combine with a normal day in Oberhausen. You can come early for a snack run and then step into the show area. Just remember food and drinks are not allowed inside the House of Magic, so anything you bring will need to stay out.

2 hours of magic, what the ticket really buys you

The ticket is for two hours of puzzles, games, and illusions for the whole family. That two-hour block is the heart of the experience, and it is built to keep the flow moving. You are not stuck in one theater for the whole time. Instead, you bounce from room to room, with lots of small challenges and repeated chances to try again if a trick depends on your timing or your position.

What I like about the structure is that it works even if you have different “energy levels” in your group. Some exhibits are quick hits. Others ask you to figure out how a mirror angle or shadow pattern creates the illusion. If you are traveling with kids, that mix is gold, because it gives them agency instead of passive waiting.

Also, the show is designed to pull you into the Ehrlich Brothers world. The big themed idea is that you get transformed in scale. At one point, you land as if you have shrunk to mouse-size and end up in a suitcase space. That kind of staging is what turns a collection of effects into a story you can walk through.

Over 110 interactive exhibits, and why they feel more fun than a standard show

The headline is over 110 magical exhibits, and the practical value is how many chances you get to participate. You are constantly doing something: testing, solving, balancing, looking, and then watching the illusion react.

A good example is the workshop area, where the experience uses classic “how can that be?” magic, but you experience it up close rather than from far away. Objects behave in impossible ways. You might see something like a unicycle that turns into a no-wheel illusion, or a book whose pages turn by themselves. There is also the idea of a box holding an infinite store, which is basically the show’s way of making you question what is really happening.

Then it moves into physical comedy and movement-based effects. Picture a setup where you are teetering on a toothbrush, then bouncing on a giant tablet to catch sweets, paired with light effects that change what you think you are seeing. If your group likes games and motion, this is where the energy spikes.

Not every exhibit is equally intense, but the sheer volume matters. You can skim a little and still feel satisfied, or you can slow down to re-check certain illusions. Either way, two hours is enough time to experience a lot without feeling like you are rushing through a checklist.

The Ehrlich Brothers magic workshop, from impossible props to suitcase-scale wonder

The “workshop” is where the House of Magic earns its reputation. It is not just a room full of cool things to look at. It is staged to feel like you are learning the rules of magic by encountering them.

The prop list you are likely to see includes strange transformations and behaviors that challenge your expectations. A few examples given are a unicycle that seems to become no-wheel, a self-turning book, and an infinite store box. Even if you do not figure out every mechanism, these props set the tone: this is magic that you test with your eyes and your hands.

Then you get the clever scale shift. The experience takes you into an Ehrlich Brothers suitcase scene, where suddenly everything around you is huge, because you are playing the role of something tiny. That is a smart trick for families, because it makes you feel part of the action without needing any special gear.

If you have ever worried that a magic exhibit might be too “adult” and abstract, this part helps. The scenes are visual, playful, and built for different ages. Kids usually love it because it turns the room into a physical world with characters and props, not just illusions.

Shadows and mirrors rooms, where the best photos happen

If you care about photos that look like real magic, the shadows and mirrors areas are where you will spend time. The show uses multiple layers: shadows, mirror angles, and sculptures that cast surprising images on walls. The goal is to make your brain question what is solid and what is just light.

In these rooms, you can run into effects that make shadows look like they have their own life, and mirrors that make visitors appear invisible in a way that feels instantly shareable. The practical advantage is simple: you do not have to pose in a complicated way. You just need to stand where the illusion works, and the room will do the rest.

There is also a photo-first mindset throughout the venue. You can take a selfie in front of themed vehicles, including a giant monster truck and a golden Lamborghini. These are fun because they connect the magic theme with real “wow” visuals. You get the feeling of being inside a larger production, not a small indoor set.

One more note: the venue explicitly allows photos and videos throughout, so you will not feel guilty about recording. That matters because a lot of families want to capture the highlights and not rely on memory alone.

Flying in VR and feeling teleportation, the two biggest tech moments

The House of Magic steps into technology with two headline experiences: a virtual reality ride and a teleportation moment. These are not just for thrill seekers. They also help break up the mostly “look and try” rhythm of the exhibits.

In the VR section, you test flying skills in a daring flight. That is a structured, guided experience, which can be reassuring if you have younger kids who get overstimulated in open-ended areas. You get a clear start, a clear moment, and a clear end.

Teleportation is the other big tech style effect. Up to now, teleportation is mostly sci-fi. Here, the experience is set up so you feel what it is like to be teleported from one place to another. The value of this is that it is not just a clever trick with mirrors. It is staged like a transition, which makes the overall tour feel like a sequence of scenes, not disconnected rooms.

If your group is sensitive to flashing lights or big sensory changes, treat these as the main pacing points. Not because the venue warns you here, but because in any tech effect, your group may react differently. If you know your group needs calmer moments, plan to mix tech with the more hands-on puzzle areas.

Learning magic: 360-degree cinema tricks and a 360° style lesson

One of the included parts is learning cool magic tricks. In the 360-degree cinema, the Ehrlich Brothers explain tricks on screen, including a trick from their live show. That turns the experience from “watch me, go home” into “take something away.”

This is also where you get a sense of how the show thinks. Instead of just telling you the result, the cinema section is built to guide you through the idea of how magic is staged. Even if you do not master the trick immediately, the learning moment can be a big highlight for families, especially older kids who want something they can practice later.

You also get a free online workshop with the Ehrlich Brothers. That is a strong value add because it extends the experience beyond the two hours in the building. It gives you a reason to look up the follow-up content instead of leaving with only photos.

If you are traveling with a group that loves to perform, this is one of the few attractions that gives you an actual next step. The show ends, but the magic does not have to.

Photo motifs, costumes, and the instant wow factor

The House of Magic includes stage outfits from the Ehrlich Brothers tour shows. For fans, that is a tangible connection to the larger brand. For families who do not know the shows, it still works because costumes look cool and they help anchor the magic world.

Then there are the big, attention-grabbing photo motifs. The monster truck and the golden Lamborghini are classic “big shape, instant picture” attractions. You can grab a selfie in front of them without waiting in line for a single perfect shot. It is the kind of photo spot that works even if you are moving with kids who have short patience for waiting.

You will also find an extra room with particularly unusual motifs, plus head and floating style effects. Those sound like the kind of surreal, play-with-your-imagination moments that kids remember. The adult brain will try to explain how it works, while the kid brain just enjoys that it is happening.

Pace and timing, so you do not feel rushed

The ticket is valid for the selected date and time. That means you should treat your arrival like an appointment. If you are late, the venue tries to let you join later, but only if there are enough places available. So the practical advice is simple: show up early enough to get settled and find your start point without panic.

Two hours is the time window, and the best use of it is to mix “try everything quickly” with “slow down for the rooms that grab you.” If you sprint through, you might miss the best photo spots or the illusions that take a few attempts to see clearly.

Also, note the age and entry rules. Unaccompanied minors are not allowed. Children may only participate if accompanied by an adult. People with epilepsy are not suitable. Children under 3 are not suitable. If you have a mixed-age group, you will have the smoothest experience by planning around the age limits and energy levels.

The place is designed for family fun, and that shows in the pacing. It does not rely on long explanations. It relies on motion, light, and you being willing to try.

Price and value at about $29 per person

At around $29 per person for a 1 day visit, the value depends on how you like to travel. If you enjoy interactive experiences where your group is doing the activity, this price can feel fair fast. You are getting access to 110+ exhibits, a two-hour block of puzzles and illusions, magic trick learning in the 360 cinema, and even a free online workshop follow-up.

If you are the type who wants a quiet hour of sightseeing and reading placards, this might feel too active for your style. But if you want something weather-resistant, family-focused, and easy to understand in minutes, House of Magic is a strong option.

There is also an optional guide you can book for an extra cost, to walk you through the exhibition. You do not need that to have fun, but if you want help pacing the experience or making sure you do not miss certain illusions, it might be worth it for your group.

Rules that affect the experience, from what you can bring to who can enter

A few rules matter for how smoothly your visit goes.

Not allowed include alcohol and drugs, smoking, weapons or sharp objects, food and drinks, and pets. The food and drink rule is the one that catches people off guard, especially when traveling with kids. Plan ahead by eating before you arrive, then enjoy the show.

Unaccompanied minors are not allowed, so you will need an adult in the group. Children may only participate if accompanied by an adult.

If anyone in your party has epilepsy, this attraction is not suitable. Also, children under 3 are not suitable.

On the positive side, photos and videos are welcome everywhere in the House of Magic. That means you can focus on fun and sharing, not on worrying about whether filming is allowed.

Should you book House of Magic in Oberhausen?

Book it if you want a family-friendly attraction that is built for participation, not passive viewing. I think it is especially worth it when you have kids who like hands-on puzzles, playful visual tricks, and chances to try things themselves. The combination of 110+ interactive exhibits, the magic workshop-style rooms, and the VR plus teleportation moments creates enough variety that most groups stay engaged.

I would skip it, or choose a different type of outing, if your group needs a calm environment, hates tech-based effects, or expects everything to look perfectly new. There can also be a hint of “some exhibits could be in better condition,” so keep your expectations grounded in the goal: fun, not a pristine exhibit hall.

If you want one ticket that can keep mixed ages busy for about two hours in a single location, this one is an easy recommendation.

FAQ

How long is the House of Magic visit?

The ticket includes two hours of puzzles, games, and illusions.

Where is the House of Magic located?

It is located directly at the Westfield Centro Promenade in Oberhausen.

How many exhibits are included?

You can discover and try out over 110 magical exhibits.

Is there a magic workshop during the experience?

Yes. The experience includes a magic workshop with mysterious objects and illusion-style effects.

Are virtual reality and teleportation part of the experience?

Yes. There is a virtual reality ride for flying skills, and there is also an experience where you can feel what teleportation is like.

Can I take photos and videos inside?

Yes. There are opportunities to take photos and videos throughout the House of Magic.

Is food and drink allowed inside?

No. Food and drinks are not allowed.

Are unaccompanied minors allowed?

No. Unaccompanied minors are not allowed, and children must participate with an adult.

What age requirements apply?

Children under 3 years are not suitable, and people with epilepsy are not suitable.

Is a guide included in the ticket price?

A guide is not included. You can book a guide for an extra cost if you want someone to take you through the exhibition.