Oberhausen: HOUSE OF MAGIC – powered by Ehrlich Brothers

The most fun part of HOUSE OF MAGIC is that you are not simply watching a magic show. You test the tricks yourself. You turn pages in a book that appears to move on its own, hunt for illusions in mirrors and shadows, bounce across a giant tablet, and enter the Ehrlich Brothers’ oversized suitcase as if you had shrunk to mouse size.

I like the mix of hands-on puzzles and large photo scenes, especially the chance to pose beside a giant monster truck and a golden Lamborghini. I also like that the magic workshop teaches real tricks, including one explained on screen by the Ehrlich Brothers in the 360-degree cinema. The main drawback is that some exhibits may show wear, and the experience is strongest for families who enjoy playing rather than for anyone seeking a traditional stage performance.

Quick points to know

• 110-plus exhibits: Expect puzzles, games, optical illusions, light effects, mirrors, and strange objects that invite you to try them yourself.
• A real magic workshop: Guides carry tricks, and the 360-degree cinema explains a trick from an Ehrlich Brothers live show.
• Big photo moments: Take pictures with original show props, a giant monster truck, a golden Lamborghini, and unusual illusion sets.
• Virtual reality and teleportation: Test a daring virtual flight and experience the sensation of moving from one place to another.
• Easy Centro location: The attraction sits on the Westfield Centro Promenade, with free parking in multistorey car parks 1 and 2.
• Plan for about two hours: Your ticket is tied to a selected date and time, even though it is valid for one day.

A magic playground at Westfield Centro

The House of Magic sits directly on the Westfield Centro Promenade in Oberhausen, Northern Germany. From the promenade, take the escalator and you arrive in front of the attraction. If you drive, free parking is available in multistorey car parks 1 and 2, and car park 1 connects directly to the attraction via level 2.

This location makes the visit easy to fit into a larger day at Centro. You do not need to build a complicated transport plan around it. The practical catch is timing: your ticket is valid for the date and time you select, so treat the entry slot seriously. If you arrive late, staff may try to place you in a later slot, but only if space allows.

The ticket costs about $29 per person. That is not bargain admission for a quick look at displays, but the price makes more sense if you use the interactive parts, photo rooms, magic lessons, and virtual reality ride. You receive roughly two hours of puzzles, games, and illusions, plus access to the free online workshop after the visit.

I would not book this mainly to admire stage costumes behind glass. I would book it for a playful family outing where children and adults can touch, test, pose, and try again.

Shrinking into the Ehrlich Brothers’ suitcase

One of the strongest ideas here is scale. In one area, you become mouse-sized and enter a suitcase belonging to the Ehrlich Brothers. Ordinary objects suddenly look enormous, which gives children a simple way to understand the attraction’s approach: the world is familiar, but the rules have been bent.

The suitcase section is more than a photo backdrop. It helps connect the exhibits to the brothers’ touring shows and gives you a sense of what it might feel like to enter a magician’s working world. You may find yourself looking at everyday objects differently after that.

The magic workshop continues the same playful mood. A unicycle turns into a no-wheel object. A book turns its pages by itself. A box seems to hold an endless supply. The point is not to explain every secret in a museum label. The point is to let you test the object and ask how it works.

That hands-on design matters if you are visiting with children. A child who loses interest in a display can usually move on to the next puzzle or try the same trick again. Adults get a fair chance to play too, which helps the visit feel like a shared activity rather than a children’s attraction where parents simply wait nearby.

Mirrors, shadows, and light that refuse to behave

The illusion rooms use familiar materials in surprising ways. Mirrors can make you appear invisible. Shadows take on a life of their own. Sculptures cast unexpected pictures onto walls, and light effects change what you think you are seeing.

These exhibits reward patience. If you rush through, you may notice only the first visual joke. Take a moment to shift your position, watch the wall, or look at the object from a different angle. The trick often depends on where you stand and what you expect to happen.

I especially like this section for mixed-age groups. Younger children can react to the visual surprise, while older children and adults can think about the mechanics behind it. It also gives you a break from buttons and screens. Not every attraction here asks you to operate a machine.

Some equipment may not be in perfect condition. That point is worth keeping in mind when you compare the $29 cost with your expectations. You are paying for the whole collection of activities, not for every single exhibit to feel brand new.

Stage props, costumes, and the best photo stops

The House of Magic includes selected stage outfits from the Ehrlich Brothers and original exhibits connected with their spectacular tour shows. These displays give fans a closer look at the objects behind the performance, though they are only one part of a much larger visit.

The photo opportunities are a major reason to bring your phone. You can pose in front of a giant monster truck or a golden Lamborghini, then move to an extra room filled with unusual visual setups. One scene makes it look as if your head is being grilled. Another creates the illusion that the Ehrlich Brothers are making you float.

These are playful images rather than formal portraits. Plan to take several attempts, since the angle and position affect the result. The attraction allows photos and videos throughout the House of Magic, so you can share the tricks and scenes with friends on social media.

You should also remember the basic restrictions. Food and drinks are not allowed inside, and smoking, alcohol, drugs, weapons, sharp objects, and pets are prohibited. Keep your phone ready, but follow staff instructions around the exhibits.

The virtual broom flight and a taste of teleportation

If you want the most high-tech parts of the visit, head for the virtual reality ride. You can test your flying skills on a daring flight, described as a broom ride. This adds motion and a stronger sense of action to a visit that otherwise moves between physical puzzles and optical effects.

The attraction also presents teleportation as something you can feel rather than simply watch in a film. The exact sensation depends on the installation and your reaction to it, but the goal is clear: to make moving from one place to another feel like a live magic trick.

These activities may not suit everyone. People with epilepsy should not book this experience, and children under three are not permitted. If someone in your group is sensitive to visual effects or virtual reality, the rooms with mirrors, shadows, and hands-on puzzles provide other ways to enjoy the visit, but the attraction as a whole is built around visual surprises.

Learning a trick in the 360-degree cinema

The magic lessons give the House of Magic more lasting value than a one-time photo stop. Guides have magic tricks with them, and the 360-degree cinema explains one trick from an Ehrlich Brothers live show on screen.

You should pay attention during this section and plan to practice afterward. The included online workshop lets you continue learning at home, which is a useful extra for families. A child may forget a visual illusion after a few days, but a simple trick they can perform for friends or relatives has a longer life.

The information does not name individual guides, so you should not expect a named performer or a scheduled stage show. Think of the staff-led tricks as part of the exhibition rather than a full theatrical performance. That distinction helps set the right expectation.

The 360-degree cinema also gives you a chance to sit down after moving through the more active rooms. For a family with different energy levels, that pause can be welcome.

How long you need and who will enjoy it

The paid admission covers about two hours of puzzles, games, and illusions. The booking information also describes the ticket as valid for one day, but your entry remains tied to the selected date and time. In practical terms, reserve enough time to arrive before your slot, then plan around a two-hour visit.

I would allow extra time at Centro if you want to eat or shop before or after, but food and drinks cannot be taken into the House of Magic. The attraction itself is not described as a guided tour. A guide can be booked for an additional fee if you want someone to lead you through the exhibition.

This experience suits:

• Families with children aged three and up
• Ehrlich Brothers fans who want to see original props and costumes
• Adults who enjoy optical illusions and unusual photographs
• Groups looking for an indoor activity at Westfield Centro
• Anyone who likes learning simple magic tricks

It is less suitable if you want a quiet museum visit, a full live magic performance, or a tightly narrated tour. The attraction asks you to participate. You will get more from it if you are willing to press buttons, test puzzles, pose for photos, and try the same illusion from more than one angle.

Children may participate only with an adult, and unaccompanied minors are not allowed. Birthday children of any age receive free admission when they show an identity card. For people with the corresponding B entitlement, proof by identity card is required, and the accompanying person enters free while the person with the entitlement pays full admission.

Is $29 fair for the visit?

At $29, I see the House of Magic as a mid-priced family attraction rather than a quick museum stop. The value depends on how many parts you use. If you spend the entire visit trying exhibits, taking photos, joining the workshop, and using the virtual reality attraction, the cost is easier to justify.

The free online workshop adds value after you leave. So does the wide age range. One family can split its attention between simple puzzles, visual tricks, original show objects, and more dramatic photo scenes without needing separate activities for every age.

The price feels less convincing if you are only interested in the Ehrlich Brothers themselves. The costumes and props are worth seeing, but the main attraction is the interactive collection around them. Fans may enjoy the connection to the live shows, while newcomers can still have a good time without knowing the brothers’ performances.

The rating of 4.3 from 252 reviews suggests a strong but not flawless response. That fits the practical picture: the concept is fun and varied, while some equipment may need better upkeep. Go expecting a playful exhibition with a few imperfect corners, not a polished theater production.

Booking advice for a smoother visit

Book a time when your group can arrive early. Late entry is not guaranteed, and the ticket is valid only for the chosen date and time. Bring a phone with room for photos and videos, since the attraction encourages you to record the visual tricks.

Wear something comfortable enough for standing, moving between exhibits, and taking part in active installations. The supplied information does not promise that every exhibit will be suitable for every mobility need, so contact the venue before booking if your group has specific access requirements.

If you want a guide, reserve one as an extra rather than assuming the standard ticket includes a tour. The regular admission already includes the exhibits, magic tricks from guides, the 360-degree cinema lesson, and the online workshop.

Cancellation is flexible up to 24 hours before the experience for a full refund, and you can reserve now and pay later. Those terms help if your Centro plans are still changing.

Should you book HOUSE OF MAGIC?

Book it if you want an active, indoor family outing with more than 110 things to test. The strongest reasons are the mix of optical illusions, original Ehrlich Brothers props, unusual photos, virtual reality flight, teleportation effects, and magic lessons you can continue at home.

I would give it a pass if your group dislikes flashing visual effects, cannot manage a two-hour interactive visit, or expects a traditional stage show. People with epilepsy and children under three should not attend.

For most families, the best plan is to treat the House of Magic as a playful two-hour stop at Westfield Centro. Arrive on time, use the photo rooms, try the puzzles instead of merely watching, and stay for the magic lesson. That is where the $29 admission earns its keep.

FAQ

Where is the HOUSE OF MAGIC in Oberhausen?

It is directly on the Westfield Centro Promenade. From the promenade, take the escalator and you will arrive in front of the attraction.

Is parking available?

Yes. Free parking is available at Westfield Centro in multistorey car parks 1 and 2. From car park 1, you can reach the attraction directly via level 2.

How long does the visit take?

The admission includes about two hours of puzzles, games, and illusions. The ticket is valid for the selected date and time, so arrive on time for your slot.

Are magic lessons included?

Yes. Guides have magic tricks, and the Ehrlich Brothers explain a trick from their live shows on screen in the 360-degree cinema. A free online workshop is also included.

Can children visit alone?

No. Children may participate only when accompanied by an adult, and unaccompanied minors are not allowed.

Who should not visit the attraction?

The experience is not suitable for people with epilepsy or children under three. Alcohol, drugs, smoking, weapons, sharp objects, food, drinks, and pets are not allowed.