Tricks of the Trade: Seven Magnificent Holiday Ideas for Magic Fans
By Richard Jones
If you’ve been watching the latest series of Britain’s Got Talent, you may have been mesmerised by some of the magicians taking to the stage and amazing Simon Cowell and co with their jaw-dropping illusions and sleight-of-hand tricks.
With Magic Day just around the corner on June 12, we take a look at seven places to visit if you’re a fan of all things magical.
Illusions Theatre – Outrigger Koh Samui Beach Resort, Thailand
Anyone who’s been to Thailand will tell you that it is a magical holiday destination, with no end of beaches, delicious food, shopping and nightlife. And now the Southeast Asian country is even more enchanting thanks to the opening of the new Illusions Theatre magic show which takes place six nights a week in a special 71-seater auditorium at the family friendly Outrigger Koh Samui Beach Resort. At 7pm every evening, resident magician Ed Clarke puts on a show for kids, before an adult-themed performance two hours later. The shows are a perfect balance of visual magic, mind reading and amazing illusions and there’s great food and drink in the Outrigger bars and restaurants before and after the show.
illusionskohsamui.com
outrigger.com
Warner Bros Studio Tour – The Making of Harry Potter, Watford
If you love the Harry Potter films as much as the books, then this jaw-dropping studio tour should be on your radar. Wander through iconic sets from the Great Hall to the Gryffindor Common room, get up close to the costumes and props and learn heaps of fascinating secrets. There are even green-screen experiences if you fancy creating some magical film moments of your own. Brand new for 2023 is Discovering Hogwarts, in which visitors are invited to explore Harry’s early years at the school with some of fans’ favourite scenes brought to life. You can also get hands on and create an origami Sorting Ceremony chatterbox to take away.
wbstudiotour.co.uk
Gardaland Magic Hotel – Lake Garda, Italy
Just minutes from the world-famous Gardaland park, this new themed hotel, complete with a giant wizard’s hat entrance, is centred around Foresta Incantata (Enchanted Forest). The highlights are the bedrooms, designed with three themes in mind – enchanted forest, magic crystal and wizards. Decorated corridors lead you to the 128 rooms and each one comes with its own unique décor – think giant mushroom and vines, icicles and dragons and spell books. The Magic Hotel shares facilities with the other hotels, which means you can splash in the pool at the Gardaland Hotel Resort, dine at the Adventure Hotel’s Tutankhamon à la carte restaurant and lap up the evening entertainment.
gardaland.it
Stephen Mulhern – Butlin’s
The star of In for a Penny, Catchphrase, Rolling In It and Saturday Night Takeaway is back at Butlin’s and has a few new tricks up his sleeve. Not only is the former Redcoat of the UK’s most popular TV presenters, he’s also a world-class magician, and you’ll be in for a treat as he brings the laughs with magic, illusions, games and audience interaction on selected school holiday breaks. Skegness is where the Butlin’s story began, and new for 2023 there is Skypark, a playful world of colour, light, epic climbing towers and thrilling tunnel slides designed to spark young imaginations and encourage exploration.
butlins.com
Marvin’s Magic Academy – Forte Village Resort, Sardinia
Nestled on the exquisite Sardinian coastline, built beneath a lush, wildlife rich, pine-forested mountain range, Forte Village resort’s magnificent, 55-acre complex rolls out onto an award-winningly white beach. Within this Mediterranean paradise is Marvin’s Magic Academy (top image), the first ‘school of wizards’ to be based at a seaside resort. Britain’s very own Michael J Fitch reveals some his closely guarded secrets, including surprising card tricks, sleight of hand with coins, X-ray vision and mind reading.
fortevillageresort.com
Le Musée de la Magie – Paris
Created in 1993, the extraordinary Le Musée de la Magie introduces the public to a 1000-year-old secret art through optical illusions, interactive games and a permanent 20-minute-long magic show. There’s so much to see from magical objects, a hall of mirrors, magic posters and prints, and a guided tour and classes for those that want to know every detail about what they are seeing. Across Paris, at Double Fond theatre cafe, you can sit on the outdoor patio and enjoy a great meal and a glass of wine, while being entertained by your waiter/magician.
museedelamagie.com
doublefond.com
Magic shows – Las Vegas
When it comes to magic shows, Sin City in home to some of the best. From larger-than-life productions to head-scratching close-up card tricks, when the curtain rises in Vegas, you’re in for a stupefying evening. Among the most popular is Criss Angel Mindfreak at Planet Hollywood that integrates cutting-edge technology. Meanwhile, over at MGM Grand, the ‘greatest illusionist of our time’ David Copperfield has a residency, and at Rio, Penn & Teller present an edgy mix of magic and comedy that blends guns, knives, gorillas and fire. David Blaine, Piff The Magic Dragon and House of Magic are also must sees.
visitlasvegas.com
