The Circus
About
The Circus is John Wood the Elder's Georgian masterpiece — a circle of 33 terraced houses arranged around a central garden that creates one of the most perfectly proportioned urban spaces in Europe. Built between 1754 and 1768, it was inspired by the Colosseum in Rome (turned inside out, with the columns facing outward) and by Stonehenge (the diameter is identical). The three curved terraces are identical in design, with Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian columns rising through the floors. The frieze running along the top of the ground floor features 525 individually carved emblems — acorns, serpents, nautical instruments, and Masonic symbols that have fuelled speculation about Wood's connections to Freemasonry. Plane trees in the central garden (originally left open to reveal the full circle) now provide a green canopy. The Circus has housed some notable residents: Thomas Gainsborough, Clive of India, and David Livingstone all lived here. It's a five-minute walk from the Royal Crescent, and the two together — connected by Brock Street — represent the pinnacle of Georgian urban planning. Best appreciated by standing in the centre and slowly turning.
Opening Times
Viewable 24 hours. Central garden accessible during daylight hours.
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