The Circus
A Georgian masterpiece of three curved terraces of houses, just one street away from the Royal Crescent.
The Circus was designed by John Wood the Elder and completed by his son John Wood the Younger in 1768. Three curved terraces containing 33 houses in total enclose a circle about 97 metres across, with tall plane trees in the centre. The three levels of the façade use Doric, Ionic and Corinthian orders respectively. The frieze is carved with more than 500 symbolic motifs, and the roof parapet is decorated with stone acorns. The painter Gainsborough once lived at No. 17. Admission is free. Walking three minutes west along Brock Street brings you to the Royal Crescent, so the two are easy to visit together.
Opening hours
All day (private residence; exterior only)
Nearby sights
- Jane Austen Centre
- Royal Crescent
- Thermae Bath Spa
- Roman Baths
- Pulteney Bridge
- Bath Abbey
- Sally Lunn's Historic Eating House
- Holburne Museum