The Circus

Built in that characteristic golden honey coloured local stone these impressive dwellings form a Roman style centrepiece for this part of Bath. Only downside is the amount of traffic, and subsequent fumes , due to the lack of car parking in this old city . Worth a wander around.

Frequent visitor to Bath so rather than stay in a hotel for a change we rented an apartment. 18 The Circus. Was advertised and thought we’d go for it. The place is amazing. Spacious, comfortable, clean and quiet considering it is only a few minutes walk to the centre of Bath. There is a kitchen hidden away if you didn’t fancy going out for a meal as well as a washer/dryer ( which in winter, in the UK in necessary). And unlike a lots of places the parking was free while we were there

Bath is famous for its Georgian architecture and the Circus doesn't disappoint. Comparisons are often made between the Circus and the Crescent with differing opinions on which is the best and most intricate in design. Visit both and decide for yourself. Expect a bit of a climb up the hill.

Much like the Royal Crescent, the Circus is another striking masterpiece of Georgian architecture. Take the time to walk around the three curved segments of the Circus and admire the Grade I listed townhouses which I can’t afford.

Not sure if it's a regular thing, but people seem to dress up in period clothing and wander around this area and the Royal Precent, which added a little extra drama to the visit.

Bath is a stunning city perched on a steep hillside. The approach by car is very pretty. The Circus is so unusual, that it is a must do when you're exploring Bath - be prepared for a bit of a climb! The only thing spoiling the viewing is the modern cars!

We were truly amazed at the architecture of the buildings a true step back in time. Remove the cars and you would definitely feel you had stepped into the history books. Well preserved and breathtaking, we felt the Circus was by far superior to the Cresent buildings, but both should be preserved.

We saw this lovely location as part of a walking tour and would recommend it since the walking tours cover all the major attractions which are surprisingly close to each other. This is only round the corner from the Royal Crescent but we would not have found it easily.
The architecture is the main attraction but there is an interesting history to the area too.

The second part of a three part Bath Georgian development of John Wood, the Elder and John Wood, the Younger between Queen's Square and Royal Crescent both in location and time. It is also this development that sees the transition from father to son as John Wood, the Elder died shortly after construction of the Circus began.

Yes Queen's Square is beautiful and the flat Palladian architecture that would come to define Bath starts there. However, it is the curved structures of the Circus and Royal Crescent where the development goes beyond simple architecture to historic and cultural. Both the Circus and Crescent are true gems that bring people from around the world to see them.

While the Crescent does get more acclaim and recognition, in person, I was more impressed by the Circus. Yes the Crescent has the beautiful green field in front of it and a hillside view over the Avon valley that the others do not. However, when simply looking a the buildings, design and construction, it is the Circus that is more distinguished and impressive.

First the unbelievably round symmetry is something you can only truly experience in person in the circus. Second the detail on the buildings themselves is much more in the Circus than any other development. As a part of that the three levels of the buildings each have a different column Doric on the ground floor, Ionic on the first floor and Corinthian on the second floor. In addition, each section of columns is capped at the roof line by an acorn with is a symbol of the city of Bath. Finally on the ground floor there is freeze work that incorporates detailed carvings.

In the center of the circus is a round, green park with 5 oak trees. While beautiful, standing in the midst of the trees provides a totally balanced echo from the circle around you. Again it is just another thing that you can't really explain in a review, you simply have to go and experience this in person.

We arrived here on a self-guided tour. The circus is a cascading site to the eye: it has an iconic shape and serenity about it. Walking around, you glance at the houses and follow the decorations seen on the outside: snakes, owls, anchors… there are many decorative pieces to admire. There is a lovely tree in the centre of the roundabout to give this area a privatised and natural essence. The architect clearly knew what he was doing.

Visited The Circus early yesterday evening for dinner - we were lucky and managed to secure a table outside in the evening sun at last minute after our plans changed. Short stroll from The Royal Crescent Hotel where we were staying. The welcome was so warm and friendly and the food was delicious - didn’t have room for dessert after our very good starters and mains. The fish of the day was cooked perfectly and my husband really enjoyed his steak. We had sardines and courgette fritters to kick things off - both also very good. My husband enjoyed a couple of negroni’s too, expertly made and infinitely better than the ones he had at The Royal Crescent Hotel. Really good food served with a smile. If we visit Bath again we will be sure to return.