The Historic Hippodrome is Britain’s only surviving TOTAL Circus Building, built in 1903 by the legendary Circus showman George Gilbert. Throughout the century the intimate arena has played host to an incredible variety of entertainment, from amazing water spectacles and stage variety shows to cinema and cine variety and even wartime use as a military practice shooting range! – Apart from always presenting the very best in Circus, Lloyd George held political rallies here – Lily Langtry sang, Little Titch clowned, Max Miller joked, Houdini escaped. The world’s finest clowns and circus personalities performed – ALL experienced the Hippodrome’s unique atmosphere. Its likely that even Charlie Chaplin performed here as a child actor before finding Fame in America!