Hippodrome Circus
BEST FOR
Up to age 14
ENTRY
from £12
WHERE
Great Yarmouth
What it’s like
A proper circus show with acrobats and animal performers, two hours long with an interval, and no clowns in sight.
Two halves of 50 minutes each, with a 20-minute interval to get the popcorn in, and a full circus bill of acrobats and animal performers rather than a single act stretched thin. They're clear on one point: no clowns, ever, though they promise the comedy still lands. If your crew were expecting big shoes and red noses, manage expectations before you go in.
Tickets are charged per seat, so a small child on your lap costs nothing, which is a fair way to do it if you've got a toddler who won't sit still for two hours anyway. On that note, the show runs with proper loud music and stage lighting, and the site itself flags it might be too much for very small children. Fourteen and under counts as a child ticket at £12, adults are £22, and there's a concession rate for over-60s, disabled visitors and carers at £20.
Doors open half an hour before curtain up, and after the show you can drop into the backstage circus museum for a £1 adult and 50p child add-on, a nice way to stretch the visit without much extra spend. There's a café on site for coffee and something to eat either side of the performance. Step-free access, an accessible toilet and a hearing loop are all in place, and wheelchair seating is held in a specific row, though you'll need to book that by phone rather than online to make sure it's set up right.
There's no car park attached, so you're looking at residential streets or the seafront pay and display, worth building a few extra minutes into your journey for on a busy day. If you fancy pushing the boat out, the VIP package throws in skip-the-queue entry, drinks brought to your seat and a light-up souvenir for each child, which turns a night at the circus into more of an occasion.
Facilities
Need to know
- Best for
- School-age kids up to 14; loud and bright, so a big ask for toddlers
- Booking
- Wheelchair spaces bookable only via phone
- Parking
- No on-site parking. Residential area with some free spaces or pay and display parking on seafront
- Food
- Cafe 1903 serves freshly ground artisan coffee, handmade bakes, sandwiches and paninis
- Wheelchairs
- Wheelchair friendly seating in white section Row D, step free access, hearing loop in rows C-F
- Doors open 30 minutes before the performance starts
- Wheelchair seating is in a specific row and needs booking by phone, not online
- Group bookings of 20 or more get special rates
- The backstage museum is only open post-show, so factor in extra time
Plan your visit
How much are tickets?
£22 for adults, £12 for children 14 and under, £20 concessions for over-60s, disabled visitors and carers.
How long does the show last?
Two halves of 50 minutes with a 20-minute interval, so about two hours in total.
Is it suitable for a toddler?
The site leaves it to parents to judge, but they do warn the show has loud music and lighting that may not suit small children.
Do babies need a ticket?
Only if they need their own seat. A child small enough to sit on your lap goes free.
Are there clowns?
None. The site is firm on this: 100% clown free, though they say the comedy is still there.
Is there parking?
Not on site. It's a residential area with some free roadside parking, or pay and display along the seafront.
Can we visit the circus museum too?
Yes, it opens after the show, £1 for adults and 50p for children.
See all Circus & Street Performance in Norwich · Things to do in Norwich
MAKE A DAY OF IT
