News, events and schools' information for families across Bath and West Wiltshire

The ever-excellent Giffords Circus is back on tour from April with its brand new show, The Hooley, taking in venues across the West Country, including a new stop off at Bowood House and Gardens in Wiltshire.

“There will be fairies, trolls, pixies, leprechauns, wild horses, Celtic music and dancing and all the madcap magic that Giffords is synonymous for,” said show director, Cal McCrystal.

Ahead of the tour opening on the 9 April, a map has been posted to all people on the Giffords Circus mailing list across the UK. A map with Tales Of Folk and Fae To guide you on The Giffords Way

The Hooley map has been designed, hand illustrated and produced by Joe Avery and Hannah Olley in the Giffords Art Department and covers the route of the Giffords Circus tour, from Minchinhampton and Fennells Farm in the west across to Chiswick House and Gardens and Morden Hall Park in the east. The map includes folk tales and legends along the route such as the white horses of Wiltshire, Neolithic earthworks, long barrows and standing stones.

To celebrate Giffords Circus’ 20th year, 100 unique coins have been hand forged by the Giffords Circus trolls. Tweedy the clown will hide the coins at the circus grounds and some of the places detailed in the map. The coins will be hidden to coincide with the circus arrival at each ground and clues to their whereabouts will be shared on social media. Coins won’t be buried and it will provide a fun family activity to search for them, a little like geocaching.

Giffords Circus is opening earlier in the year on 9 April, in time for the Easter holidays. Two new grounds have been added to the exciting 2020 tour – Bowood House & Gardens in Wiltshire and National Trust owned Morden Hall Park in south London.

GIFFORDS CIRCUS – THE HOOLEY TOUR DATES

Thursday 9 April – Monday 20 April Fennells Farm, Stroud, Gloucestershire

Thursday 23 April – Monday 4 May *NEW* Bowood House & Gardens, Wiltshire

Thursday 7 May – Monday 18 May Daylesford Organic Farm, Kingham, Gloucestershire

Thursday 21 May – Monday 1 June Sudeley Castle, Winchcombe, Gloucestershire

Thursday 4 June – Monday 8 June Blenheim Palace, Oxfordshire

Thursday 11 June – Monday 22 June Oxford University Parks, Oxford

Thursday 25 June – Monday 13 July Chiswick House & Gardens, London

Thursday 16 July – Monday 20 July *NEW* Morden Hall Park, London

Thursday 23 July – Monday 3 August Stonor Park, Oxfordshire

Thursday 6 August – Monday 17 August Barrington, Burford, Oxfordshire

Thursday 20 August – Tuesday 1 September Minchinhampton Common, Gloucestershire

Friday 4 September – Monday 7 September Marlborough Common, Wiltshire

Thursday 10 September – Monday 14 September Stratton Meadows, Cirencester, Gloucestershire

Thursday 17 September – 27 September Fennells Farm, Stroud, Gloucestershire

To purchase tickets and find out more please click here