Your Visit
National Centre for Circus Arts is based in the heart of Shoreditch.
Our building began as an electricity generating station in 1896, making it perfect with its industrial high ceilings to be a home of circus arts today. We have a many different spaces and studios suitable for all our audience and participants.
Access in our building
Wheelchair access
Our building offers wheelchair access throughout our ground floor level, including wheelchair access at our Reception. Our classes and activity mainly operate at a ground floor level.
Toilets
We have accessible toilets on site.
Seating in Reception Area
As a standard rule, we do not offer seating in our Reception area as it is classed as a fire hazard, however if you or someone with you requires seating, our Duty Manager are able to provide this for you upon request.
Quiet Spaces
We can offer quieter, lower-sensory spaces for participants who may need a calm environment at any point during their visit—just let a member of our team know.
Accessible Parking
We do offer, limited, accessible parking on site. Please speak to Reception for details, 02076134141.
Dogs
We allow therapy, guide and hearing dogs on site here at National Centre for Circus Arts.
Our Spaces
Our spaces can be broken down into 6 main spaces. All of our rooms are designed with their high ceilings, multiple rigging points and as beautiful spaces, to be perfect for all things circus. There are lots of interesting bits of equipment, especially around the edges of our spaces. Although tempting to touch, it can be dangerous to do so – always listen to the staff for support with this.
Check out our Virtual Tour of the building here!
When you arrive in the building, you will be greeted by a PFC or Duty Manager. Our Reception area may be noisy at key times. See below for details and times.
Also called the GC. It's a large space with high ceilings. You are able to look into the space through windows from the reception - this may help before you enter. It can get busy, if a lot of people are training, or a few classes are taking place at the same time. It can be noisy, especially with music playing and lots of people. It is a bright space.
Also called MS. This is a smaller space with high ceilings. It has one window. There is air conditioning which can help when it is hot weather. It is usually a calm space. It is a bright space.
Also called the TS. This is a smaller space with high ceilings - but lower than the others. It has lots of windows, and is bright. It will get very hot, when there is hot weather. It is usually a calm space. There are mirrors along one wall, that can be covered by curtains. The only equipment permanently in this space are the tightwire, bars and floor mats.
Although busy in this photo, this space is usually calm. People using it may be having a snack / lunch break, on their computers, talking or there may be some balance or manipulation training. There are chairs to sit on and a couple of round tables. There are sometimes cushions available. Doors lead into the GC and the outdoors courtyard.
Also called the CC. It's a large space with high ceilings. You are able to look into the space through the main entrance - this may help before you enter. It can get busy, if a lot of people are training, or a few classes are taking place at the same time. It can be noisy, especially with music playing and people calling out and laughing. It is a darker space. There is underfloor heating.
Also called the AS. This is a small space, with no windows. It has a sprung, bouncy floor and mats along the walls. There is air conditioning which can help when it is hot weather. It can be accessed from the GC or the corridor. It has lots of crash mats in it, and other blocks and trampettes that help with acrobatics.
More information
We can offer familiarisation tours. Depending on the purpose of your visit, different departments can offer you a tour to suit your interests. The best way to set this up is to contact info@nationalcircus.org.ukand they will forward your request onto the right team.
Please contact participation@nationalcircus.org.uk will be able to help you if you are a parent / carer interested in Sensory Circus.
It’s possible to increase (or even decrease) the size of all the text on the pages of most websites. You can do this by using the font size controls integrated in your web browser. Web browsers all do this differently, but in general you should look at the options in the browser’s ‘View’ menu, failing which, consult your browser’s Help documentation. Here are some specific instructions for some of the more popular browsers.
CHROME (MAC AND PC)
Go to the ‘Menu’ icon and choose a ‘Zoom’ level, or alternatively you can use the CTRL key with the plus or minus to increase or decrease the size.
FIREFOX (MAC AND PC)
Go to the ‘Firefox’ menu, selecet ‘Options’ and change settings under the ‘Content’ tab, or alternatively you can use the CTRL key with the plus or minus to increase or decrease the size.
INTERNET EXPLORER 8+ (PC)
Go to the ‘View’ menu, ‘Text Size’, and select your desired setting. The default is medium. Alternatively, if you have a mouse with a wheel you can hold the CTRL key on your keyboard whilst scrolling up or down with the wheel to alter the text size.
OPERA (MAC AND PC)
Go to the ‘Opera’ menu, hover on ‘Page, and hover on ‘Zoom’ to select a setting , or alternatively you can use the CTRL key with the plus or minus to increase or decrease the size.
SAFARI (MAC AND PC)
Go the ‘View’ menu and use the ‘Zoom In’ and ‘Zoom Out’ menu items. Alternatively you can use the option key with + or – to increase or decrease the text size..
Our reception area can be a bit noisy at times with our different classes starting at different times. We have noted below a few times where it may be busier than others:
Weekdays:
- 5pm
- 6pm
Saturdays:
- 10am
- 11am
- 12pm
- 1.15pm
- 2.15pm
- 3.15pm
Sundays:
- 10am – 4pm
We can offer quieter, lower-sensory spaces for participants who may need a calm environment at any point during their visit—just let a member of our team know.
Above, we have included information about our building, access & what to expect. This includes, photographs of our spaces, advice on how to get here and much more.
If you have any questions, please email info@nationalcircus.org.uk. Our team will be more than happy to help with your enquiry.
How to get to our building!
We are in a very convenient location, near many bus stops & the nearest underground station being Old Street.
Old Street Underground Station (Northern Line) is 6 mins away and just two stops from St. Pancras International Rail Station. The London Overground network is close by,as well as numerous bus routes, making National Centre for Circus Arts easily accessible from all areas of London.