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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Is going to the circus a working class activity?

157 replies

Gooseinthewood · 30/08/2026 17:37

I was born and raised quite working class, husband middle class.
I saw tickets advertised for a circus in a nearby town and arranged to take our children. He came along and appreciated the silliness but commented that he was surprised I took them as it's quite a low class activity. Bit tongue in cheek. He doesn't really care, but typically we are more theatre / rugby types.

I have to say he's probably right but I didn't really realise this is a thing.

OP posts:
MeetMeOnTheCorner · 31/08/2026 09:57

@Shloopie Not people with expensive holiday homes. I’m not talking about the average MC! I’m talking about the very high earning mc and people with inherited wealth. As my DDs went to boarding schools I can assure you Disney was not where they went! Ever.

BadLad · 31/08/2026 04:24

I quite enjoy the pantomime even in my fifties. Used to act in am dram pantos among the Middle East expat community when I was younger.

I do make sure to rub humus over myself afterwards, to kill any lingering working class germs.

MandemChickenShop · 30/08/2026 22:51

not if you own the monkeys

allgoodbabybaby · 30/08/2026 21:12

YABU to even care

Mrstawnyowl · 30/08/2026 21:11

Like a pp said, try the Cirque du Soleil. There’s nothing lowbrow about the ticket prices! There are some fantastic death-defying acts too.

Bedroomdilemmas113 · 30/08/2026 21:11

Years ago there was a Pony Club outing to the circus, and you don’t get much more middle class than ponies so…..

But also, what a bizarre train of thought. Young children like what young children like! They don’t know anything about social class.

Realworld10 · 30/08/2026 21:06

I would never have given any thought to it without seeing this post! I wouldn't say it is at all, it's for kids of all backgrounds and I love the shows, especially the magic and incredible trapeze/gymnastic parts. Like pantomines, they're a bit of fun but with a lot of talent involved in both.

I'm just so glad animals aren't involved any more, would never go to a circus with them in an act.

Dontlletmedownbruce · 30/08/2026 21:03

I was raised with a very upwardly mobile family. Hyacinth Bucket style. Parents and GPs absolutely obsessed with being MC. No dear, that's not for people like us. Only common people do that.. such WC banned activities included going to funfairs, hanging laundry on the line and a multitude of other random nonsensical acts. However we went to the circus. The snobby family members have now passed away but there is a part of me gleeful that they never heard of this stereotype. Not only did I get to love a circus but the other Hyacinth Buckets of the town were probably shocked and horrified to see us there

Shloopie · 30/08/2026 21:03

MeetMeOnTheCorner · 30/08/2026 20:36

@Samanthapiggles Rock in Cornwall or similar. Never Disney. North Norfolk. Anywhere where they have houses really! Educated type parents will be in Peru or Kenya with DC. And no - parents won’t have tracksuits and boys won’t have that haircut. Stand outside an expensive Oreo school and note the dc and parents. You might see the odd tracky bums but only very posh ones in the way to yoga.

Middle class people never go to Disney? What piffle.

MeetMeOnTheCorner · 30/08/2026 21:01

@TomatoGlut So? Plenty of other venues too where there is council housing! Just have a fun night!

TomatoGlut · 30/08/2026 21:00

Giffords Circus is very much a middle class affair.

They perform at Sudeley Castle and Blenheim Palace.

Batties · 30/08/2026 20:51

KitsyWitsy · 30/08/2026 18:46

Nope. They have been with school I think and stuff but after the first ones, they refused to go again. My oldest is disabled and they often try get him to go at Christmas etc but he refuses. I don't mind if they go or not but they (and I) just don't find that kind of humour funny. We are a very dry family.

I think we might have had quite different experiences of pantomime. I’m not a huge fan of the slapstick humour that is often associated with panto, but not all pantomimes rely on that type of humour. Some are much more subtle and witty, and I think the quality can vary enormously depending on the production. The last one we saw was Beauty and the Beast and it was quite moving tbh. I guess it was more like a play.

DaysIllRememberAllMyLife · 30/08/2026 20:47

MeetMeOnTheCorner · 30/08/2026 20:36

@Samanthapiggles Rock in Cornwall or similar. Never Disney. North Norfolk. Anywhere where they have houses really! Educated type parents will be in Peru or Kenya with DC. And no - parents won’t have tracksuits and boys won’t have that haircut. Stand outside an expensive Oreo school and note the dc and parents. You might see the odd tracky bums but only very posh ones in the way to yoga.

Lol. Disney is full of middle class parents spouting nonsense about how they've given in to the Disney life and sporting Mickey Mouse ears.

Rock is for wannabees.

grasshopperhop · 30/08/2026 20:47

Wow, in the Cotswolds we have the poshest circus ever known! It’s seriously ‘aspirational’ (Giffords Circus). It’s the place to be!

Perhaps it depends which one!

DaysIllRememberAllMyLife · 30/08/2026 20:45

Do people really talk like this?

The Circus is for the working class dear, why did you take them? Ffs.

Holiday24 · 30/08/2026 20:44

I grew up in a middle class area of the home counties and the circus was always well attended when it passed through. I now live somewhere slightly less salubrious and still enjoy a circus visit.

I don't think it is "class" dependent..! The audience just tends to reflect the demographics of the area.

TomatoGlut · 30/08/2026 20:44

So many of these bullshit made up threads on here today.

Samanthapiggles · 30/08/2026 20:43

MeetMeOnTheCorner · 30/08/2026 20:36

@Samanthapiggles Rock in Cornwall or similar. Never Disney. North Norfolk. Anywhere where they have houses really! Educated type parents will be in Peru or Kenya with DC. And no - parents won’t have tracksuits and boys won’t have that haircut. Stand outside an expensive Oreo school and note the dc and parents. You might see the odd tracky bums but only very posh ones in the way to yoga.

Oof I’m in one of the places you mentioned right now and I’m definitely seeing the majority of little boys wearing tracksuits with partly shaved heads. Certainly none of them are eating gooseberry yogurt and I haven’t heard any “performative talking to toddler language” (there was a thread on here about that once lol) .

Im starting to think the stereotypical middle class family dosent actually exist outside of internet memes.
Practically everyone I come across with kids meets the mumsnet description of working class (as per hobbies, interests and fashion not money or job).

Boreded · 30/08/2026 20:42

MeetMeOnTheCorner · 30/08/2026 20:36

@Samanthapiggles Rock in Cornwall or similar. Never Disney. North Norfolk. Anywhere where they have houses really! Educated type parents will be in Peru or Kenya with DC. And no - parents won’t have tracksuits and boys won’t have that haircut. Stand outside an expensive Oreo school and note the dc and parents. You might see the odd tracky bums but only very posh ones in the way to yoga.

Awwwww never Disney…are you joking. Of course middle class people go to Disney, I know hundreds of middle class people who go to Disney.

I (begrudgingly) would identify as middle class, though I very much feel working class, and I’m sat on a plane on the way to Walt Disney World right now.

lottiegarbanzo · 30/08/2026 20:37

I think circuses sit outside class, they’re silly and a bit subversive.

MeetMeOnTheCorner · 30/08/2026 20:36

@Samanthapiggles Rock in Cornwall or similar. Never Disney. North Norfolk. Anywhere where they have houses really! Educated type parents will be in Peru or Kenya with DC. And no - parents won’t have tracksuits and boys won’t have that haircut. Stand outside an expensive Oreo school and note the dc and parents. You might see the odd tracky bums but only very posh ones in the way to yoga.

ColadhSamh · 30/08/2026 20:30

For someone who is so called middle class your husband is very rude and judgemental.
You are probably very well suited given your own judgemental comments on the other members of the audience.
Better not tell the members of your social circle that you visited the circus. Imagine their horror. 😱

Samanthapiggles · 30/08/2026 20:29

Gooseinthewood · 30/08/2026 18:27

I don't think we are, I've worked very hard and earned my place at the children's school and our social circles.

Regarding the circus, It wasn't a big thing, it was a throw away remark that he was surprised I'd booked it, I didn't think it was accurate, but then got there and it was tracksuit bottoms wearing parents with kids with part shaved head and I thought that he was probably right.

However, it was cheap £8.50 per ticket so maybe that's the difference.

I’m genuinely asking anyone here who may have the answer.
WHAT do people considered stereotypical middle classs families actually DO. I’m on holiday with my kids right now and everywhere there are people in tracksuits boys with that haircut etc. people doing things considered working class behaviour on here.
In fact everywhere I go that’s kids centric is like this. I don’t see any of the gooseberry yogurt/boden wearing type people that are spoken about on here irl. Now even the circus isn’t safe.

And yes I take my kids to museums and castles. WHERE DO PEOPLE CONSIDERED TYPICALLY MIDDLE CLASS ACTUALLY TAKE THEIR KIDS? Do these people actually even exist outside of the internet

MeetMeOnTheCorner · 30/08/2026 20:20

@calexico Don’t be so ridiculous! People just didn’t want it spilt down their backs! There’s usually lots of dc so no one wants drink spilt over them.

FlerpOfDoom · 30/08/2026 20:18

Have you never hear of Giffords? They tour the Cotswolds and the (late) founder is Emma Bridgewater’s sister, that’s pretty MC.