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Original poster

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:
Credittocress · 30/08/2026 18:11

Not at all. In fact I think its almost hyacinth bucket type of lower middle class aspiration to be more, to think that there is some kind of class attached to this kind of activity.

SoozyWoozy5 · 30/08/2026 18:10

I’m bucking the trend here and would say that yes, in my view, they are WC.. much like fun fairs.

Batties · 30/08/2026 18:09

KitsyWitsy · 30/08/2026 17:55

I agree it's more a low-class type of humour. Up there with pantomimes. Ugh.

You’ve never taken your dc to a pantomime?

Rpop · 30/08/2026 18:08

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.

I don’t think it is.
im not sure what differentiates those who do and don’t like the circus.
i didn’t as a child and I guess my family didn’t either. I don’t find slap stick funny and I think ‘spectacles’ are boring. But not to do with my class.

SquigglePigs · 30/08/2026 18:06

Nope, solidly middle class childhood and similar now. I went to a couple of circuses as a child and have taken my DD a couple of times. My DPIL are firmly upper middle class and they took DD to a circus near them last year.

It never occurred to me to consider it anything other than a fun activity for my small child.

itsgettingweird · 30/08/2026 17:56

I grew up middle class. We went or the circus annually!

KitsyWitsy · 30/08/2026 17:55

I agree it's more a low-class type of humour. Up there with pantomimes. Ugh.

Wordsmithery · 30/08/2026 17:53

How utterly absurd. Isn't it high time we abolished all talk of class? We should think more in terms of haves and have-nots and try and redress that imbalance wherever we can, instead of trying to make people stay in their lane.

I would think it's highly likely that have-nots wouldn't visit the circus because it's too expensive.

ColdAsAWitches · 30/08/2026 17:53

beaglescurleduplikebagels · 30/08/2026 17:44

Loads of modern circuses don't have clowns - it's all acrobatics and things.

Show quote history

I've been to lots of circuses that don't have animals, but I've never been to one that didn't have a clown!

Topseyt123 · 30/08/2026 17:53

What nonsense. Circuses and family entertainment for everyone. Why would anyone assume that it is along class lines?

I live in a very mixed middle/working class area, though weighted towards middle I suppose. Travelling circuses do come here and are well attended.

SnipSnipMrBurgess · 30/08/2026 17:50

My god, how did you and your husband survive this ordeal?

I mean you may have inadvertently touched a working class 😭

whatsit84 · 30/08/2026 17:50

I live in a middle class area and the circus comes here, and people go! 😂

ilovesooty · 30/08/2026 17:50

Weird.

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 30/08/2026 17:49

Circuses have changed back in the day they'd have performing animals , now that is completely vetoed.

Samanthapiggles · 30/08/2026 17:49

Considering the price of tickets whenever it comes to my town I’d say quite the opposite nowadays!

SerendipityCat · 30/08/2026 17:48

I wanted to go to the circus a few years ago, but they wouldn’t let me in with my whippet. I was so agitated I had to fan myself with my flat cap. I’m just glad they didn’t spot the ferret down my trousers.

Coldwetlettuce · 30/08/2026 17:48

This is ridiculous. Going to the circus has class limitations on it now?! I went to a circus in a very posh town recently and the male red trouser brigade were out in force!

ExtraOnions · 30/08/2026 17:47

Send him to Cirque De Solei … watch some people in way too tight bodysuits leap around the stage, alongside a baffling narrative, and no laughs.

I can appreciate both .. a bit of Cirque, and also a “Billy Smart” type affair.

Judicioususeofthewordgirdle · 30/08/2026 17:46

It’s for everyone. Your DH is talking nonsense.

beaglescurleduplikebagels · 30/08/2026 17:44

lazyarse123 · 30/08/2026 17:42

I'm working class and hate circuses. Clowns especially terrify me. But it's a snobby thing to say.
They quite often have a circus in Midsomer Murders and that's not working class.

Loads of modern circuses don't have clowns - it's all acrobatics and things.

IdaGlossop · 30/08/2026 17:44

We went to the circus a children in the 1960s. Middle class family. I UNTIL today,nI have never thought of the circus as being tied to class in any way.

Distictionpray · 30/08/2026 17:44

Circuses are for everyone.

WonderingWanda · 30/08/2026 17:42

Well I came from a wc background and we could never afford the circus and my Mum woild never take me to the fair because she said it was too rough!

ShitFacedShakespeare · 30/08/2026 17:42

Why is everyone getting stuck into the husband when the OP has said she thinks he's probably right?

lazyarse123 · 30/08/2026 17:42

I'm working class and hate circuses. Clowns especially terrify me. But it's a snobby thing to say.
They quite often have a circus in Midsomer Murders and that's not working class.