Astley's Amphitheatre

Astley’s Amphitheatre was a circus and theatre in Lambeth, opened in 1773 by Philip Astley. It stood on Westminster Bridge Road and became known as the first modern circus ring. The building burned down three times and was rebuilt each time, often with grander decorations. After Philip Astley’s death in 1814, his son John took over and brought in performers like Madame Saqui. Later owners included William Batty and Pablo Fanque, who made his London debut there in 1847. The theatre changed names and styles over the years before finally closing in 1893. The Amphitheatre’s interior was designed with an octagonal shape and a proscenium stage. Its circular pit measured 43 feet across, surrounded by painted barriers and columns. The walls were 148 feet long, larger than any other London theatre at the time. Decorations included white, lemon, green, and gold, with crimson hangings in private boxes. There were two full tiers of boxes, each with nineteen open boxes, supported by Doric and Corinthian columns. Six saloons provided refreshments for different seating areas, and a royal box sat in the centre of the first tier. A paver in St Thomas’s Hospital garden now marks the site where Astley’s once stood. The theatre appears in Charles Dickens’s writing and Jane Austen’s Emma. Its story reflects the rise and fall of London’s early circus and theatre scene. Though no trace remains, the memory lives on in literature and commemorative stones. The Amphitheatre’s influence shaped circus design for decades. Its legacy endures in the traditions it helped create.