Vogue called it "the greatest show on earth" and it was trumpeted by the Telegraph as 'the nation's most clamorous troupe' it was the backdrop of Frost French's last show and is even credited as the inspiration behind John Galliano designs....

It's Giffords Circus and it's on its way to Wiltshire this summer.

Giffords Circus courtesy of James Waddell

Giffords Circus is no ordinary circus. For a start there are no caged lions, trampolining elephants, slap stick buffooning clowns or jaded performers. Instead when you roll up, roll up, and step into the big top, it's into a fairytale recreation of a 1930s circus that you step in to. A 1930s circus complete with prancing ponies, jugglers, aerialists and even a token strong man called Oleg.

Recipients of the Jerwood Circus award, at the end of last season, Giffords offers up all the charm of a village green circus. Reminiscent of childhood summers it fuses mime, dance, contortionists, trapeze, acrobatics and clowning to create a slick and glamorous circus experience. A magical world stuffed with such talented oddities as an upside-down tap-dancing lady, a barefoot Dutch horse whisperer and an Argentine Gaucho.

Returning for the 2004 season, with stop offs at both Minety and Marlborough Common, the show has been created around the theme "The Dream of the Pearl" with the adage 'something mysterious and of the night'.

Giffords Circus courtesy of James Waddell

With no season ever the same expect to see Nell as a pearly queen on her new spotted Polish horse, named Havana; the show girls as divas of the dance hall; a new clown, Tweedy, who will revive the forgotten art of eccentric dance; an 18th Century romantic frog; Miriam, a diminutive Dutch horse trainer and partner who will be performing an ancient form of Spanish riding; and a Romanian couple, Evelyn and Cristian Marinof, who will be appearing for the first time with their award-winning spring board routine.

Plus we're promised all the old favourites, such as the prancing horses, the dazzling tight rope walker, the aerial chanteuse and the Russian strongman.

And with tea and cakes on offer at the interval, original 1930s swing boats and a lovingly restored merry-go-round, which kids can ride for free, Giffords Circus is a return to childhood innocence and as dubbed by Elle "an absolutely essential British summer experience."