First modern place of entertainment called a "circus"

The first modern circus by that name was the Royal Circus, which the equestrian (and former employee of Philip Astley, the inventor of the modern circus show) Charles Hughes (1747–97) opened on 4 November 1782. The Royal Circus was located in London, UK, not far from Astley’s, at the junction of the thoroughfares leading to Westminster, Blackfriars and London bridges, known as St. George’s Circus. Prior to the creation of the Royal Circus, circuses were known as amphitheatres, and the ring was variously called a "circle" or a "circus". The Royal Circus was equipped with a ring (for the equestrian displays) and a theatre stage (for the variety acts and the presentation of pantomimes), a combination that would prevail in circus buildings until the mid-nineteenth century.

Astley's was first known as "Astley's Riding School", then as "Astley's Amphitheatre", and then as "Astley's Royal Grove". Later, it reverted again to "Astley's Amphitheatre". Circus buildings were called "amphitheatres". "Circus" was the name given to the ring (referred to as "the circle" or "the circus"). The word "circus" in the name of the place of entertainment (and henceforth, as the name of the entertainment form) appeared for the first time in 1782, with Hughes's "Royal Circus", whose full name at first was "Royal Circus and Equestrian Philharmonic Academy".