Percy Circus, located on the side of a hill, was originally constructed in 1841 but not completed until 1853. The area was developed by the New River Company, under the direction of Robert Percy Smith, a 19th-century Member of Parliament. The circus features a railed central garden and originally consisted of twenty-seven houses, fifteen of which remain today.
During the Second World War, on 15 May 1941, parachute mines and high explosive bombs fell in the nearby areas of Holford Square and Percy Circus, causing significant damage and devastation. Despite this, the circus managed to survive the war, only to face further destruction in the 1960s when some of the remaining Victorian houses were demolished to make way for a new hotel.
Despite these challenges, Percy Circus has retained some of its old-world charm, thanks to the remaining Victorian houses and the unique layout of the area, with its five unevenly-spaced entry points. Today, the circus stands as a testament to the resilience of London and its ability to weather even the most difficult of circumstances.
