Zippos Circus is an iconic name in British entertainment. Some may say that Zippos Circus is more than just a circus; it's a cultural phenomenon. It's a living tribute to the legacy of Martin Burton, a testament to the transformative power of art, and a promise that the magic of the circus will continue to enthral audiences for generations to come.

In 2024, Zippos Circus celebrates its founder Martin Burton’s 50 years in entertainment. He created the character of Zippo the Clown in 1974, and 2024 marks his 50th Magnificent year in the circus industry. Martin 'Zippo' Burton has taken a childhood fascination with the world of theatre and entertainment and created Britain's favourite circus.

Highlights of Martin's 50 years in the circus industry have included working with the 'World's Greatest Professional Ringmaster' Norman Barrett MBE for over 20 years and when Zippos Circus became the first-ever circus to perform at a Buckingham Palace garden party in 2002.

Martin went from performing as Zippo the Clown on Brighton beach to being voted one of the 100 ‘exceptional voices that made a difference to the future of performing arts’ in 2021.

In 1980, Martin's fire-eating act resulted in a serious accident that left him in hospital for a year. Following successful reconstructive surgery, Martin set up 'Laughtercare' – a service where clowns visit hospital wards to bring smiles and joy. 

Having recovered, he started training with a famous veteran acrobat. Johnny Hutch (1913–2006) made headlines by winning the Circus World Championships at the age of 64. It is thanks to Johnny that families today can enjoy Zippos Circus as he persuaded Martin to form a circus.

With a grant from British Petroleum, Zippos Circus was founded in 1986. The first performances were on Highbury Fields, London, with just four clowns, two jugglers and a pianist. This has evolved into Britain's most popular traditional tenting circus, featuring some of the finest circus acts from around the world.

From the outset, Zippos embraced an ethos of inclusivity and innovation. As well as supporting many charities, Zippos Circus founded the 'Academy of Circus Arts' in 1992 and has also presented Cirque Berserk, a theatre stage-based circus show, since 2012.

Now the leading circus in the UK, Martin has given us a circus that keeps surprising its visitors with high-quality family entertainment and newly added thrills and ideas.

In November 2023, Zippos Circus was the first travelling circus in the UK to be awarded the prestigious 'Big Top Label' by the European Parliament in Brussels. This accreditation puts Zippos Circus alongside the best circuses in the world – an honour that wouldn’t have been possible without Martin's business partnership with Beau Denning.

Beau is now the Director of Zippos Circus. He has a long history with the circus and his clowning Slosh Act won the 'Cirque Medrano Special Award' at the Monte Carlo Circus Festival in 2019.

Zippos Circus continues to tour the UK, captivating hearts and igniting imaginations under the vibrant glow of its big top.