If Christmas is the highlight of winter, for the last decade or so, the summertime equivalent for me and my family has been Giffords Circus. From May onwards the old-fashioned circus travels around the Cotswolds with their unique brand of family- and animal- friendly fun packed up in vintage caravans. This is not the kind of circus that shows wild animals, the only creatures in Giffords shows are horses, dogs and occassionally the odd duck or goose that wanders into the ring from backstage. 

My siblings and I have grown up with Giffords Circus- I had my 21st birthday party there with guests dining alongside the circus troupe backstage after the show, and last year my sister interned there as an usherette and dancer. Unsurprisingly, Giffords is similarly a thoroughly family affair- run by husband and wife Nell and Toti Gifford, who now also have gorgeous twins, Cecil and Red, who regularly perform in the shows with their tiny pony. Jugglers Bibi and Bichu are their godfathers. It's all like something out of a fairytale. You can see some behind-the-scenes photos from their idyllic life here on Nell's blog.

For years I've extolled the virtues of Giffords- and I'm not alone- Vogue has referred to it as 'possibly the greatest show on earth'. But the collective has stayed resolutely local, so that everytime I tell a Londoner they must go to Giffords, I see that glazed look in their eyes as they realise it would involve leaving the capital.

But finally, at long last, the circus is coming to town! Giffords will be performing a 15 minutes sample of their delights in the Selfridges Christmas department, twice an hour, everyday until 23rd December.

I popped up to their home, Folly Farm in the depths of the Cotswolds, to see how they were preparing for the first show that took place this weekend. 

The first new addition to the Giffords family was in the ring when we entered the barn- we then met some of the other new members due to perform in the show next year- note the spotty theme....

Back in the main part of the barn, a truly circus-sized fire is burning alonside a typical Giffords spread- one of Nell's sisters is pottery designer Emma Bridgewater.

There's even a Giffords Circus Christmas cake!

And here's Red and Cecil's miniature circus!

We popped to the town hall to see a preview of the show that will be performed at Selfridges- featuring Bibi and Bichu who've been with the circus as long as I can remember. Chances are you may have seen their juggling skills elsewhere- they regularly perform at events like the switching on of the Oxford street Christmas lights this year.

Another circus regular is Nancy, whose Andromeda act with doves last year was one of my favourites- I hope we have more of this to look forward to as the summer show for 2014 is meant to be inspired by Greek and Roman myths.

The whole troupe includes wonderful live instrumentalists and puppetry, and there will be many props and costumes from past Giffords shows at Selfridges to help set the scene.

You can see my last trip to the circus in 2012 here- I made a little lomokino video which I think actually very accurately captures the old fashioned, stop-motion feel and aesthetic of the show. It not only feels like its from another era, it also take your mind back in time so you feel like a child again, which, after all, is what Christmas is all about.