The Neighborhood Dupont Circle Dupont Circle is located just a short walk north of the White House. At the circle is a relaxing oasis of green. Just outside of the circle, the neighborhood is dotted with foreign embassies and is home to Washington's campus of John Hopkins University. Just to the east on 17th is the hub of gay life, from a variety of shops and eateries to the north to the Human Rights Campaign headquarters to the south.