Bloomsbury

Bloomsbury is part of Central London, located in the southern part of the borough of Camden. Though the area has no official boundary lines, Bloomsbury is considered the area bounded by the Tottenham Court Road  in the west, the Euston Road in the north, the Gray’s Inn Road in the east, and the New Oxford Street, Theobald’s Road, and Bloomsbury Way in the south. The area is also associated with the Bloomsbury Group, made up of notable artists and writers like Virginia Woolf and E. M. Forster.

Sights & Activities:

Bloomsbury is an area with several notable museums that visitors can wander around and behold its displays. Probably the most famous museum in the area is the British Museum, where items related to human culture and history are showcased. Established in 1753, the extensive collections of the museum now numbers to more than 13 million items, taken from all parts of the world. Entrance is free to the public, who can roam and explore collections that ranges from prehistoric to contemporary times. Apart from exploring its galleries, visitors should also take the time to step into the museum’s domed Reading Room, which is located in the middle of the Great Court.

Another interesting destination is the Foundling Museum, housed in a brown building located at Brunswick Square. The museum focuses on the history of the Foundling Hospital, the institution that accepted children abandoned by their parents. It also houses the Foundling Hospital Art Collection as well as items and furnishings used during the hospital’s operation. The museum also celebrates is connection with famous composer Handel with the Gerald Coke Handel Collection located at the top floor of the museum.

Foundling Museum is located near Coram’s Fields, a large open space that features playgrounds and other facilities meant to entertain children. Adults are allowed to enter Coram Fields only when accompanied by children. The area also features sporting facilities, such as football pitches and a basketball court.

Other open spaces that the public can use for relaxation and outdoor recreation are the Bloomsbury Square where a statue of Charles James Fox is located and the Russell Square which features a fountain that jets water from the pavement and a Cabman’s Shelter. The Tavistock Square is quite distinctive with the presence of several public art pieces, including a statue of Mahatma Gandhi, the Conscientious Objectors memorial, and busts of Dame Louisa Aldrich-Blake and writer Virginia Woolf. The square also contains several hisitorically important buildings. Right next to this square is the Gordon Square, another ideal destination for an afternoon stroll within a garden setting. 

There are two well-known churches in Bloomsbury that visitors can also stop by. One is the St Pancras New Church, which is located along Euston Road. The church was built in the 19th century and was constructed out of Portland stone. St. George’s Church, on the other hand, is located along Theobald’s Road and is quite recognizable with its distinctive steeple that is topped with the statue of King George I in Roman attire.

Eating Out:

When in Bloomsbury, visitors are faced with lots of options when it comes to selecting for a place to eat. Its seems that most type of cuisines can be had in the area, starting with the very casual The Oltemate Burger along New Oxford Street which offers four varieties of burgers to its loyal patrons. Those yearning for Italian dishes can head out to Trattoria Verdi along Southampton Row or the nearby La Porchetta along Boswell Street. Indian dishes can be had at Rasa Samudra on Charlotte Street, Hason Raja on Southampton Row, and the Agra Restaurant on Whitfield Street.