One of London's most elegant districts, Bloomsbury is found in the West End, just south of Kings Cross St. Pancras. Loved for its culture and pleasant atmosphere, there are many welcoming Bloomsbury hotels available in this most
desirable corner of the capital.
London's Most Popular Attraction
It's official - the most visited attraction in London is perhaps not what you would expect. Found at the heart of
Bloomsbury,
The British Museum attracts more visitors per year than the likes of Westminster Abbey, St Paul's Cathedral and the London Eye. It has been the most visited London attraction for the past four years, and in 2011 it saw 5.8million people come through its doors.
Established in 1753, the museum was set up to house the collections of renowned physician Sir Hans Sloane, who left his 71,000 historical artefacts to King and Country for £20,000, in those days a staggering sum. It has always maintained its policy of free entry to visitors, or 'studious and curious persons', as the Museum called them in the 18th century. Take a look at this unmissable attraction today and you will find eight million pieces spanning a
variety of historical eras and cultures.
If all this gets you in the mood for museums, you can also enjoy the nearby
Charles Dickens Museum, Petrie Museum of Egyptian Archaeology and the excellent
Cartoon Museum. If you're on the lookout for evening entertainment, the Bloomsbury Theatre is also close by.
Celebrity Squares
Aside from the Museum, Bloomsbury is most famous for the many attractive garden squares dotted around the area. These offer fantastic places to relax, and are invariably surrounded by some of the most impressive buildings in
London. Russell Square is one of the largest, while Bloomsbury Square is arguably the most pleasing on the eye.
The seven-acre Coram's Fields are the best place go with your family, with plenty of children's play areas, cafes and a delightful duck pond coming together to create a lovely day out right at the heart of London. It is also surrounded by two other notable sites. While not exactly an attraction, it would be remiss not to mention Great Ormond Street Hospital, the country's leading children's hospital, which has done such great work for over 150 years. It is perhaps best known for receiving all the royalties from author J.M. Barrie's most famous work, Peter Pan.
If you're feeling peckish while you walk around the park, you could always grab a snack from The People's Supermarket, an intriguing volunteer-run initiative that has enjoyed its own television series on Channel 4, in which they were visited by the Prime Minister.
Getting to Bloomsbury
With its close proximity to Kings Cross, Soho and Covent Garden, access to Bloomsbury is not a problem. London Underground stops in and around Bloomsbury are plentiful, with Russell Square (Piccadilly Line) the most central and Tottenham Court Road (Northern, Central) the closest to the British Museum. Alternatively, Warren Street (Circle, Hammersmith & City, Metropolitan), Euston Square (Northern, Victoria) and Holborn (Central, Piccadilly) are all
suitable places to alight.
As far as buses go, number 7 terminates at Russell Square, so you wouldn't need to worry about missing your stop, while number 25 passes The British Museum on its way between Oxford Street and the City, and number 28 includes Bloomsbury in its route alongside Victoria and Piccadilly.
Hotels in Bloomsbury
Culture and elegance go hand in hand, so it is no surprise to find so many quality 4* hotels in Bloomsbury. There is so much to choose from, with plenty of accommodation options near The British Museum or Russell Square. To see what we mean, have a look at
Montague on the Gardens,
Mercure London Bloomsbury,
Ambassador Hotel Bloomsbury and
The Bloomsbury Hotel.
Pubs and Bars in Bloomsbury
Across the road from The British Museum, The
Museum Tavern is an ideal place to grab a quick drink after a leisurely few hours exploring the exhibits. Its stunning wooden fittings suggest it is an old, well-established inn, and indeed it is, having stood in Bloomsbury for longer than the Museum itself. It is a very traditional pub, which was previously called The Dog and Duck, arguably the most stereotypical pub name in Britain, before changing its name to match its illustrious neighbour.
If wine is your preferred drink, head over to The Lady Ottoline. Opened relatively recently, this pub has already cultivated a glowing reputation locally. A good selection of beers are found alongside the wines, while its Sunday roast dinner is one of the best in the area. For something completely different, experience a small corner of the good old US of A at All Star Lanes. This is a fun bowling bar, where the best option is probably the Eat, Drink, Bowl menu, with classic American food such as Texas Chilli and Mac & Cheese accompanied by refreshing drinks and a few rounds of ten-pin merriment.
Restaurants in Bloomsbury
As is the case in all areas of central London, there are plenty of dining options in Bloomsbury. Isolabella is one of the more highly regarded Italian eateries in the area, serving a mix of old favourites and new creations. Its signature dish is a tempting lobster and linguine. The Bountiful Cow is much-loved for its simple, yet exquisitely executed menu of steaks and burgers, accompanied by a range of sauces and chips. If you do choose to dine here, you should probably loosen your belt a few notches first, as one thing you can be sure of here is a generous portion.
Or why not enjoy a lunch under the instantly recognisable glass roof of The British Museum at
Court Restaurant? Natural light floods in and creates a truly lovely atmosphere as you tuck in to the varied, interesting Modern European menu.
Parking in Bloomsbury
There are plenty of convenient
NCP car parks located in and around Bloomsbury. The best option is at Woburn Place (WC1H 0ND) just up the road from Russell Square, which is just £18 for one day's parking. Alternatively, options at Tottenham Court Road (WC1B 3AJ) and Shaftesbury (WC1A 1JP) are twice the price, but equally as conveniently located.