Bloomsbury

Bloomsbury is a district in the West End of London, part of the London Borough of Camden in England. It is a fashionable place to live and is full of important cultural, intellectual, and educational spots. One of the most famous places there is the British Museum, the largest museum in the United Kingdom.

Bloomsbury is also home to many schools and colleges, such as University College London and parts of the University of London. It is a place where many smart and creative people have worked and lived. The area is also known for its beautiful garden squares, like Bloomsbury Square, Russell Square, and Bedford Square.

The district started to grow in the 1600s but was mostly built in the 1800s. Today, many of its old buildings are protected, although there are worries about new developments changing the area's character.

History

Bloomsbury has a long history, beginning in the early 1100s when St Giles hospital was established. The area’s name first appeared in 1281 as Blemondisberi, named after the Blemund family who owned the land. Over time, the area passed through various owners, including the Crown and monks, before becoming part of the parish of St Giles.

In the 1660s, important buildings like Bloomsbury Square were constructed. The area grew in the 18th century, with the Russell family developing squares and streets. By the 19th century, Bloomsbury became known for its schools and museums, though some older buildings were lost in later years.

Conservation

Bloomsbury is protected as a conservation area, which means rules help keep its special look and feel. It was named a conservation area in 1968, not long after these rules started in England. A group of experts, called the Bloomsbury Conservation Area Advisory Committee, helps make sure new buildings don’t damage the area’s history.

Bloomsbury has many important old buildings, like the British Museum. But because it is in the busy center of London, some older buildings have been torn down to make space for new, taller ones. People who care about saving old buildings have spoken up, but more careful plans to protect Bloomsbury’s history have not yet been made.

Nearby districts

Bloomsbury is close to several other areas. To the north and west is St Pancras. To the west is Fitzrovia. To the south are Covent Garden and Holborn. And to the east is Clerkenwell.

For more about the names of the streets in Bloomsbury, see Street names of Bloomsbury.

Culture

Bloomsbury is known for its connection to the arts, learning, and medicine. Famous artists, like Virginia Woolf, used to meet in homes there in the early 1900s. The area also has a long history with important groups and buildings.

Bloomsbury is home to many schools and universities, including University College London. It also has special places for dance, acting, and architecture. The British Museum is one of the biggest museums in the United Kingdom and is located here. The museum has a big indoor square with a glass roof. There are also smaller museums, like the Foundling Museum and the Dickens Museum, as well as many churches with interesting histories.

Parks and squares

Bloomsbury has many beautiful parks and squares. One of the largest is Russell Square, with gardens designed long ago. Bedford Square has old houses from the 1700s. Bloomsbury Square has a small garden in the middle. Queen Square is home to a special hospital. Gordon Square is near parts of a university and was once where famous people lived. Woburn Square and Torrington Square also have parts of the university. Tavistock Square has a building for doctors and was named after an old place. Mecklenburgh Square is locked except for local residents. Coram's Fields is a big play area just for children. Brunswick Square now has a school and a museum. St George's Gardens was an old burial place, and Cartwright Gardens is another nice spot.

Hospitals

Bloomsbury is home to important hospitals like Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children and the Royal London Hospital for Integrated Medicine. These hospitals are located near Queen Square, which also has the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery.

Another big hospital in Bloomsbury is University College Hospital, which opened in new buildings in 2005. The Eastman Dental Hospital is close by, near the Royal National Throat, Nose and Ear Hospital, which is run by the Royal Free Hampstead NHS Trust.

Other notable buildings

One of the biggest buildings in the area is the Brunswick Centre. It is a large residential building with a shopping center on the ground floor.

Administration and representation

Bloomsbury is part of the Holborn and St Pancras area for elections. The western part of Bloomsbury is called Bloomsbury ward, and it chooses three representatives to serve on the Camden Borough Council.

Economy

In February 2010, local businesses voted to expand a special area called the Business Improvement District (BID) to include part of Bloomsbury. Only bigger businesses could vote because they would pay extra fees for this service. Camden Council supported this idea. The plan was approved, and part of Bloomsbury joined the InHolborn BID.

There was some disagreement when the name "Midtown" was suggested because it sounded too American. Businesses learned about the plans, but there wasn’t much talk with local people or charity groups. Bloomsbury is now part of the InMidtown BID. This group has a plan from 2010 to 2015 to make the area a nice place to live, work, and visit, and a good place for businesses to grow.

Bloomsbury is also part of the Knowledge Quarter. This is a special area near King's Cross with many schools, museums, and science places within a one-mile distance.

Transport

Rail

Bloomsbury has several train stations that help people get around London. Three main underground stations are Russell Square, King's Cross St. Pancras, and Euston Square. King's Cross St. Pancras is special because it has steps for everyone to use easily. There are also three train stations just north of Bloomsbury, including St Pancras International, where trains go to France, Brussels, and the Netherlands.

Buses

There are many bus stops in Bloomsbury, especially on Russell Square, Gower Street, and Tottenham Court Road. From here, you can ride buses to places like Camden Town, Greenwich, and Piccadilly Circus.

Road

Bloomsbury's roads connect to many parts of London. Important roads nearby include the A40, A400, A4200, and the A501 Inner Ring Road. One of London's old taxi stops is in Russell Square.

Air pollution

Air quality in Bloomsbury is checked by the local government. In 2017, the amount of a certain air pollution was higher than what the UK wants for cleaner air.

Cycling

Bloomsbury has many bike paths. Some important bike routes include Quietway 1, which goes from Covent Garden through Bloomsbury to Kentish Town, and Quietway 2, which starts in Bloomsbury and goes to Walthamstow. There is also Cycle Superhighway 6, which passes near Bloomsbury.

Notable residents

Bloomsbury has been home to many famous people over the years. Some well-known names include playwright and novelist J. M. Barrie, who lived in Guilford Street and 8 Grenville Street when he first moved to London. Author Charles Dickens lived at 14 Great Russell Street and 48 Doughty Street. Economist John Maynard Keynes spent 30 years in Gordon Square, and author Virginia Woolf resided at 46 Gordon Square and 52 Tavistock Square.

Other notable residents include comedian Ricky Gervais, who lived in Southampton Row and owned a penthouse in Bloomsbury Mansions, and actress Catherine Tate, who grew up in the Brunswick Centre near Russell Square. The area has also been home to artists, writers, and musicians from different times in history.