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District in West End, London, England
Photo: David West, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
This article is about three neighbourhoods of central London: Bloomsbury, St Pancras and Fitzrovia.
From the travel guide. Select a place for details, a map and what is nearby.
A vast repository of the world's cultures, controversially including hundreds of items that were looted from their places of origin. Entire sections are devoted to Egyptian, Greek, and Middle Eastern artifacts, as well as the piece which united them all, the Rosetta Stone. Other items on everyone's list are the largest collection of mummies outside Egypt and the Elgin Marbles. The collection also includes some of the world's finest collections of Chinese and Sub-Saharan African art; perhaps the most famous of the latter are the Benin bronzes. A definite highlight of a trip to London. Temporary exhibitions are invariably excellent and meticulously researched, but can be expensive. It has a fine store, mainly selling replicas of items in the collection.
A vast collection of cartoons and comics on display with special, often topical, exhibitions.
Museum at the former home of Dickens exhibiting writings, paintings, furniture and other items relating to the writer.
A museum and a gallery telling the story of the Foundling Hospital, an orphanage for abandoned children founded in the 18th century. Massive art donations by British artists and the involvement of George Friederic Handel as a patron made this childcare organisation an early centre of art and music.
L. Ron Hubbard House
A historic house that was inhabited by playwright George Bernard Shaw, it is where writer L. Ron Hubbard, founder of Scientology, worked in the 1950s. The building is reminiscent of the time, complete with Adler typewriters, Grundig tape recorders, and Western Union telefax. Tours by appointment.
Formerly the teaching collection of Sir Flinders Petrie, one of Britain's greatest archaeologists, now preserved by University College London. Exhibits include beaded dresses, sculpture and wall reliefs, items of everyday use, papyri, cartonnage and pottery. Fascinating!
A treasure trove of antique toys exhibited in a warren of 6 rooms above the toy shop of the same name. A very charming place indeed, though the doll rooms are a bit gruesome.
Sir Henry Solomon Wellcome's vast collection of medical artefacts and art work that together explore what it means to be human. Special health related exhibitions.
A downstairs museum dedicated to cameras from the 1800s to present day, including a camera rifle like the one used in Licence to Kill. The museum is a quick visit and worth the stop even for someone with a moderate interest in photography.
An exhibition space that hosts a programme of changing contemporary and historical exhibitions from Asia, Africa and the Middle East, aiming to present and promote cultures from these regions and to be a student resource and public facility. There are live music performances every last Wednesday of every month except December and July.
An attractive Gothic Revival church, completed in 1859 to a design by William Butterfield.
Completed in 1823, this attractive church near Broadcasting House is one of John Nash's masterpieces, with a prominent spire and circular vestibule. As of May 2025, it accessible only for worship.
This wonderful square was built between 1775 and 1783 as an upper middle class residential area takes its name from the Dukes of Bedford, who were the main landlords in Bloomsbury. Distinguished residents have included Lord Eldon, one of Britain's longest serving and most celebrated Lord Chancellors. This is one of the best preserved set pieces of Georgian architecture in London and the majority of the buildings are grade I listed. The gardens are private and always remain locked - there are no 'open days'.
191-m (627-ft) skyscraper can be seen from far away and is the sixth highest building in UK.
This garden square was established by Lord Southampton in 1665 and is the oldest square in London. It was opened to the public in the 1950s. The square is surrounded by a number of beautiful 18th- and 19th-century buildings and terraces.
A park which is run as children's play area. Facilities include a pet's corner, lawns, sports pitches and a nursery. No adults are allowed to enter the park unless they are accompanying children. All visitors are welcome to join the local kids.
The largest square in London. It was established in 1806 by the 5th Duke of Bedford and his statue can still be seen in the square. There is also a café.
Art deco headquarters of University of London featured in the film Nineteen Eighty-Four.
Peaceful gardens and interesting monuments including the daughter of Richard Cromwell, son of Oliver Cromwell.
Goodenough College offers accommodation for international postgraduate students. The college's student community of approx 650 represents over 90 countries, offering a unique experience through stimulating intellectual debate, fostering cross-cultural activity and providing an exceptional social environment. Tours around the college are offered every Friday at 1PM and every first Saturday of the month at 11AM.
UCL
Includes a small but beautiful quad and an interesting Neo-Classical facade. The core buildings of UCL were built after the university's foundation in 1826.
New Broadcasting House aka NBH
The complex incorporates the Old Broad House built in 1930s. The façades of which feature the famous sculpture of Prospero and Ariel and the Ariel friezes by Eric Gill and Gilbert Bayes. BBC's The One Show is transmitted from the studio at the ground floor every weeknight starting from 7PM. The studio is quite visible from the plaza outside and some parts of the show are performed from outside of the studio – in the plaza.
BIMI
Cinema owned by Birkbeck, University of London, featuring screenings and lectures. Most events are free but pre-booking is advised.
Theatre owned by University College London staging both student and professional productions. Broad range of performances.
A large London theatre that tends to show mainstream blockbuster-type musical productions.
Based on Russell Square, they give lectures and exhibitions, for those numerically inclined.
Cinema showing arthouse and foreign language films.
Bloomsbury has a number of famous walks that cover the lives and works of the Bloomsbury Group.
Takes place in the Summer around the environs of Bloomsbury, concentrated in Russell Square, and hosts arts and crafts fair, children's painting classes and dance workshops. The food stalls are good value too.
A small sandwich shop away from the hustle and bustle of Fitzrovia that serves a quick lunch for under £10. Has meal deals! (updated Nov 2025)
Temporarily closed as of May 2022. Founded in 2008, YouMeSushi has gone from strength to strength with the opening of three additional venues. Eat in, take away or have sushi delivered straight to your door (within a 3-mile radius).
Korean food.
Italian cuisine.
Moroccan cuisine
A Thai restaurant
Temporarily closed as of May 2022. A selection of veggie and vegan dishes that changes daily. Cakes, pastries, and salad available as well. Busy, eat in or take away.
The hostel's restaurant is open to the public.
Traditional fish 'n' chips restaurant.
An independent coffee shop in a converted Victorian public toilet.
Indian restaurant with dishes from around the country.
Housed in the British Museum, this restaurant offers a unique dining experience. For history buffs, it's the perfect setting to sit down and enjoy familiar favourites. Reservations recommended.
Creative cuisine, starting from an Italian base, but with bigger plates and smaller, more exquisite food. Extremely friendly and helpful service. The small tables and easy chairs in front can serve as a bar or café if you don't want a meal.
Takeaway fish and chips next to a very popular fish restaurant that even serves Skate.
Northern Chinese restaurant, specializing in authentic Xi'an dishes. Try the biangbiang noodles or the steamed dumplings.
Greek restaurant fun to go to with plate smashing, music and belly dancing.
Michelin-starred kitchen based on Cantonese tradition but also experimenting in other areas.
French restaurant with one Michelin star.
Champagne and cocktail bar serving gourmet hotdogs.
formerly The Tottenham
A Grade 11 listed Nicolson's pub.
Freehouse with beautiful leaded windows. Used to be Aleister Crowley's regular.
Samuel Smith's Old Brewery
Check also a map with pub locations.
Owned by the Samuel Smith brewery, the Fitzroy Tavern offers good, cheap beer. The pub, which took its name from a local aristocrat, the Earl of Fitzroy, in turn inspired the name of the surrounding area of Bloomsbury, Fitzrovia, and was a popular drinking place for BBC broadcasters (including George Orwell) following the Second World War. A very friendly pub, with nice outdoor seating in summer.
Pub frequented by students from nearby University College London and Birkbeck College.
Named after the prominent political philosopher and early supporter of University College London, and located very near the main entrance to the college, the pub tends to attract more senior academics than does the College Arms.
This beautifully preserved Victorian pub attracts many young and old patrons. Classic ales and some great food. Crowded after 5PM.
Authentic pub popular with university students.
A very good pub, offering a wide range of real ales, and some excellent food. Can get busy in the summer months.
formerly, and commonly still known as, Ye Olde Surgeon
A common drinking place for medical students from University College Hospital, who jostle alongside office workers. Gets exceptionally crowded after office hours.
For 18-35 year-olds.
Right in the heart of Bloomsbury. Communal showers and cold water, all-night parties and generally an architecture obviously designed exclusively with the easy clean-up of bodily fluids in mind. It is cheap, though, in London terms.
London Central Youth Hostel
The newest of the five London YHA hostels, with state-of-the-art interiors, and a short walk from Regent's Park.
St Pancras International Youth Hostel
The largest of the five London YHA hostels, minutes walk from St Pancras International railway station.
University College London
Student halls of residence which are made available for rental during academic holiday periods.
Well-known multi-lingual (Spanish, Portuguese, French) family hotel. Free wireless Internet.
Clean, but staff somewhat unhelpful. WiFi Internet.
Budget hotel in a quiet, leafy square close to King's Cross Station. All rooms have high speed internet connection.
A little shabby but well-located and fair value.
A budget hotel run on a bed & breakfast basis. Free WiFi Internet access.
Completely renovated in 2008.
The hotel is near attractions including Madame Tussauds and has a restaurant and bar. It is also close to Tube and railway stations.
Historic building, full English breakfast.
5 Georgian townhouses looking over the beautiful Mecklenburgh Square gardens. No lift.
Funky and fashionable hotel with interiors by Conran and no surprise that it is listed in Hip Hotels.
Hotel Russell
This Gothic building is a real landmark and dominates the eastern side of Russell Square. Not a cheap hotel by any means but good value for the location and standard. Popular with families. See the magnificent ballroom which was designed by the same people who created interiors for RMS Titanic.
Hotel features the Courtyard Garden, Jeffrey Chodorow’s Spoon restaurant, the Long Bar, the Purple Bar, Billiard Room, Agua Bathhouse, penthouse suites and multi-service meeting spaces.
Part of the upscale Firmdale chain, this is a lively stylish hotel close to British Museum. No dogs.
The leading gay-related bookshop in Britain. It has been around since 1979, during which time it has been closely linked with LGBT rights and other activism, including the 'Lesbians and Gays Support the Miners' campaign in the 1980s. Visitors will find fiction books and a large academic stock.
Large stock of used, remaindered and academic books especially in the fields of architecture, history and philosophy.
Specialises in 20th-century fiction by women writers.
Wide selection of second-hand academic books, philosophy, modern literature and classics. Very popular with students.
Specialises in graphic design and typography. It was also used as an exterior location for the Channel 4 sitcom Black Books.
Bookshop specialising in esotericism, occultism and magic. Also offers tarot readings.
Bespoke tailoring services and luxury accessories.
Pop culture merchandise from famous franchises such as Pokémon, Harry Potter and Dungeons & Dragons.
The centre for electronics retailers in London. If you are visiting the city and need to buy or replace an electronic item, you will not find a better selection nor better prices than here. Explore both sides of the street to the north of Tottenham Court Road station.
Shopping centre with a large Waitrose supermarket and some other shops.
By train
Nearby Camden has 3 mainline rail stations within walking distance: King's Cross, Euston and St. Pancras International.
Most of the sites are reachable by foot or a single stop on the tube.
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