Bloomsbury in the Spotlight
How well do you know Bloomsbury? There are many secret spots to check out, fun facts about the area and you might even be living in a property that was previously occupied by a famous writer, musician, or actor!
Bloomsbury brought Harry Potter to life!
Bloomsbury is known for being an intellectual and literary hub for London, as home of world-known Bloomsbury Publishing. Did you know they are publishers of the Harry Potter series? When no one else gave Harry a chance, Bloomsbury Publishing knew a great wizard when they saw one. In 1997, they made a smart decision by saying yes to one of the most profitable book deals ever, sharing to the muggle world the most famous boy wizard.
Tired of the same old Museums?
Bloomsbury is home to the iconic British Museum, however there are several boutique museums to discover that you may not have even heard of!
· Did you know there is a cartoon museum? Who would have thought a museum about cartoons! This includes political sketches, to rare original sketches from the likes of the Beano, it has got everything a comic book lover could ever need.
· Petrie Museum is home to a catalogue of over 80,000 Egyptian relics including jewellery, clothing, tablets and pottery.
· Foundling Hospital was Britain’s first ever home for abandoned children. Today, it is a museum and art gallery that celebrates the many ways that artists have improved the lives of children, through programme of events, exhibitions and activities.
· Pollock’s Toy Museum is a time capsule of playthings from the Victorian era. With six rooms connected by creaky staircases, the characterful Georgian townhouse displays everything from dolls and teddies to puppets and board games.
Who were my neighbours?
Bloomsbury's had its fair share of famous people make it their home. It was home to Virginia Woolf, one of the influential members of the Bloomsbury Group. She resided in Bloomsbury for most of her life.
A few more famous residences that would make a pretty cool guest-list for a party:
· Bob Marley, musician, lived in 34 Ridgmount Gardens for six months in 1972.
· Jacquie O'Sullivan, musician and former member of Bananarama.
· Catherine Tate, actress and comedian, was brought up in the Brunswick Centre, close to Russell Square.
· Charles Darwin, lived at 12 Upper Gower Street in 1839.
· Charles Dickens, novelist, lived at 14 Great Russell Street, Tavistock Square and 48 Doughty Street.
· Ricky Gervais, comedian, lived until recently in Southampton Row, Store Street and owned one of the penthouses in Bloomsbury Mansions in Russell Square, WC1.
Nightlife at my doorstep
Bloomsbury is full of students and equally as many offices that work hard to play hard. This makes it a great place to be for a pint (or 5).
There is no lack of character in Bloomsbury and for a real vintage feel, you can enjoy a good pint in The Lamb, a beautiful grade II listed pub and wonderfully preserved, you feel as though you’ve been transported back to the Victorian era, Queen Victoria would relish in half a Pale Ale at The Lamb.
Maybe you are looking for something chicer? Check out Shochu Lounge, cool sleek bar with a subtle Japanese twist, where you can grab sweet, fruity cocktails and look glamorous with your friends.
Maybe you would like some live entertainment? Bloomsbury Theatre plays host to talented performers from all over the globe! It has a peaceful simple feel and is the perfect place to focus on comedy and theatre that is welcomed onto the stage every night.
Famous movies and TV shows
How amazing would it be to visit incredible buildings on your lunch break or daydream about being in a film featured in Bloomsbury while staring at them out of your office window?
· Senate House played a role in The Dark Knight Rises, when it was the location for a costume ball, and it was also a key location for Nanny McPhee and the Big Bang. Senate House has been the lobby of CIA Headquarters in Spy Game and in Fast & Furious 6.
· The front quad of University College London has featured in several movies. It was a location for Thunderbirds in 2004.
· Flaxman gallery in Gower Street’s UCL Art Museum was used for a scene in Inception, Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Michael Caine, Marion Cotillard
· The exterior of UCL Library was used by the Mummy Returns in 2001, when it took on the role of the British Museum.
· The British Museum itself has been used for other films such as, Night at The Museum: Secret of the Tomb (2014) starring Ben Stiller and Owen Wilson
· Bedford Square was used in the movie Belle (2013) Starring Matthew Goode, Gugu Mbatha-Raw.
· Victoria House, which overlooks Bloomsbury Square, has been used for a number of movies. It featured in the King's Speech of 2010 and Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit in 2014.
· Did you know the second series of the thriller Killing Eve, starring Jodie Comer, made more than one visit to Marchmont Street? Film crews were set up around the Moreish deli, the neighbouring launderette and Judd Books.
· Bernard Black’s chaotic book shop from the brilliant sitcom ‘Black Books’ was filmed on a quiet street in Bloomsbury, 13 Leigh St, Bloomsbury.
· The whole of Bloomsbury Square in London was recreated on the Shepperton Studios backlot for the "Who Will Buy" sequence.