Lady’s List of Places to Love in Bloomsbury

One of the most difficult things about writing about central London neighborhoods is that they’re so big and full of curiosities that it’s hard to distill the highlights into to a digestible blog post. But today I’m attempting to tackle one of my favorite parts of central London, if for no other reason than that I adore it. The sheer number of Bloomsbury cafes, restaurants, museums, shops, squares, streets, and gardens is enormous, so today I bring you A Lady in London’s list of places to love in Bloomsbury.

Bloomsbury Cafes

Given my obsession with all things food and drink, I’ll start with the best of Bloomsbury’s food scene.

This London neighborhood has no shortage of good places for coffee and cake, lunch and supper, but my favorite is a little Bloomsbury cafe off Tottenham Court Road.

Store Street Espresso serves the best coffee I’ve had in London, and I’m a little bit addicted to the cappuccinos there.

Elsewhere in the area, Project68 on Tavistock Place serves great coffee. And that’s to say nothing of the most adorable French bakery in the city center, Patisserie Deux Amis.

Bloomsbury Restaurants

When it comes to Bloomsbury restaurants, Ciao Bella on Lamb’s Conduit Street serves solidly good Italian food in an authentic dining room. They’re always generous with the limoncello, too.

Another favorite is Half Cup, a brunch place on Judd Street that serves creative dishes like Tiramisu Waffles, Oreo French Toast, and Ham & Cheese Pancakes.

Bloomsbury Pubs

While there’s no shortage of good pubs in Bloomsbury, my favorite is the sweet little Lady Ottoline. It has great atmosphere and I love the upstairs dining room.

Bloomsbury Squares and Gardens

And speaking of ladies, perhaps the thing that really draws me to Bloomsbury is its rich literary history, replete with famous female writers. The Bloomsbury Group, with its ties to Virginia Woolf and other strong women, has left its mark here.

Over in Tavistock Square, a bust of Virginia Woolf herself sits next to those of Ghandi and other celebrated historical figures.

And in Gordon Square is a statue of Noor Inayat Khan, a female secret agent during World War II. Queen Charlotte is also represented, with a statue in (surprise!) Queen Square.

And it’s not just the sculptures that make Bloomsbury’s squares so lovable. It’s also the sheer number and variety of squares and gardens in the neighborhood. They make this one of the best places to live in central London.

From the giant expanse of Russell Square to the tiny sliver of Marchmont Community Garden, there’s a green space for every mood here.

Bloomsbury Museums

But Bloomsbury’s indoor spaces are as impressive as its outdoor ones, and another place that holds all sorts of sculptures (and more!) is the British Museum.

Perhaps the neighborhood’s most famous landmark, the museum is one of the world’s great treasure troves (or plunder rooms, depending on your perspective).

But that behemoth isn’t the area’s only museum. There are lots of good small museums and secret museums, too.

Just down the street is the Grant Museum of Zoology, and a few streets away are the Charles Dickens Museum and The Foundling Museum.

And that’s to say nothing of the Building Centre, which along with New London Architecture presents free exhibitions on all things related to the future of urban development in London.

Bloomsbury Streets and Shops

But back in today’s world, there are more things to entertain. One of them is shops, and in addition Bloomsbury cafes and restaurants, the area has a few streets that offer them in abundance.

My three favorite streets in Bloomsbury are Store Street (of aforementioned espresso goodness), Marchmont Street, and Lamb’s Conduit Street.

Store Street is home to a mouth-watering array of delis and Bloomsbury cafes, and a lot of pretty flower-laden tables to go with.

It’s also home to Treadwell’s Books, one of the most unique specialty bookstores in London. Focusing on magic and spirituality, it’s a great place to pick up a new title.

If you want to dig deeper, my London itinerary for book lovers, London literary walk, and Bloomsbury walk can help.

Marchmont Street has more restaurants and cafes, as well as an abundance of blue plaques calling to the former homes of historical figures.

And Lamb’s Conduit Street has everything from hip men’s stores, including one with what can only be described as pantaloons (pantaloons!) in the window, to pretty textile shops.

Bloomsbury Life

Above all, I love Bloomsbury for its lively atmosphere, helped by the fact that University College London and other academic institutions populate the area with students.

Sidewalks full of coffee carts and Bloomsbury cafes are always buzzing with ideas born of procrastination and other winning study methods.

Bloomsbury Cafes, Restaurants, Museums and More

It gives me an energy like no other part of central London, which is perhaps why I’ve finally mustered the strength to tackle the task of writing about Bloomsbury.

How about you? What are your favorite Bloomsbury cafes, restaurants, museums, shops, squares, streets, and gardens?

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