Guided Tour of Bloomsbury, 10th June 2014
Written by: Cathy Kim | Posted on: June 14th, 2014
Sue King, BKS member and Blue Badge Guide, treated us to an entertaining evening stroll through Bloomsbury looking at historic, literary and educational connections.
We learned about the confusing activities of the notorious Bloomsbury Group, a set of writers, artists and intellectuals who ‘lived in squares, moved in circles and loved in triangles’. Virginia Woolf figured prominently along with Clive Bell and the Stracheys.
We started in Russell Square and managed to visit Tavistock Square, Gordon Square and Bedford Square – but not necessarily in that order. They all seemed to belong to the Earls and Dukes of Bedford, thanks to the generosity of Henry VIII after the dissolution of the monasteries. Apologies to Sue if I got confused, but as always she kept us entertained. And for once we did not need umbrellas although a chilly breeze kept us moving.
The architecture included upper middle class Edwardian terraced houses and the unique Senate House building.
The tour finished near the British Museum in Coptic Street where we enjoyed a delicious Korean meal at Bi-won restaurant.
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- Starting in Russell Square
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- Tavistock Square – statue of Gandhi
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- Tavistock Square – bust of Virginia Woolf
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- Learning about the architecture
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- Bedford Square
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- ‘Palace Frontage’ at Bedford Square
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- Senate House, University of London
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- The group enjoying the June evening
