Bloomsbury Walking Tour: Hidden London & Georgian Shadows
Description
Step beyond the guidebooks into Bloomsbury’s leafy Georgian squares, elegant townhouses, and hidden cobbled mews as you uncover the stories of the rich, the poor, the forgotten, and the Victorian philanthropists who tried to change their world. On this walking tour, you’ll hear tales of royal scandal, abandoned children, a world‑famous children’s hospital, and literary legends including J. M. Barrie and Charles Dickens. Discover where George III was treated for his “madness,” see the former home of Virginia Woolf, and visit the church where Ted Hughes and Sylvia Plath were married, once known as the church of the chimney sweeps. You’ll also meet an unscrupulous property developer with a very strange name and step inside a grand hotel with remarkable links to the Titanic. Every stop reveals a different layer of Bloomsbury, from Georgian elegance to hidden histories and extraordinary human stories.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Our first stop is at the Fitzroy Hotel, formally the Russell Hotel. Learn all about this beautiful Victorian building and it's stories linking it to the Titanic.
Set amongst Georgian terraces and independent shops and cafés, with an array of blue plaques overhead, stare down at the pavement and you’ll discover hidden trinkets symbolising the tokens mothers once left behind when handing their babies over to the Foundling Hospital.
Hear the story of how, in 1739, Thomas Coram—a sea captain and philanthropist—obtained a Royal Charter and established the Foundling Hospital for abandoned children living on the streets.
Queen Square was laid out in the 1700s and was built for the rich and powerful. Learn how all the residential buildings slowly turned into hospitals and how it ties into the madness of King George III
Lamb’s Conduit Street is described as a charming, pedestrian‑friendly historic street dating back to Tudor times, renowned for its Georgian architecture, independent boutiques, and village‑like atmosphere.
Today, Doughty Mews is a picturesque, cobbled lane lined with million‑pound townhouses, but it began life as housing for the horses and servants of the wealthy families who lived on the neighbouring street.
In 1739, Thomas Coram obtained a royal charter and established a hospital for abandoned children who were living in the streets as their mothers were unable to care for them.
Hear how this square got its name, and learn all about the famous residents who lived around the square and a scandalous court case that involved the King!
Known at The Colonnade: dating back to the 19th century, learn about The Horse Hospital a stabling for cab drivers sick horses.
Hear the heartbreaking story of how the hospital was founded by Charles West who was appalled by the child mortality in the Victorian era and its links to Peter Pan
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Wheelchair accessible
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Reviews(21)
I’m so glad I did this tour. The guide (Maxine) was so knowledgeable and enthusiastic. There is no way I could have got so much fascinating history from a guidebook or wandering on my own. It was a fantastic orientation to the area where I am staying for several days. I had no idea of the area’s vital importance to the health and welfare of children historically and currently. I also loved learning about the architectural history which led me to pay close attention when walking in this area and try to imagine how it looked in the past.
Maxine was a fantastic guide! Thoroughly recommend her tours
This is a great tour and Maxine is a superlative guide. Bloomsbury is both lovely and historic. All flat tour (except for a few steps), so it's easy to negotiate. Maxine is not only knowledgeable but also a great story teller. You cannot appreciate the history of Bloomsbury without doing this tour. Highly recommended!
Maxine was a very knowledgeable, inspiring and friendly guide. She was generous with her time and knowledge and I highly recommend her.
An excellent walk and explore. We discovered some amazing unknown places in the middle of London. Maxine was a wonderful guide.
Maxine is a wonderful guide. She is very knowledgeable about Bloomsbury, but also the greater London area. She was able to bring the past of life in a sensible, engaging experience. She’s very personable and loves people and sharing her life experiences as well as the wonderful stories that Bloomsbury has to offer.
I am so happy to hear that you had a lovely time on the tour. It was so nice meeting the both of you and I look forward to seeing you again next time you are in London. Thank you for the kind words
Fabulous tour - very informative and delivered by Maxine in a really entertaining way. I learnt so much and really enjoyed the whole experience. Highly recommended.
I am so glad to hear that you had a great time, it was so nice meeting you and thank you for the great review.
Maxine was absolutely fabulous - the tour was fun, interesting and informative - would definitely recommend this.
Thank you for the kind words. I am so glad you had a great time and hopefully I will see you on another tour in the future.
What a fun and informative tour! Maxine is a natural storyteller. Never a dull moment- the time just flew by! I’m looking forward to attending another one of Maxine’s tours as soon as possible
Thank you so much for joining the Bloomsbury walk. I’m really glad you found it fun and informative. It means a lot to hear the storytelling kept the time flying by, and I’m delighted you enjoyed the tour enough to want to come again. I’d love to have you on another walk soon.
Fantastic tour – Maxine is so much fun and so knowledgeable. I’m a Londoner, but learnt so much about Bloomsbury on this tour. I would happily do this all over again!
Thank you so much for joining the Bloomsbury walk. I’m really glad you enjoyed it and that the stories added something new even as a Londoner. It means a lot to hear you found the tour fun and that the history of Bloomsbury came through so clearly. I’d be delighted to have you back again anytime.
