Bloomsbury - West End

British Museum Bloomsbury

The picturesque neighborhood of Bloomsbury is often associated with learning, literature, and the arts – and for good reason. The neighborhood is home to many London attractions: the world class British Museum, University of London and it was the home of many famous writers in the early 20^th Century such as Virginia Woolf.

The area is best-known among visitors for housing the British Museum, which is a site not to be missed. Founded in 1753, it is the oldest public museum in the world. It famously (and controversially) holds the Elgin Marbles, the sculptures taken from the Parthenon in Athens. It also contains countless artifacts from almost any period in the history of human life on earth, from the Rosetta Stone to giant Egyptian sculptures and other priceless pieces of history. Read the entire story here…»

West End of London

In the city William Shakespeare, Harold Pinter, and Andrew Lloyd Weber called home, it’s only natural a visitor to London would want to see a play or musical while in the city.

Although the idea of seeing a West End production may sounds like a daunting experience, it’s much more laid back than you’d think – and better yet – cheaper.

The West End theater district is located in central London, mostly around Leicester Square and the Covent Garden neighborhood, making in simple to reach from the Tube. Covent Garden is home to numerous restaurants and pubs, and the ones located near theaters will frequently offer a special for before or after the shows.

Dress at West End shows is very causal. You wouldn’t be out of place in anything ranging from a pair of jeans and a t-shirt to a suit or dress. It’s really up to the attendee to wear what they feel comfortable in. But no need for anything too fancy – leave that for the opera or ballet. Read the entire story here…»

Photo of Queen Anne Square in Bloomsbury, London

As the intellectual epicenter of nineteenth and twentieth century, London, and especially the Bloomsbury area, were home to some of the most celebrated authors and thinkers of the time. With the University of London, the British Museum, the British Library, the Pushkin House and the Dickens House all within walking distance, it’s no wonder that the area continues to attract academics, artists and literature lovers from all over the world . Want to make sure the story of your visit to the city has a happy ending? Book a stay in a nearby New York Habitat apartment rental in London!

The history of Bloomsbury reads like the shelves of a library:
Virginia Woolf lived at 51 Gordon Square and hosted the famed Bloomsbury Group there. Jeremy Bentham founded University College on Gower Street, where his remains can still be seen in the South Wing (for a sight you’ll never forget, skip Madame Toussaud’s and head here instead!). T.S. Eliot was dubbed “the Pope of Russell Square” and hid out from his first wife at 24 Lincoln’s Inn Fields. Mary Godwin is rumored to have first met Shelley in the St. Pancras Old Church, where she was visiting the grave of her mother, Mary Wollstonecraft. Read the entire story here…»