Named after a 13th century manor known as Blemondisberi, the Bloomsbury estate was subject to royal and political intrigue before it passed to the powerful Russell family in the 17th century. In the 18th century it grew in popularity as it has two features favoured by estate agents in Bloomsbury and the world over: proximity to the city and the country.

Initially, its imposing townhouses were built for those who preferred to spend the week in the city and the weekend in the country. In fact, New Oxford Street was built in 1847 to improve the commute between Bloomsbury and High Holborn.

Nowadays Bloomsbury no longer bridges city and country and instead resides in Central London, however, it has retained much of it country-living feel and is one of the most sought-after residential areas in the City. Adding to its allure, and simplifying the job of estate and letting agents in Bloomsbury, is its reputation for stylish West End living.

FAMOUS RESIDENTS
A number of literature’s elites have called Bloomsbury home, a fact that estate and letting agents operating within the WC1 area code never fail to mention. For instance, Charles Darwin, Charles Dickens and WB Yeats dwelt in Bloomsbury. And in the early part of the 20th century, Bloomsbury became renowned for its coterie of intellectuals collectively known as the Bloomsbury Group, which included the economist John Maynard Keynes and the novelist Virginia Woolf. After Woolf and Keynes came reggae legend Bob Marley and, up until recently, the comedian Ricky Gervais.

LOCATION, LOCATION
Bloomsbury covers the area between Euston Road to the north, New Oxford Street to the south, Southampton Row to the east and Tottenham Court Road to the west. The nearest underground station is at Russell Square, while mainline rail stations at Euston, King’s Cross, Marylebone, Charing Cross and Waterloo are all within three miles.

Neighbourhood view
As far as neighbourhoods go, Bloomsbury virtually sells itself with the only problem reported by our estate agents is demand outstripping supply. Blessed with stunning Edwardian and Victorian buildings, Georgian houses, Art Deco blocks and state-of-the-art developments, Bloomsbury is also famous for the British Museum, the University of London and other educational and medical institutions. But it also has a greener side with a selection of tranquil garden squares, including Bloomsbury Square (London’s first) and Bedford Square, which is the only architecturally intact Georgian Square in the capital.

ESSENTIAL LIVING
Another important selling point highlighted by our lettings and property agents is Bloomsbury’s mix of good pre-school facilities, which makes it particularly child and family-friendly. There is also a seven-acre children’s playground and park at Coram’s Fields (93 Guildford Street, pictured left), which occupies the site of the original Foundling Hospital. In addition to the usual residents’ parking facilities, there are also plenty of car parks in the area, including one at Bloomsbury Square (spaces may be reserved by email) and one at the Brunswick shopping and entertainment centre (www.brunswick.co.uk).

Pre- School & Nursaries
Collingham Gardens: 020 7837 3423
Coram’s Fields (above): 020 7833 0198
Mace Montessori: 020 7242 5842
Thomas Coram Centre: 020 7520 0385

Primary Schools
Argyle Primary: 020 7837 4590
St. George the Martyr: 020 7405 5640

PARKING SOLUTIONS
020 7974 4646

SHOPPING IN STYLE
If you like one-stop shopping, our estate agents recommend The Brunswick (opposite Russell Square Underground) for a superb shopping experience for Bloomsbury locals and visitors alike. Once a Grade II-listed architectural icon in 1960s, the revamped Brunswick is now home to everyday essentials such as Waitrose, as well as some luxury shops such as Chocolat Chocolat, where chocolate lovers can even concoct their own recipes! The centre is also packed with some of the world’s most popular fashion stores, including French Connection, Hobbs, LK Bennett and babyGap.

Because of its literary and artistic roots, Bloomsbury is understandably a good place for bookshops, such as the renowned London Review (14 Bury Place), and art galleries, such as 20th-century specialist Austin-Desmond Fine Art (Pied Bull Yard, 68 Great Russell Street). Keen collectors of contemporary artwork might also enjoy Domobaal (3 John Street).

Bloomsbury has developed a reputation for camera shops and RG Lewis (19 Sicilian Avenue) is a good first stop for quality cameras and binoculars. A rarer attraction, though, is Bikefix (48 Lamb’s Conduit Street), a bicycle repairer and retailer specialising in ‘folding’ city bikes.

Shopping
The Brunswick (above): 020 7833 6066
Waitrose: 020 7713 6096
Chocolat Chocolat: 020 7833 4121
French Connection: 020 7833 2208
Hobbs: 020 7278 6132
LK Bennett: 020 7833 4045
babyGap: 020 7837 5904
London Review: 020 7269 9030
Austin-Desmond Fine Art: 020 7242 4443
Domobaal: 020 7242 9604
RG Lewis: 020 7242 2916
Bikefix: 020 7405 1218

LOOK GOOD, FEEL GREAT
Everyone likes to be pampered; our property agents and lettings specialists have compiled a list of some of their favourite health shops, salons and beauty treatment centres in Bloomsbury.

For traditional approaches to health, hair and beauty you might like to try The Store (36 Store Street), S'trim Coiffure (7 Woburn Walk) and Beauty Basement (31 Theobald’s Road). But one of the most interesting places for beauty treatments is the thoroughly modern myhotel Bloomsbury (11 Bayley Street), a Feng Shui-inspired boutique hotel with its own dedicated treatment room, called jinja. An oasis of tranquility and indulgence, jinja combines ancient Eastern healing techniques with the very best Western products.

Health & Beauty
The Store: 020 7636 1328
S’trim Coiffure: 020 7383 4978
Beauty Basement: 020 7430 2156
jinja at myhotel Bloomsbury: 020 3004 6034

ON THE TOWN
Bloomsbury offers an excellent choice of quality cafés, pubs and restaurants. One of best known is probably Denise’s Restaurant (79 Southampton Row), which is one of the oldest French eateries in London. Perfect for business lunches and relaxing evenings, it’s reminiscent of the small Parisian restaurants on the left bank but you don’t have to cross the Channel to enjoy this one.

For authentic Spanish cuisine, visit Cigala (54 Lamb’s Conduit Street), where you will find terrific tapas in the basement bar and gutsy à la carte on the ground floor. If you prefer Italian, our estate agents recommend Giotto Ristorante and Pizzeria (52-54 New Oxford Street, Bloomsbury), which provides home-cooked fresh pasta, pizza and a wide selection of other traditional Italian dishes. With a romantic atmosphere, friendly staff and quick service, it’s ideal for pre or post-theatre dining. The Italian Kitchen (43 New Oxford Street) is more of a family-style neighbourhood restaurant, renowned for affordably priced, country-style pastas, traditional thin pizza, chicken, seafood and cosmopolitan dishes.

Truckles (Pied Bull Yard, off Bury Place) provides the best 30-minute lunch in town. Eat outside in its charming courtyard setting during the summer, or hire a room for a private birthday bash. Bar food doesn’t come better than at Swintons (61 Swinton Street). A relaxed, modern environment, you will also enjoy a good choice of lagers, real ales and wines. As an added bonus it doesn’t show any TV sport. The Lamb (94 Lamb’s Conduit Street) is a traditional old Youngs pub. Built in 1729, it is Grade II-listed and serves classic-style English pub food. There is outside seating to the front and rear, which is handy during the summer and a warm, cosy atmosphere inside throughout the winter.

Restaurants & Pubs
Denise’s (above): 020 7436 1562
Cigala: 020 7405 1717
Giotto Ristorante: 020 7323 0891
Italian Kitchen: 020 7836 1011
Truckles: 020 7404 5338
Swintons: 020 7837 3995
The Lamb: 020 7405 0713

ENTERTAINMENT
Museum enthusiasts and theatre lovers are well catered for in Bloomsbury. In addition to the British Museum (Great Russell Street), there is also the Foundling Museum (40 Brunswick Square), the Bloomsbury Theatre (15 Gordon Street), the Cochrane Theatre (Southampton Row), the Robin Howard Dance Theatre (The Place, 17 Duke’s Road) and the Renoir Cinema (Brunswick Centre).

But if you prefer more informal entertainment, our property and letting agents can recommend a number of alternative events for a good night out in Bloomsbury. For instance, you could try Bloomsbury Bowling Lanes (below the Tavistock Hotel, Russell Square), or the rather glitzy All Star Lanes ten-pin centre (Victoria House, Bloomsbury Place).

Entertainment
The British Museum: 020 7323 8000
Bloomsbury Theatre: 020 7388 8822
Cochrane Theatre: 020 7269 1600
The Robin Howard Dance Theatre: 020 7121 1100
Renoir Cinema: 020 7837 8402
Bloomsbury Bowling Lanes: 020 7183 1979
All Star Lanes: 020 7025 2676

YOUR LOCAL...
Chemist: Boots, The Brunswick: 020 7278 5040
Dry cleaner, laundry and shoe repairs: Smartline, 54 Coram Street: 020 7278 4724
Post Office: 9 Russell Square: 0845 722 3344
Locksmith: Furneaux Industrial Supplies Ltd, 5 Sinclair House, Hastings Street: 020 7387 8450
Cat carers: Cat Care London: 08703 500 598
Police: Holborn Station, 10 Lamb’s Conduit Street: 020 7404 1212

DID YOU KNOW?
Part of the 2005 film, Batman Begins, was shot in Bloomsbury. The 1930s Art Deco building, Senate House, provided the perfect backdrop for a vital section of Gotham City’s celluloid skyline. Senate House, which is the administrative centre for the University of London, is also said to have been the model for George Orwell's Ministry of Truth, in his novel, Nineteen Eighty-Four.

You can view our website for excusive property listings in the WC1 area code, or simply contact one of our estate agents in Bloomsbury for more detailed information on any properties that have caught your eye. Our letting agents in Bloomsbury are available to answer any questions you may have regarding property rentals in the area.