The Best of Bloomsbury – London’s Creative District

Visit the Royal British Library

Perhaps not the most usual of tourist attractions, but the Royal British Library is no ordinary library, it is in fact the largest collection of written works of anywhere on the planet! It’s a simply stunning collection of books, manuscripts and historical documents, many of which date back thousands of years, where the centrepiece is the stunning King's Library Tower, a six-storey tall structure made of bronze and glass which houses one of the most important collections of 18th century works in the world. As well as all of this, the library runs an extensive event program featuring talks and exhibitions, so make sure to visit the website to stay up to date. I always think this is one of the most underrated things to do in London, not only is it incredible, but it’s completely free and just next to St. Pancras Station, so I’d say it’s definitely worth a visit!

Step onto the set of Harry Potter

Living in a world full of magic and mystery would be awesome, right? Well, unfortunately it’s not possible so we have to put up with the next best thing, visiting a movie set! Kings Cross Station is of course the location for the fictitious Platform 9¾, a part of the station which now houses the amazing Harry Potter Shop, which isn’t only a must visit for any Potterhead, but it’s one of the finest things to do in Bloomsbury full stop. When you enter, you’re going to be in a magical world surrounded by chocolate frogs, Hogwarts themed clothing and even replica props such as wands and broomsticks, all of which are available to buy, so if you’re a big fan make sure you bring a lot of money because you’re more than likely going to have your eye on everything. Just make sure you get there early because there will definitely be queues at peak times!

Step Back in Time in the Charles Dickens Museum

There’s a crazy number of great museums in Bloomsbury, it’s second only to Kensington in terms of quantity, but there’s nowhere in the city that celebrates a British icon of such importance as the Charles Dickens Museum. It’s set within the famous writer’s former home, a stunning Victorian house where he wrote some of his most famous works, including Oliver Twist and Barnaby Rudge. It’s great to gain insight into one of Great Britain’s most celebrated authors, and they also have an events schedule which is filled with specialised tours, talks and reading groups that are perfect if you’re searching for that extra bit of information. I think it’s so important to find things to do in London that give you an idea of the creative minds that have called the city its home, so a visit to the Charles Dickens Museum needs to be on your itinerary.

Discover the British Museum

Any Bloomsbury area guide will point you in the direction of the British Museum, an institution that over the years has become one of the most popular things to do in London for just so many reasons. First and foremost, it contains one of the most outstanding collections of historical and cultural items of any museum in the world, the scale of the content is quite astonishing. Beyond the museums own collection, it also showcases other prominent works of world history and art through an impressive exhibition program, which in 2019 alone will feature a varied array of exhibits including the history of food, manga and even Rembrandt. As well as all of this, the building is also one of the great architectural marvels in the entire city, after all, it has THAT incredible space that you just can’t help but take a photo of. You’ll know it when you see it.

Visit the Foundling Museum

The Foundling Museum is a gallery and museum space set up inside Britain’s first ever home for children who risked being abandoned almost three-hundred years ago, but now contains a wide variety of artworks and historical items within several highly interesting exhibition spaces. You can walk into authentically decorated rooms where the children once lived, as well as discovering what their day to day life way like, all the while gaining a very detailed insight into not only their struggles and hardships, but also the fascinating story of how England’s first children’s charity became its first public art gallery. It’s a total one-off institution and a real gem amongst the museums of Bloomsbury, I’ve even go so far as to say it’s one of the most unique things to do in London full stop, so for this reason alone I’d really recommend checking it out.

Eat your way around Bloomsbury Farmers Market

We all know that there’s an endless amount of really great restaurants in Bloomsbury, but did you know that there’s also some world-class street food to be found as well? The Bloomsbury Farmers Market is an absolute treasure trove of locally sourced, quality food, where a sustainable ethos is a fundamental part of what makes it so special. There’s a huge range of delicious takeaway options such as pizza, hog-roast and rice dishes as well as top quality selection of cheeses, fruits and vegetables for you to take home and enjoy. It’s a bit different from the usual things to do in Bloomsbury, but well worth a visit if you’re in the area and in need of some tasty food! It takes place in Torrington Square right in the centre of Bloomsbury every Thursday morning until 2pm.

Shop the Brunswick Centre

The Bloomsbury London neighbourhood isn’t as famous for shopping as some of the other city districts, say the elegant Marylebone for example, but that’s not to say it’s totally without its treasures. At the heart of it all stands the Brunswick Centre, a grade two listed building of incredible design that looks like it’s came straight from a science fiction film, but I’ll be honest, it’s probably not to everyone’s tastes! It’s got a great selection of chain shops and restaurants, many of which have outdoor seating which makes for a great option if you want somewhere a little bit different to sit and enjoy a cocktail on those warm summer evenings. The Brunswick Centre even has its own cinema called the Curzon Bloomsbury, where a visit is one of the top things to do in London if you’re a film buff because of their huge range of foreign language and independent films!