Literary Walking Tour in Bloomsbury with London Literary Tours
Difficulty
easy
Duration
3 hours
Fitness Level
Suitable for any reasonable level of fitness; mostly walking on flat urban terrain.
Overview
Walk the storied streets of Bloomsbury on a 3-hour literary tour that unpacks the lives of Woolf, Eliot, and other radical writers. Join London Literary Tours for a richly detailed journey through a transformative cultural neighborhood.
Bloomsbury Blast
Radical movements, revolutionary writers
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Adventure Photos
About This Adventure
A walking tour through "leafy literary land"
Rates
Person: £25 | Age 13+
Duration
3 hours
About
Characterised by grand garden squares and quaint streets with bookshops, cafes and pubs, Bloomsbury is a delightful part of London to explore. It’s synonymous with intellectuals and avant-garde writers, commemorated in numerous plaques on the walls of their former homes.
You'll meet some on this tour and hear their fascinating stories, along with extracts from their letters and diaries and performances of their work. You'll see how their lives intertwined, what they had to say about each other, and what they got up to when no one was looking.
Writers on the Bloomsbury Blast include: • Virginia Woolf • T S Eliot • D H Lawrence • W B Yeats • Ezra Pound • Charlotte Mew • Dorothy Richardson • Rabindranath Tagore • Hilda Doolittle (H.D.) • E M Forster • Wyndham Lewis • Harold Monro
Taking in a range of writers – from literary superstars to unsung heroes – we build a picture of their interconnected lives during the early 20th century.
We'll reveal a Bloomsbury teeming with radical ideas, progressive movements and literary pioneers working out how to live and seeking answers to the big questions of life. We’ll ponder it all as we wander this special part of town.
The Bloomsbury Blast begins in Gordon Square, close to Euston Square and Goodge Street tube stations. Details of where to meet will be sent when you make your booking. We finish at Russell Square.
NB: IF THIS TOUR ISN'T AVAILABLE ON THE DAY YOU WERE HOPING FOR, IT PROBABLY MEANS WE'RE GIVING ANOTHER TOUR. PLEASE CONSIDER JOINING US ON OUR ST JAMES'S JAUNT (FEATURING VIRGINIA WOOLF), OR ON OUR NEW OSCAR WILDE WANDER.
Adventure Tips
Wear comfortable shoes
Prepare for about three hours of walking on paved streets and cobblestones.
Bring a rain jacket
London weather can change quickly; waterproof gear ensures the tour stays enjoyable.
Keep a notebook handy
You might want to jot down quotes or reflections during the storytelling segments.
Arrive early
Tours start promptly from Gordon Square; nearby tube stations offer easy access.
Local Insights
Wildlife
- Urban bird species like the blackbird and great tit often seen in garden squares.
- Squirrels darting among the trees around Gordon and Russell Squares.
History
Bloomsbury rose to prominence as a hub for writers and thinkers during the early 1900s, fostering groundbreaking modernist literature and progressive social ideas.
Conservation
Efforts to maintain Bloomsbury’s historic squares and green spaces preserve this unique urban ecosystem and cultural heritage for future generations.
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Adventure Hotspots in London
Frequently Asked Questions
Recommended Gear
Comfortable walking shoes
Key for navigating city pavements and cobblestones comfortably.
Light rain jacket or umbrella
Protects against London’s frequent light rain showers.
spring specific
Water bottle
Stay hydrated during warmer days on the walk.
summer specific
Notebook and pen
Great for capturing quotes, thoughts, and observations during the tour.