Bloomsbury Uncovered: Literary Giants & Hidden Secrets

What if the most fascinating stories in London aren't in any guidebook? Bloomsbury's elegant Georgian squares and hidden cobbled mews conceal extraordinary tales that most visitors walk straight past. On this tour, Maxine, a lifelong Londoner and passionate storyteller pulls back the curtain on one of London's most interesting neighbourhoods. You'll discover the hospital that changed how the world treats its children, stand outside the home of Virginia Woolf, and visit the church where Ted Hughes and Sylvia Plath were married. You'll hear how J. M. Barrie's most famous creation saved thousands of children's lives, uncover the secrets of a grand hotel with a little-known connection to the Titanic, and meet the Victorian philanthropists who quietly changed the world from these very streets. Every stop reveals a different layer of Bloomsbury: The authors, the activists and the hidden histories that no guidebook will ever tell you.

1. 1

   Stop 1

   5 min

   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.

2. 2

   Stop 2

   5 min

   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.

3. 3

   The Foundling Museum

   5 min

   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.

4. 4

   Stop 4

   5 min

   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

5. 5

   Lambs Conduit Street, Camden, London

   5 min

   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.

6. 6

   Stop 6

   5 min

   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.

7. 7

   Coram's Fields

   5 min

   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.

8. 8

   Brunswick Square Gardens

   5 min

   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!

9. 9

   The Horse Hospital

   5 min

   Known at The Colonnade: dating back to the 19th century, learn about The Horse Hospital a stabling for cab drivers sick horses.

10. 10

    Stop 10

    5 min

    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

• 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

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.