Emerge from Russell Square tube through a sea of tourists and you could be forgiven for writing it off as a place to live. But turn a couple of corners and discover a district of elegant squares, of libraries, bookshops, publishing houses,  and hidden mews, offering wonderful flats and superb period houses. Most famously, the Bloomsbury Group, known for novelist Virginia Woolf lived here during the early decades of the 20th century. Also, come 2007 if all goes to schedule, this area will be two and a half hours, non-stop to Paris.

The area gave its name to the group of local 20th century writers and artists known as the 'Bloomsbury Set'.

Here you can live in the very heart of London: the City lies to the east, the West End and theatreland to the south west. The British Museum, London University, British Library and dozens of academic institutions lie scattered around an area with Georgian bone-structure and, for so central a location, green and peaceful corners.

Literary, legal and scholarly, Bloomsbury is the brainy quarter of London. Dominated by two towering institutions, the British Museum and London University, and bolstered by the Inns of Court, it could hardly be otherwise.  

The British Library holds copies of everything published in Britain, as well as historical publications from around the world. The Dickens House Museum was home to Charles Dickens from 1837-39, during which time he completed most of his best work. Catch a fascinating glimpse into the life and times of the great Victorian author and social reformer.