The British Museum, dominating this corner of Bloomsbury,
has long been a favourite haunt of London’s intellectuals, such as Virginia Woolf
and T.S Elliot. The contents of the famous reading room have been temporarily
rehoused in the British library while building work is completed. The university
of London is also here, so you’ll see lots of earnest people studying
for exams while you contemplate the scenery.
British Museum
Make time for the British Museum, which has more visitors than the
Louver in Paris or the Metropolitan Museum in New York. You must
see the Rosetta Stone, which was the key to deciphering Egyptian
hieroglyphs-its near the entrance. Head for the Egyptian collection
and the Elgin marbles from the Parthenon, which Greece is still
trying to get back. A major redevelopment focused round the Reading
Room and Great Court is under construction. The inner court will
be a dramatic new space that will be open to the public for the
first time in 150 years.
Bedford Square
All the entrances on this very fine Georgian Square (1775) are decorated
with artificial stone. This area is one of the many private estates
that combine to make up London. Though some parts of the city belong
to Crown, this area belongs to the Duke of Bedford.
St George’s Bloomsbury
This church designed by Nicholas Hawksmoor for the district’s
rich inhabitants, has always been the subject of criticism and mockery.
Its fake Renaissance northern façade, pyramid bell-tower
resembling a mausoleum and highly unpopular statue of King George
I may have something to do with this.
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