West side of Bloomsbury Square

Bloomsbury Square

Bloomsbury Square is London’s oldest square, having been created in 1665 by Lord Southampton as the piazza to his mansion.

Bloomsbury Square is surrounded by historic Georgian terraces and the grand facade of Victoria House, which was once shortlisted to become London’s City Hall. At the north end of the square stands the bronze figure of Charles James Fox, the celebrated Whig politician who gazes along Bedford Place to Russell Square and the statue of his fellow Whig, Francis Russell the 5th Duke of Bedford.

Bloomsbury Square has lately benefited from a major refurbishment reflecting elements of Humphry Repton’s 1806 original designs. Highly valued by the Russell Family, Repton was also responsible for planning the picturesque Gardens at Woburn Abbey, the Duke of Bedford’s country estate.

Bloomsbury Square is maintained by The London Borough of Camden and is open to the public during daylight hours.

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Bronze statue of Charles James Fox by Richard Westmacott