Friends of Bloomsbury Square

Green Flag Award Winner 2009 & 2010

Welcome to the official website for Bloomsbury Square, the first square in London to be named as such. Bloomsbury Square is London’s oldest square, having been created by the pioneering Lord Southampton as the piazza to his mansion. 

Set out in 1665 Bloomsbury Square (formerly Southampton Square)  was the first of London’s residential squares and was followed by the construction of St James’s Square in 1667 and Soho Square in 1681.

It has only been open to the general public for 50 years - prior to 1950 it was the private reserve of paying key-holders.

Bloomsbury Square was redeveloped in the 1960s when an underground car park was built beneath. It has recently been refurbished to reflect elements of Humphrey Repton’s 1806 layout, including the restoration of the views and link to the nearby Russell Square. Statues of notable Whig politicians face each other along Bedford Place which connects them.

New railings and a hornbeam fence were introduced along with new paths, park furniture and landscape improvements.

Surrounded by historical Georgian terraces and the grand facade of Victoria House, the square is a perfect picnic spot and suntrap. It is a safe, clean and green barrier in a very busy part of congested central London.