Russell Square

Russell Square is a large garden square in the Bloomsbury district of central London, developed in the early 19th century by the Bedford Estate. It functions as a public green space surrounded by academic buildings, hotels and terraces.

The square offers mature plane trees, lawns, paths and a formal planting layout that provide a quiet open space within Bloomsbury; it is commonly used by workers, students and visitors seeking a central green area. It sits within walking distance of the British Museum and several university buildings.

Laid out in the early 1800s as part of the Bedford Estate’s development of Bloomsbury, the square has long been associated with academic and cultural institutions and has undergone periodic landscaping and refurbishments. It has retained its role as a planted urban square through the 19th and 20th centuries.

Situated in Bloomsbury, Russell Square is a short walk from the British Museum and London University precincts, with Russell Square Underground station providing direct connections across central London.

• Transport link: Russell Square has its own London Underground station on the Piccadilly line, providing direct links to central London and Heathrow airport connections.

What to See #

• Central garden: The central garden and planted lawns framed by Regency and Victorian terraces that form the square's public open space.
• Surrounding buildings: Surrounding academic and institutional buildings including University of London colleges and private townhouses that define the square's urban character.