15 Minute Finds: London’s Blue Plaques
Chasing Bloomsbury’s Blue Plaques — and the stories they’d spill if only they could talk.
If you’re the type who likes a good wander after supper (and honestly, who isn’t?), then keep your eyes peeled — Bloomsbury is positively peppered with those iconic Blue Plaques. They’re like little gossip notes from history, whispering which famous so-and-so once lived where. The scheme’s now run by English Heritage, and it’s one of the oldest of its kind in the world. Think of it as London’s longest-running game of “guess who lived here?”
Now, between you and me, English Heritage’s official map is a bit of a fiddle (lovely organisation, but not exactly CityMapper). Some clever folk have built alternative maps and even themed trails — LondonCheapo, for instance, has put together a rather fun Bloomsbury and Soho wander. But truthfully? My personal method is to pick a direction, stroll off with my eyes darting about like a magpie, and let the plaques surprise me. It feels a little like detective work… only with less trench coat and more coffee stops.
And what treasures you’ll find just steps from The Goodenough Hotel. Big names such as Charles Dickens, Dorothy L. Sayers, Benjamin Disraeli and John Maynard Keynes have all left their mark nearby. But don’t you dare set off without first paying your respects to our very own notables: Helena Normanton, Sir Syed Ahmed Khan and Richard Henry Tawney. Helena, by the way, was a trailblazing female barrister and champion of women’s rights — her plaque was unveiled in 2021, and we’re so proud to also have a suite named after her.
So there you are: history on the walls, stories on the streets, and all of it waiting to be discovered with a curious eye and a comfortable pair of shoes.
P.S…
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Think: a stay in one of our elegant suites, breakfast fit for Bloomsbury insiders, a bottle of Champagne waiting to pop on arrival, upgraded treats galore, and every little extra we can possibly sneak in to make your stay feel fabulous.
It’s all very limited (the best things usually are), so don’t dally — book your luxury escape to Bloomsbury before someone else nabs it first.