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Russell Square

Russell Square, London: Address, Phone Number, Russell Square Reviews: 4/5

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Russell Square

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Russell Square
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#270 of 2,528 things to do in London
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About
Square located in Bloomsbury central London, with easy access to nearby attractions like the British Museum, Covent Garden and Oxford Street for shopping.
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The area
Address
Neighborhood: Bloomsbury
Snuggly nestled within Central London is academic and leafy Bloomsbury, an area that boasts walking distance access to many of London's most popular attractions. It is also home to some of Britain's most celebrated museums, including the must-see British Museum. Despite an understandable popularity with students, tourists and day trippers, vast sections of Bloomsbury retain a quiet, residential feel year round and throughout the week.
How to get there
  • Russell Square • 3 min walk
  • Goodge St • 8 min walk
Best nearby
Restaurants
10,000 within 3 miles
Choppaluna
104
0.2 mi$ • Quick Bites • Fast Food • Healthy
The Shell
256
0.2 mi$$ - $$$ • Seafood • International • Grill
Pizza Sophia
511
0.2 mi$ • Italian • Neapolitan • Campania
The Swan
638
0.2 mi$$ - $$$ • Brew Pub • Bar • British
Nonna Selena Pizzeria
260
0.1 mi$$ - $$$ • Italian • Pizza • Mediterranean
49 Cafe
327
0.2 mi$ • Cafe • European • British
The Blue Door Bistro
503
0.2 mi$$$$ • European • British • Soups
Afternoon Tea at The Montague on The Gardens
288
0.2 mi$$ - $$$ • British • Vegetarian Friendly • Gluten Free Options
Bloomsbury Coffee House
321
0.2 mi$$ - $$$ • Quick Bites • Cafe • British
Antalya Restaurant
1,267
0.2 mi$$ - $$$ • Turkish • Vegetarian Friendly • Vegan Options
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Attractions
2,165 within 6 miles
Bloomsbury
63
406 ftNeighborhoods
Bloomsbury Square Gardens
86
288 ftPoints of Interest & Landmarks
The Wiener Library
23
458 ftLibraries • Educational sites
The British Museum
73,166
0.2 miSpeciality Museums • Art Museums
Brunei Gallery
24
0.1 miArt Galleries
The Horse Hospital
4
474 ftSpeciality Museums
Russel Square Station
28
0.1 miPublic Transportation Systems
Grosvenor Casino Russell Square
8
0.1 miCasinos
Woburn Square Garden
3
0.1 miParks
The Brunswick Centre
8
0.1 miShopping Malls
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
4.0
626 reviews
Excellent
197
Very good
319
Average
91
Poor
9
Terrible
10
jake_explores01
United Kingdom4 contributions
A Green Haven in a Bustling Metropolis
London is famed for its green spaces, parks and palaces, but I rarely hear of Russell Square being mentioned outside of announcements on the Piccadilly Line. Despite this, Russell Square is truly magnificent, it’s like a small corner of central London where you can just relax and momentarily escape the bustle of the city. It’s not exactly huge, and by no means as grand as places such as Hyde Park, but it’s a relaxing piece of greenery among an urban jungle. As mentioned above, the area is easily accessible on the Underground, on the Piccadilly Line, which also offers quick links to Heathrow Airport and the West End. There were a few small scale issues of littering around the square and in streets surrounding the square, but I generally found it to be an attractive and convenient place to rest. It is also only one stop from Kings Cross on the Piccadilly Line, which is convenient, as you can rest there for some time before you need to commute, but ensure you make it to the station you’re commuting from in plenty of time.
Overall, despite the fact that it isn’t as large as some other parks or green spaces in London, and with the small issue of litter, I give Russell Square a solid 4 out of 5 stars. It’s pretty, and peaceful, and I certainly recommend it if you need a quiet five minutes.
Written April 8, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Bluebellplasnewydd
Cardiff, UK1,449 contributions
Short cut
This is one of the important London squares but unfortunately the surrounding roads are very busy and noisy. The buildings at the edge are a mixture of offices, academic institutions and hotels. The gardens themselves are attractive in the summer with a fountain in the centre and also a cafe with outside seating. It is not really a destination garden and the value lies in the diagonal walkways that allow you to move from one corner of the square to the other avoiding the traffic.
Written August 2, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
therichastill
Stevenage, UK1,815 contributions
Tranquility
Russell Square is one of many small parks in Central London. It is surrounded by hotels and Georgian buildings and there is bustle going on outside as cars and buses pass by but after a day walking around London I would definitely recommend paying a visit to Russell Square.

There are plenty of benches to sit on dotted about along with a fountain at the centre. There is also a small place to get refreshments and also a bug hotel to encourage smaller wildlife.

It's a really peaceful place to go in the midst of one of the busiest cities in the world.
Written April 6, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
EnsignBoys2
Gosport, UK301 contributions
Easy to Pop-in.
Easy to get to off No 38 or 390 bus from Victoria. Near lots of Theatre's.
Food very good, reasonable prices.
Should you go for the Voucher on your Theatre Ticket for the Meal Deal £12.95 for 2 Courses, you won't get the Free Drink it states, even though it'son your Voucher Ticket.
Then make sure you stipulate exactly the drink you want. They tend to serve pints of Beer/Lager rather than the half you order & charge you accordingly. Be Alert.
(The doors to the Ladies re Sticky to touch!) We would not return.
Written February 16, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Carl B
1 contribution
A good combination of requirements make it nearly perfect.
Friends
I use this hostel when I travel for work because every time I am never let down. From the willing to help staffing team ( keep up the good work) to the cleanliness of the place and facilities to the price of the stay and location. I would fully recommend Russel square.
Written August 29, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Hooray H
London, UK2,257 contributions
Beautiful Grand Square
This is probably the most grand of the squares in WC, except for the traffic that flows around it. It is really well kept & well organised. It has a lovely family run Italian cafe.
When we were students, in '84-87, we used to come tit spotting here in the summer.
Mostly great tits; very few blue tits.
On the east side is the lovely Russell Hotel & the imposing Senate House on the opposite side.
Written April 6, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Andrew
St. Albans, UK6,386 contributions
Wonderful London Square
We visited Russel Square on a sunny Saturday morning. The square, which dates from 1804, has a café (Caffe Tropea), a water fountain and seemed to be popular with people have wedding photos taken. So nice we could have spent hours just relaxing here, but we were on our way to The British Museum just a short distance away.
Written July 22, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Niki
1 contribution
Best Cafe
Friends
This is a gorgeous cafe located in Russell Square Park.
You will find the most friendliest staff always giving a warm welcome with delicious food and the best coffee.
Go, Relax and have Fun.
Written February 7, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Brian T
London, UK5,502 contributions
A popular spot, but there are more beautiful gardens in London than this!
Solo
Russell Square is one of London’s garden squares which is well known to visitors to the capital. The garden square and surrounding streets of the same name were laid out in the early 1800s by the 5th Duke of Bedfordshire; his family name was Russell. His statue is in a fenced enclosure on the south side of the garden. The garden square was designed as the centrepiece to the grand houses which surrounded it; many of those buildings are still there though most function as offices these days. The grand chateau-style terracotta extravaganza on the eastern side is late 19th century, and is a hotel. Russell Square Gardens were relaid in 2002, returning them to something like their appear­ance in the early 1800s by repro­ducing the original twisting paths and planting new lime trees. The gentle curving sweep of trellised lime trees is one of the square’s loveliest features.

The gardens are pleasant, but they don’t dazzle. I visited at the height of spring, expecting a vibrant riot of spring colour, but the lack of colour, apart from some bluebells, and largely unkempt garden beds told a different story. I’ve been to the gardens many times when there’s been better displays. The west lawn in early spring is a carpet of daffodils, and that’s pretty to see. They had finished on this visit.

The gardens are extremely popular with students from the nearby University of London and visitors to the British Museum, and workers from the numerous businesses which surround the square. There’s a grassy expanse for picnic lunches, numerous seats along the curving footpaths, and lots of mature trees for shade in the summer. In my opinion the square lacks ‘stand-out’ features which would heighten its attraction to visitors. Apart from the statue of the Duke of Bedfordshire there’s no other statues, memorials or curiosities. The original fountain is no longer there, replaced in the 2002 revamp with an animated series of gushing water spouts (as seems popular these days with fountains) so the children can paddle amongst them. It’s not particularly attractive or noteworthy. It was fenced off on the day of my visit. Recent additions to the gardens are a series of bird feeders and ‘insect hotels’, designed to encourage some wildlife back into the gardens. There is a pleasant cafe in the square, with a wide exterior terrace for alfresco dining and for watching the world go by. My favourite curiosity is actually just outside the fenced enclosure of the gardens, in the north-western corner - the cabmen’s shelter erected in 1897, and surviving to the present day. It was built as a service point for drivers of hansom cabs back in the day, and is a little cafe today, serving drinks and snacks.

It’s a pleasant spot to visit if you are nearby, but I think there are much nicer gardens in London to visit if it’s a beautiful garden you are after. It’s flat and suitable for those using mobility assistance. Russell Square underground station (Piccadilly Line) is a short walk away.
Written May 15, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Nimitta
Manchester, UK585 contributions
The Cafe in the Garden
Couples
This is a great spot for coffee, breakfast, or lunch. Ideally located in Russell Square about 10 mins walk from Euston Station and 5 mins from the British Museum, the cafe is open 7 days a week from early morning until ~4.30-5pm. Nice coffee, decent well priced food in a lovely setting served by friendly Italian staff with indoor and outdoor seating . We have been using this place to meet and have breakfast for two years and are very fond of it indeed, as are friends. Watching the lovely garden change with the seasons, tourists from all over the world making a bee-line across the garden for the museum, lots of excited dogs out for walks, and squirrels :-) It's also ideally located for the Russell Square tube station, 2 mins walk away behind the cafe. Recommended, particularly for couples.
Written March 11, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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Frequently Asked Questions about Russell Square
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