B. Queer Tour of Bloomsbury

UCL staff and students are invited to begin the new academic year by joining B.Queer for an Autumnal wander through Bloomsbury’s queer past and present, followed by a drinks reception hosted at the Bartlett School of Architecture. 

Starting at Russell Square, tour groups will traverse their way around Bloomsbury, meeting guides along the way who will share stories about how sexual and gender diversity, as well as race and class, have animated Bloomsbury’s queer landscape.

The tour will feature some familiar figures and sites, from The Bloomsbury Group’s (who famously lived in squares and loved in triangles), and philosopher and homosexual law reform advocate, Jeremy Bentham, to Slade School of Fine Art alumni Derek Jarman and Maggie Hambling and the iconic Gay’s the Word bookshop, a vital hub of queer politics, community and controversy. 

Prominent appearances will also be made by people, places and practices whose roles in the queer life of Bloomsbury’s often overlooked, including Victorian gender-explorers Fanny and Stella; Jamaican migrant, British soldier and Bloomsbury Group acquaintance Patrick Nelson; much-loved and missed lesbian venue, The Glass Bar, and cruising in the neighbourhood’s squares and cottages.

Agenda

The first tour group will meet in Russell Square at 5:00pm BST, with the following groups meeting and setting off at 10-minute intervals. The tour route covers approx. 1.5 miles, includes eight stops, and usually takes 80-90 minutes to complete. 

Tour guides include Maxwell Mutanda, Leah Lovett, Sé Tunnacliffe, Sebastian Buser, Bob Mills and Ben Campkin.

The drink reception will begin at 6:30pm BST. There is a limited amount of space for UCL staff and students who are not able to join the tour but would like to come along to the drink reception (see ticket options). 

The B.Queer Tour of Bloomsbury is adapted from the fantastic Hide and Seek Tour, devised by Professor Bob Mills, during his time as director of qUCL. We’re very grateful to Bob for generously sharing the tour materials and are delighted that he will be making a cameo appearance as a tour guide with B.Queer.

Accessibility

The tour is approx. 1.5 miles long. The tour route and Bartlett School of Architecture building are accessible for wheelchair users. Personal assistants and assistance dogs are welcome to join tour attendees.

Toilets: The Bartlett School of Architecture has a range of toilets available, including accessible and all-gender options. 

If you require a BSL interpreter, please register and contact Lo Marshall (lo.marshall@ucl.ac.uk) giving as much notice as possible.

Alternatively, if D/deaf attendees prefer to lip read but would benefit from receiving a guide’s talks in written format, please Lo Marshall (lo.marshall@ucl.ac.uk) in advance.

During the reception, a quiet room will be available for use by anyone needing a low-stimulation space. 

Further access information is available at: https://www.accessable.co.uk/venues/gordon-street-22

Dietary requirements: Alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks will be provided, and snacks will include vegan and gluten free options.

If you have any questions, requests or concerns, please email Lo Marshall: lo.marshall@ucl.ac.uk.

This event is organised by B. Queer, The Bartlett’s Queer Network, which brings together lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer, intersex, asexual (LGBTQIA+) students, staff, and allies from across the faculty’s 12 schools, institutes, and departments.

This event is funded by a grant from the LEIG Fund, many thanks to the LGBTQ+ Equality Implementation Group for their support.