B.Queer Tour of Bloomsbury

UCL staff and students are invited to join B.Queer for a wander through Bloomsbury’s queer past and present, followed by an informal social event 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.

The first tour group will meet in Russell Square at 5pm, with the following groups meeting and setting off at 10-minute intervals. The tour route covers approx. 1.5 miles, includes 7 stops, and usually takes 80-90 minutes to complete.

Tour guides include Stamatis Zografos, Maxwell Mutanda, Leah Lovett, Jordana Ramalho, Sebastian Buser, Bob Mills and Ben Campkin.

DRINKS RECEPTION: The drinks reception will begin at 18.30 at the Bartlett School of Architecture, 22 Gordon Street. Alcoholic and soft drinks will be available, and snack will include vegan and gluten free options.

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

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