Where to Stay in Fitzrovia
While it may not be the trendy area of Shoreditch or the business-centric Canary Wharf, Fitzrovia still has its own identity that’s at once modern and at the same time old fashioned. This amalgamation is part of its enduring appeal. Not only can travellers have a pint at the pubs that were once frequented by Virginia Woolf and George Orwell, but they can also indulge in the modern superstores and brands that define our era.
Fitzrovia has many streets that wind around and give a selection of modern social housing and 19th century apartments. This means that leisure and business travellers can have the choice that they crave. Our serviced apartment portfolio has a variety of apartments that are the perfect place to stay. Whether it’s a studio, 1 bedroom apartment or 2 bedroom apartment, all travellers can have the size that fits them and their group.
At TheSqua.re, our Fitzrovia apartments are lying in wait for everyone to book.
Facts about Fitzrovia
Before our luxury apartments in Fitzrovia are booked up, it’s best to look into the history of the area to know its significance to the city of London. Some of the facts that have been gathered below may be surprising to some.
- Fitzrovia is probably named after the Fitzroy Tavern, a public house on the corner of Charlotte Street and Windmill Street
- Karl Marx is known to have been to venues at Charlotte Street, Tottenham Street and Rathbone Place
- The historically bohemian area was once home to such writers as Virginia Woolf, George Bernard Shaw and Arthur Rimbaud
- The Newman Arms, features in George Orwell's novels Nineteen Eighty-Four and Keep the Aspidistra Flying. It also appears in the Michael Powell film Peeping Tom.
- Bernard Shaw and Virginia Woolf lived (at different times) in the same house at 29 Fitzroy Square
- The UFO Club, was held in the basement of 31 Tottenham Court Road on the eastern border of Fitzrovia.
- The band Coldplay formed in Ramsay Hall, a University College London accommodation on Maple Street in Fitzrovia
- The BT Tower was classed as an 'official secret' until fairly recently, to the point where taking or possessing photos of the tower wasn’t allowed.
- In 2016, The Sunday Times named the district as the best place to live in London
Things to Do in Fitzrovia
As a city neighbourhood and area, there are restrictions to what guests can do. However, Fitzrovia is an area that has much going for it, as well as nearby areas next to it that add a little more flavour into the mix. To know what to do in the Fitzrovia, the questions below can help.
- What are the most popular things to do in Fitzrovia?
Some of the most popular things to do in Fitzrovia are:
- British Museum
- Grant Museum of Zoology
- Pollock’s Toy Museum
- Fitzroy House
- BT Tower
- Fitzroy Square
- What is the best way to spend a day in Fitzrovia?
Here’s how you should spend a day in Fitzrovia:
- Go to the British Museum
- Grab a bite at one of the pubs
- Head to the Grant Museum of Zoology
- Walk around Fitzroy Square
- Go out to dinner down Tottenham Court Road
- See if Alison Jacques Gallery has an exhibition
Places to Visit in Fitzrovia
If there’s one way of killing time on any trip, it’s visiting all the attractions. Spending hours in museums, galleries and green spaces is the prime way of getting through the trip. Fortunately, Fitzrovia has many areas of interest that can broaden the mind and deliver excitement.
The top 10 attractions in Fitzrovia are:
- British Museum - One of the best museums in the city, the British Museum holds over 8 million artefacts and takes up 75,000 m2.
- Grant Museum of Zoology - Established in 1828, the Grant Museum of Zoology holds one of the oldest natural history collections in the UK (68,000 zoological specimens).
- Pollock’s Toy Museum - This rather petit museum was first started in 1956 in an attic and has expanded to take up the smaller shop it now inhabits. The collection mainly focuses on Victorian toys, which is a treat for any collectors or enthusiasts.
- Fitzroy House - This is an 18th century townhouse that showcases the life and works of the author and Scientology founder, L. Ron Hubbard.
- The Cartoon Museum - Featuring a library of over 5,000 books and 4,000 comics relating to the subject of cartoons, this is really for enthusiasts only.
- BT Tower - As famous and notable as the Shard, the Gherkin and the Walk-Talkie Building, the BT Tower is 190m high and was opened in 1965 as the Post Office Tower. Visitors will see many other tourists trying to get the perfect snap.
- Fitzroy Square - One of a fair number of green spaces in the area, this Georgian square is the ideal place for guests to rest after enjoying other attractions or long walks around the British Museum.
- Bedford Square - While set in Bloomsbury, this is not too far from Fitzrovia and acts as another green spot to choose from when the need to relax, sit down and chill comes into effect.
- St Giles Casino - Those that want to test their luck have ample opportunity in Fitzrovia thanks to the St Giles Casino. Slots, blackjack, poker and all the other addictive and popular games are here to test the endurance and luck of anyone that is willing to go all in.
- Alison Jacques Gallery - While there are many small galleries in London, one of the top ones is the Alison Jacques Gallery - always rated very highly by industry professionals.
Places to Eat in Fitzrovia
London is a global city, and as such, it has numerous options when it comes to eating out. Forget the traditional British foods, guests can have a bowl of Japanese noodles or Spanish tapas. Whatever a traveller wants, they can get it here. Fitzrovia has its own array of restaurants that constantly deliver.
- What are the best restaurants in Fitzrovia?
The 10 best restaurants in Fitzrovia are:
- What are Fitzrovia’s cheaper dining options?
Those looking for cheaper places to eat in Fitzrovia should go to:
- ICCO
- Fitzroy Wine Cellar & Kitchen
- Chez Nous
- Chettinad
- Bibimbap
- Berners Tavern
- The Ninth
- Honey & Co.
- Palms Of Goa
- Señor Ceviche
Shopping in Fitzrovia
With the likes of Tottenham Court Road right in its centre and Oxford Street not too far away, it’s safe to say that there are plenty of options to consider when London’s visitors decide to go shopping in Fitzrovia. From clothes shops to leather goods, big brands and small, any shopping adventure in Fitzrovia is made all the more unique and enthralling thanks to the monumental variety that’s on display.
- Oxford Street - Out of all the many things to do in London, shopping on Oxford Street is always on the list. Why? Because it is one of the UK’s most popular places to shop, as can be attested by the constant crowds pummelling the place for deals and boutique goods.
- Tottenham Court Road - With the added convenience of two London Underground stops (Goodge Street and Tottenham Court Road), the road is both a splendid place to shop and is the ideal place to hop on the Underground to get to more destinations.
- Goodge Place Market - Open 11am-3pm from Monday to Friday, the Goodge Place Market may be of the smaller variety, but it still has enough juicy and scrumptious foods to make any day out in the city of London worthwhile.
Transportation in Fitzrovia
Getting around London is easier than what most people believe. With the likes of the London Underground, London Overground, DLR and TfL Rail services, exploring the city and its surrounding couldn’t be more convenient. With Fitzrovia, there are substantial connections that will get travellers all across London, via the London Underground:
- London Underground (Central Line, Piccadilly Line and Northern Line) - Tottenham Court Road and Goodge Street are the nearest tube stations, with Holborn being an alternative.
Travelling around London though isn’t free. An oyster card is the best bet; all visitors need to do is touch in and out at the start and end of their journey. Costs vary depending on what zones guests are heading to. But to get the most out of London, it’s best to at least get a Zone 1-2 card even though Fitzrovia is in Zone 1:
- Single journey ticket (zone 1-2) around - £5
- Oyster/Contactless payment card (zone 1-2) - £2.40
Plus, with TheSqua.re’s Fitzrovia serviced apartments, guests are assured and delivered a central location that gives them easy access to the London Underground, so they can go from one end of London to another.
Weather in Fitzrovia
The weather in Fitzrovia is much like the rest of London, which is also like the rest of the UK. The city of London is known for its cold winters (where temperatures fall below freezing), but also for its hot summers where temperatures can reach average highs of 24 degrees (or 35 degrees, like in 2020). But it’s fair to say that British summers are notoriously unpredictable, so wet-weather clothing is essential at any time of the year. The month of September is often a good time to visit as well, as the temperature is usually still warm, whilst being a little cooler than August in the evenings, making for a more comfortable stay.
So, overall, whether a guest is in Fitzrovia for business or leisure, the weather will hold many surprises for them.
