Bloomsbury Festival is an annual five-day celebration of Bloomsbury’s pioneering creativity.

Presenting an inspiring programme of arts, science, literature, performance, discussion and reflection, each October the Festival shines a light on the radical imaginations, institutions, and 11,000 residents that shape contemporary Bloomsbury. Taking place everywhere from cultural centres and major institutions like Conway Hall and University College London, to quirky indoor and outdoor spaces, the 150+ mostly free events will pop-up across the lively cultural quarter.

The Festival acts as catalyst bringing together high-profile artists and the local community, developing and showcasing emerging and early career artists, and bridging usual collaborations arts and science. Each year, the Festival attracts an audience of around 20,000 people.

Bloomsbury Festival at UCL

As part of Bloomsbury Festival 2017 UCL Culture presents the UCL Bloomsbury Festival Hub: The Science and Art of Living Well. Working with researchers at UCL, the UCL Hub will showcase research that explores personal independence using interactive experiences, dance, theatre, storytelling and workshops. For one day the UCL Bloomsbury campus will erupt into a street festival where visitors can explore the newest technologies that are giving us longer, healthier and more independent lives and the revolutionary ideas behind them. Visitors will meet scientists, historians and artists and experience the work of a life-saving brain surgeon, stand in Gandhi’s shoes, have a go at being someone else and discover the quantum secrets of photosynthesis.  

Visitors to the UCL Hub will also be able enjoy free music stages featuring Bloomsbury Songs, local choirs of all ages, dance performances and street food and have the opportunity to relax in the Festival Vitality Suite for a refreshing massage or enjoy a ‘superfood’ smoothie in partnership with Planet Organic or try out Nourish Skin Range products.  

As part of the UCL Hub visitors can also visit UCL Culture’s Grant Museum of Zoology and discover the boring beasts that changed the world in their new exhibition The Museum of Ordinary Animals, see brand new commissions from the Slade School of Fine Art as part of The Composition Has Been Reversed at the UCL Art Museum, help 'hack' technologies to improve visits to museums for people with visual impairment at the Petrie Museum of Egyptian Archaeology and visit the Faking It Open Day Institute of Making from 1pm. 

The Bloomsbury Studio also have an exciting programme of performances running Wednesday 18th to Sunday 22nd Oct. Visit their booking website for tickets.

Visit bloomsburyfestival.org.uk for full details of the Bloomsbury Festival Programme or download the Bloomsbury Festival Brochure.