Area guideLondon

Bloomsbury around Marchmont Street

Gay's The Word, at 66 Marchmont Street, calls itself the UK's oldest LGBT+ bookshop and dates its opening to January 1979. This is a daytime shop stop, not a bar crawl. It sits between Russell Square and King's Cross, walkable to Queer Britain if you want a museum afternoon.

  • books
  • history
  • daytime

Updated 28 September 2026

Marchmont Street in Bloomsbury, with independent shopfronts
Bloomsbury around Marchmont StreetImage: Stephen McKay / Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

Getting oriented

Think of this as an area to know, not a border.

Queer life spills across London. This page simply groups places that are easy to combine in one outing.

Getting there
Russell Square (Piccadilly line) and King's Cross St Pancras are the nearest stations. Marchmont Street is a short walk from either.
Accessibility
Street, building, lift, toilet, seating, and sensory access vary by venue. Check the exact venue when access is important.
Map
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What to find here

1 place to start with.

Gay's The Word bookshop on Marchmont Street, Bloomsbury
Gay's The WordImage: Ewan Munro · CC BY-SA 2.0

shop

Gay's The Word

The UK's oldest LGBT+ bookshop, at 66 Marchmont Street since January 1979, according to its own site.

  • Books
  • History
  • Daytime