Bloomsbury is of course best known for its literary associations. And rightly so. But its comedy heritage is less celebrated. In this video I set out with a very simple goal – to visit the site used as the exterior location for Bernard Black’s bookshop in the brilliant Channel 4 sitcom – Black Books. And quite by accident, nearly opposite 13 Leigh Street is another great comedy heritage location, The Norfolk Arms, a pub frequented by the mother of the fantastic Kenneth Williams (the Boot in Cromer Street was another of her regular drinking haunts). The Norfolk featured in Williams’ recollections of his early years living the area, having grown up in nearby Marchmont Street.

You also might want to watch this Bloomsbury walk from Red Lion Square to Woburn Place with all sorts of great stories and legends.