Green, dominated by trees and a fountain as well as being one of London’s largest squares, Russell Square lies in the Bloomsbury area of the city. Named after the Russell family, Dukes of Bedford in the 19th century, the square was laid out by Sir Humphrey Repton in 1800, in fact some of the original houses still remain on the west side.

In years gone by the square was very much a haven for local lawyers with some even achieving fame: between 1818 and 1834 Thomas Denman lived in Russell Square, he was later to become Lord Denman and then Lord Chief Justice.

The painter Sir Lawrence Thomas had his studio in the square, from which he produced a series of military portraits which now hang in the Waterloo Chamber at Windsor Castle, and it was here that he was later to meet his maker.