George Orwell’s London

Though born in India in 1903 and educated at Eton, George Orwell spent a large portion of his adult life in or around London. George Orwell was primarily an author and journalist. Noted as a political and cultural commentator, Orwell is among the most widely admired English-language writers of the 20th century. He is best known for two novels written towards the end of his short life: Animal Farm and Nineteen Eighty-Four. Here are the ten best Orwell related London locations.

1.	Pond Street/South End Green, NW3
	This was one of the first places George lived and worked in London and it still has a very quaint plaque in place in his honour. When Orwell lived here in 1934, this Pizza parlour was a Bookshop called Booklovers corner, George worked in the afternoons and wrote in the morning and at night in the rent free flat above. Map - Click here Nearest Tube Station - Belsize Park

2.	77 Parliament Hill, NW3
	After South End Green, George moved just up the road to a lovely location just off Hampstead Heath. He evidently didn’t like it too much though, only staying a few months between February and August 1935. Map - Click here Nearest Tube Station - Hampstead

3.	27 Canonbury Square, Islington, N1
	From 1944 Orwell lived in this house with his wife Eileen and after her sad death, then with his Sister Avril. Map - Click here Nearest Tube Station - Highbury & Islington

4.	Drill Hall, Allisten Road, NW8
	Orwell enlisted into the Home Guard in 1940 and this magnificent building was where he did most of his training. Map - Click here Nearest Tube Station - St Johns Wood

5.	Victor Gollancz Publishers, 14 Henrietta Street, WC2
	This is the address of Orwell’s first publishers.  Run by Victor Gollancz himself, the two men parted company when Victor refused to publish Animal Farm, not wishing to offend his soviet sympathising friends and writers.  Map - Click here Nearest Tube Station - Covent Garden

6.	Senate House, Malet Street, WC1
	This headquarters of the University Of London must surely have been Orwell’s inspiration for the “Four Ministries” in 1984.  In Orwell’s day it was used as The Headquarters Of Information in World War Two. Orwell was known to believe that the hand of the MOI was influential in his difficulties getting Animal Farm published.  Map - Click here Nearest Tube Station - Goodge Street

7.	Newman Arms Pub, Rathbone Place, W1
	This charming little pub was known to be one of Orwell’s favourite drinking establishments. Once inside, it’s easy to see why he would have taken to the intimate atmosphere and smoky nooks and back rooms. Map - Click here Nearest Tube Station - Tottenham Court Road

8.	Dorset Chambers, Chagford Street, NW1
	During the heights of the London Blitz of World War Two in 1940, Orwell and his wife Eileen rented a flat at the top of this building. Map - Click here Nearest Tube Station - Baker Street

9.	University College Hospital, Grafton Way, WC1
	Orwell spent his last days here in 1949/10950. Eventually dying of TB on January 21st 1950. Before he died, he also married his second wife Sonia here. Map - Click here Nearest Tube Station - Warren Street

10.	Christ Church, Albany Street, W1
	Orwell, being a staunchly secular man was surprisingly buried in a Church of England graveyard outside London in Oxfordshire. What was even more surprising was that this was at his own request.  Funeral services for Orwell though were held in Christ Church on Albany Street London, on January 26th 1950.  Map - Click here Nearest Tube Station - Great Portland Street