Pushkin House was founded in the 1950s by Maria Kullmann, the daughter of a famed Moscow surgeon who was living in London. It was felt at the time that there was a need for a politically neutral cultural centre in London, so she and a small group of friends known as the Pushkin Club eventually acquired a house at 46 Ladbroke Grove that would be the home of the centre for 50 years.

During this time, Pushkin House sponsored many performances and speakers on everything from ballet to writing to politics; the centre has always remained a place where people from even opposite ends of the political spectrum can meet freely and discuss their differences.

After the fall of the Soviet Union, Russian immigration to Britain exploded, as did interest in the art and culture of the region, and it soon became clear that the accommodations at Ladbroke Grove would not meet the needs of this new age.

In 2005, the Pushkin Club purchased the house at 5 Bloomsbury Grove that is the current location of Pushkin House. The new Pushkin House opened in 2006 after extensive renovations of the building.

Currently, the Pushkin House offers lectures on all aspects of Russian culture, exhibitions and performances of Russian art, music, and plays, and screenings of Russian films.

The house has a reference library of Russian literature, texts, and art books; the library also carries many Russian language newspapers. Russian language courses are also offered by the Russian Language Centre at the house.

Unusual tourist attractions in London like Pushkin House are just part of the charm of visiting a capital.

Pushkin House

Address: 5A Bloomsbury Square, Bloomsbury, WC1A 2TA

Telephone: 020 7269 9770

Photo courtesy: Matt From London

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