Explore the real-world places that appear in The Italian Girl by Iris Murdoch. Each location on the map shows what happens there in the novel, the real history of the place, and what's there today. Featured locations include Family House in North London, Highgate Cemetery, Regent's Park, British Museum Reading Room, Camden Market Area and 6 more.
Suburban residential street — The childhood home
Edmund returns to this oppressive family house after years of self-imposed exile, drawn back by his mother's funeral. The house holds all the old tensions and secrets, including his complex relationships with his brother Otto and sister-in-law Isabel. Here he encounters Maggie, the Italian girl who has served as the family's eternal servant and surrogate mother figure, now changed yet somehow constant.
This area of North London developed rapidly in the Victorian era as middle-class suburbs expanded outward from central London. The substantial houses were built for professional families seeking escape from the city's industrial core.
The neighborhood remains largely residential with well-preserved Victorian and Edwardian houses. Many have been converted to flats, though some remain as family homes much like the one Murdoch describes.
Swain's Lane — Final resting place
Edmund attends his mother's funeral here, the event that forces his return to the family fold. The ceremony becomes a catalyst for confronting long-buried family dynamics and his own emotional isolation. The gothic atmosphere of the cemetery mirrors the dark undercurrents of family secrets that will soon emerge.
Opened in 1839, Highgate Cemetery became one of London's most prestigious burial grounds. The Victorian cemetery movement created these elaborate garden cemeteries as healthier alternatives to overcrowded church graveyards.
Highgate Cemetery remains an active burial ground and popular tourist destination, famous for its elaborate Victorian monuments and as the resting place of Karl Marx and many other notable figures.
Visit: Highgate Cemetery (historic site)
Outer Circle — Walks and reflection
Edmund takes solitary walks here as he grapples with his return to family life and the revelations about the Italian girl's true role in the household. The park provides a space for contemplation away from the claustrophobic family house, where he can process the complex emotions stirred by his homecoming and Maggie's mysterious transformations.
Originally part of Henry VIII's hunting ground, Regent's Park was designed by John Nash in the 1810s as part of a grand scheme connecting Regent Street to Primrose Hill. It became one of London's premier public parks.
Regent's Park remains one of London's Royal Parks, featuring gardens, sports facilities, London Zoo, and the Open Air Theatre. It continues to serve as a green refuge in the heart of the city.
Visit: Regent's Park (park)
Great Russell Street — Scholarly refuge
Edmund, in his intellectual isolation, seeks refuge in the Reading Room's scholarly atmosphere. Here he attempts to lose himself in academic work, trying to escape the emotional turmoil of his family situation and his growing awareness of the Italian girl's complex history with the household.
The famous circular Reading Room, designed by Sydney Smirke, opened in 1857 and became the heart of British scholarship. Writers like Karl Marx, Virginia Woolf, and countless others worked under its distinctive blue and gold dome.
The Reading Room closed to readers in 1997 when the British Library moved to St. Pancras. The space now houses exhibitions and events, though the iconic dome remains a symbol of British intellectual life.
Visit: British Museum (museum)
Camden High Street — Urban wanderings
Edmund drifts through the crowded streets and markets of Camden as he struggles with his family obligations and his complicated feelings about returning home. The bustling urban environment contrasts sharply with the intense, closed world of his family house and provides anonymous escape from the emotional demands of his relatives.
Camden developed as a working-class area in the 19th century, with the arrival of the railway and the Grand Union Canal. The area became known for its markets, which began informally in the 1970s.
Camden Market is now one of London's most popular tourist destinations, featuring alternative fashion, crafts, and international food. The area retains its bohemian character while serving millions of visitors annually.
Visit: Camden Market (landmark)
Euston Road — Sanctuary and solitude
Edmund finds himself drawn to this church during his emotional crisis, seeking some form of sanctuary from the intense family dynamics. The quiet interior provides a space for reflection on his past choices and his current situation with the Italian girl, whose presence has always been a constant in the shifting family landscape.
Built in 1822, St. Pancras New Church was one of the first Greek Revival churches in London, designed by William and Henry William Inwood. It became a significant architectural landmark in the growing Bloomsbury area.
The church continues to serve as an active parish church and hosts concerts and cultural events. Its distinctive Greek Revival architecture makes it a notable landmark near St. Pancras International Station.
Visit: St. Pancras New Church (historic site)
Bloomsbury — Intellectual quarter
Edmund walks through this historic square as he contemplates his academic life and his detachment from human connection. The square represents the intellectual world he has chosen over family bonds, yet his return home forces him to question whether this scholarly isolation has been worth the cost of emotional engagement.
Bloomsbury Square, laid out in the 1660s, was one of London's first planned squares and became the heart of intellectual London. The area attracted writers, publishers, and academics, including the famous Bloomsbury Group in the early 20th century.
The square remains largely residential with some offices and continues to embody Bloomsbury's intellectual character. Many of the original Georgian buildings survive, maintaining the area's historic atmosphere.
Visit: Bloomsbury Square Garden (park)
Avenue Road — Research and escape
Edmund retreats to this local library, seeking the familiar comfort of books and research as a defense against the emotional demands of his family situation. The quiet study environment offers respite from the intensity of confronting his past and the revelations about the Italian girl's role in his family's life.
The original Swiss Cottage Library opened in the 1960s as part of Camden's commitment to public education and community services. The area was named after a Swiss-style tavern that once stood nearby.
The library was rebuilt in the 2000s as a modern community learning center, offering not just books but computers, community programs, and study spaces for local residents and students.
Visit: Swiss Cottage Library (library)
Parliament Hill — Heights and perspective
Edmund climbs to the heights of Parliament Hill seeking perspective on his family crisis and his complicated relationship with the Italian girl. From this vantage point overlooking London, he contemplates the patterns of his life and the possibility of breaking free from the family dynamics that have shaped him since childhood.
Hampstead Heath has been common land for over a thousand years. Parliament Hill, rising 98 meters above sea level, has offered views over London since medieval times and was saved from development by Victorian preservationists.
The Heath remains one of London's most beloved open spaces, with Parliament Hill offering one of the best panoramic views of the city. It's a popular spot for walking, kite flying, and contemplation.
Visit: Hampstead Heath (park)
Euston Road — Arrivals and departures
Edmund arrives at this station for his mother's funeral, marking his reluctant return to the family he has avoided for years. The busy terminal represents the threshold between his chosen isolation and the family obligations he must now face, including his complex relationship with Maggie, the Italian girl who has been the household's constant through all changes.
King's Cross Station opened in 1852 as the London terminus of the Great Northern Railway. Its distinctive twin-arched facade became an iconic symbol of Victorian railway engineering and London's industrial growth.
After major redevelopment completed in 2012, King's Cross has become a modern transport hub serving domestic and international destinations. The historic facade has been preserved alongside contemporary additions.
Visit: King's Cross Station (landmark)
Parish meeting space — Community gathering
The family gathers here for the funeral reception, where Edmund must navigate the social obligations he has long avoided. The formal gathering brings together relatives and neighbors, forcing him to confront not only his grief but also the community ties he abandoned and the Italian girl's integral role in maintaining these connections.
Parish halls have long served as community centers in British neighborhoods, hosting everything from funeral receptions to local meetings. These simple buildings form the backbone of local civic life.
Community halls continue to serve neighborhoods across London, adapting to changing needs while maintaining their role as gathering spaces for local events, classes, and celebrations.
More by Iris Murdoch: All Iris Murdoch books
More novels set in London: Browse all London books on Map A Story
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