COVENT GARDEN ULTIMATE GUIDE
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Whether you’re hoping to shop ’til you drop in one of London’s most famous shopping areas or even just wanting to take a pleasant stroll in the heart of London’s West End, Covent Garden has it all.
During the summer months, the area is packed full of tourists and locals carrying big bags of shopping items and snapping photos of the nearby tourist attractions. But it’s during the winter when Covent Garden truly comes to life, with Christmas decorations lining the streets and brightly-lit displays glistening in all the shop windows.
Walking around the area, you can almost feel as if you’re walking around London during the 18th century. It was during this time when Covent Garden really experienced its heyday (although it has been an important location since as far back as 1500s, when the land now known as “The Covent Garden” was acquired by Henry VIII).
If you take a free tour with a local guide, you will learn that Covent Garden first became a desirable place to live among London residents during the 1600s, especially after the famous Inigo Jones started building homes for wealthy London residents in the area. Jones was also responsible for building Covent Garden’s Italianate arcaded square, which was the first of its kind of London. In 1654, a fruit and vegetable market was established at the southern section of the square (which was the largest of its kind in England at that time), as well as various theatres, taverns and even brothels.
In 1830, a neo-classical building was designed to cover up the markets, and eventually, other buildings like the Floral Hall, Charter Market and the Jubilee Market were added to the area. However, during the 1800s the markets were relocated to the New Covent Garden Market, and the area now known as Covent Garden was transformed into the popular tourist district that is seen today.
Covent Garden Highlights
The epicentre of Covent Garden is its market piazza, which is almost always flooded with tourists, locals and even street performers throughout the year. As a matter of fact, the street performers have become so synonymous with Covent Garden, it’s not uncommon to see up to 200 visitors watching these performances at a time.
A visit to Covent Garden’s Jubilee Hall Market is also a must, as here you can find everything from antiques to food products, or even arts, crafts and souvenirs. Not only that, walking by the many stores in and around Covent Garden, you will see a ton of big-name brands, especially in the cosmetic and beauty departments (like the Dior Beauty Boutique, Chanel and Clinique). There’s also a handful of international bars in the area, which draw London’s expat community into the area (especially on the weekends and over the holidays).
Neal’s Yard (the small alley between Shorts Gardens and Monmouth Street) provides some fantastic photo-taking opportunities, with its 17th century-styled courtyard, not to mention several healthy food cafes and shops as well.
But out of all the attractions in Covent Garden, none would be as famous as the Royal Opera House, which was built in 1809 close to the north piazza. Performances are held here throughout the year which range from ballet and opera, and visitors can see the building’s many historical artifacts by visiting the Amphitheatre Gallery.
Special Tips
Try to visit Covent Garden at least one time during the day, and then again at night to see Covent Garden in all its glory during the nighttime hours.
When watching a street performance, be respectful and pay the performers for their entertainment. If not, be prepared to dish out a few coins anyways as the performers can be a little pushy for money.
Because Covent Garden is quite touristy, always keep an eye on your belongings as the area is prone to pick-pocketers.
Getting There
Address: Long Acre, London WC2E 9JT, United Kingdom
By Tube: The nearest station is Covent Garden, which is seconds away from the main market building at the end of James Street. Other underground stations which are close by include Leicester Square (a five-minute walk away) and Charing Cross (a six-minute walk away).
By Train: The nearest station is Charing Cross, which is a six-minute walk away.
By Bus: You can reach Covent Garden via routes RV1, 9, 13, 15, 23, 139 and 153.
Visiting Covent Garden
Because Covent Garden is divided into different sections, it’s important to know your way around (especially if you’re short on time).
The Long Acre divides Covent Garden into two sections, with the northern section containing independent shops, Neal’s Yard and Seven Dials, but the southern area houses Covent Garden’s central square as well as theatres and museums like Theatre Royal, Drury Lane and the London Transport Museum.
Recommended visiting time is around two hours, but if you want to get some shopping done you could easily spend an entire day at Covent Garden. You can also take a free walking tour around the area to learn about the history of this interesting place.
There are toilets inside the Market Building which cost 70p per use, but there are also toilet facilities that are free to use located by St. Paul’s Church (which can be accessed via the West Piazza). If you need to find a cash point, there are ATMs located in the West Piazza as well as on King Street.
When to Visit
Anyone can walk around Covent Garden for free, anytime of day or night. However, if you want to check out its markets, the Covent Garden market is open from:
- 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. (Monday to Friday)
- 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. (Saturday)
- Mid-day to 6 p.m. (Sunday)
Be aware that individual stores may be opening and closing at different times.
The Covent Garden Apple Market is open from:
- 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Mondays
- 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. from Tuesday to Sunday
If you want to purchase some clothes, food, gifts or household goods, then head to Covent Garden between Tuesday and Friday. Saturdays and Sundays, on the other hand, are specifically for the selling of arts and crafts, as well as candles, jewellery and artwork.
If you are checking out Covent Garden, you might also want to join any of the free tours in London that are available on offer.
