Covent Garden, London
Covent Garden is a district in London, England, located on the easternmost parts of the City of Westminster and the southwest corner of the London Borough of Camden. The area is dominated by shopping, street performers and entertainment facilities and contains an entrance to the Royal Opera House Covent Garden, which is also widely known simply as “Covent Garden“, and the bustling Seven Dials area. The area is bounded by High Holborn to the north, kings way to the east, the Strand to the south and Charing Cross Road to the west. History
Now one of London’s most popular tourist attractions, for much of its existence Covent Garden served as a fruit and vegetable market - the largest in England - which covered the whole of the square and occupied many of the buildings. The wholesale produce has now moved to New Covent Garden Market in south London and the original site has been transformed beyond all recognition.
Many people think no-one lives in Covent Garden! To them it is the Opera House, the Market, night life and a tourist shopping centre; in fact it is a village in the heart of London, with 6,000 residents, including many second and third generation families and the figure is steadily rising.
London’s First Public Square
In the middle-ages, the current square was a vegetable field known as the convent garden: it supplied food to the monks of the nearby convent of St. Peter, Westminster. In 1540 King Henry VIII confiscated the lands of the monasteries and the land was given to John Baron Russell, the first Earl of Bedford. In 1632 the 4th Earl Central Marketof Bedford, Francis Russell, commissioned the renowned architect Inigo Jones to develop the area into a luxury neighborhood.
If you are looking for best selection of shoe shops and independent fashion outlets, turn LEFT when you leave Covent Garden station, cross over the road and then go around the side of Marks and Spencer into Neal Street (top map) leading to the area called ‘Seven Dials’. Turning RIGHT when you leave the station (bottom map) leads to the Piazza and the Market Hall where you can find the widest choice of cafes and restaurants plus the street entertainment for which Covent Garden is well known.
New Covent Garden Market:
New Covent Garden Market is the largest fresh produce market in the UK. It plays a unique role in London’s market provision supplying fruit, vegetables, flowers, plants and many other catering needs. Customers include leading chefs and florists, restaurants and hotels, schools and hospitals. Over 2,500 people are employed here and the central location provides ready access to the West End, City and all parts of the Capital. There are some 245 companies on site.
The Funny Side…of Covent Garden is an upmarket yet friendly alternative to the usual London comedy experience. Exciting bills; mixing top UK acts with the very best of visiting international talent in a truly great atmosphere. Every Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday & Sunday.
Landmarks: The crowds at Covent Garden Market (www.coventgardenmarket.com) and the buildings of the Royal Opera House (www.royaloperahouse.org) are unmistakable for any Londoner.
Known for: Covent Garden Market, which has been attracting shoppers for centuries. Although nowadays it’s always crowded with tourists and those annoying guys who pretend to be statues, it’s still a good place to browse for gifts.
