What to do in Covent Garden, London
Covent Garden has been a must-visit on every one of our trips to London. Covent Garden is located in the heart of the West End and is easily accessible by tube, bus, or walking.
The schedule on our most recent trip rewarded us with time to explore the surrounding Greater Covent Garden area. Below are some of our favorite attractions in Covent Garden.
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History of Covent Garden
In the 1200s Westminster Abbey used the land to plant a garden, it was then referred to as "the garden of the Abbey and Convent".
In the 1500s the Tudors ruled Britain and commissioned architect Inigo Jones to build a square and fancy homes in a bid to attract wealthy residents. At the time the area was known as ‘convent garden’.
Somewhere along the way the word “convent” merged with the French word “couvent” which means a religious building.
By 1654 a small open-air fruit-and-vegetable market emerged on the ritzy square. But by the 18th century, the area had fallen into disrepair and was known for its many brothels.
Years later Parliament acted and architect Charles Fowler was commissioned in 1830 to erect a roof and create a market. Additional buildings were added creating the area as we know it today.
Visit Covent Garden Markets
The open-air Apple Market features a series of stalls under a roof. The Apple Market is where the original market was located. The vendors sell unique and often handmade pieces.
The Jubilee Market features antiques on Monday, a general market on Tuesday through Friday, and arts and crafts on the weekend.
The London Transport Museum
The museum's main building is located in a Victorian iron and glass building that had formed part of the Covent Garden vegetable, fruit, and flower market.
We are particularly interested in transportation but I think anyone would find the museum enjoyable. There are lots of real buses and other exhibits for kids (and adults) to climb on.
You can easily spend an hour or two learning about London’s Underground and bus system.
The £24 admission ticket is valid for a full year of unlimited visits. You can purchase the tickets at the entrance but they are timed so buying them online before your visit is a good idea,
There is also a wonderful gift shop that you can browse even without paying the admission charge. There are all sorts of transportation-themed items and artwork.
There is also an appealing line of pillows, blankets, and other items designed with the distinctive colors of London’s various subway lines. Debbie picked up a pair of socks designed with the purple tones of the Elizabeth Line.
Neal’s Yard
Located within the greater Covent Garden area is one of the most Instagramable areas in London - Neal’s Yard. The courtyard is highlighted with colorful window frames and vibrant cafes. The surrounding area features many quaint shops and quirky boutiques.
Seven Dials neighborhood
If you said all roads lead to Seven Dials, you might be right. Seven streets converge at the central roundabout, in the middle is a column bearing six sundials – with the column acting as the seventh sundial.
In 1690 King William lll gave Sir Thomas Neale a generous plot of land near Covent Garden with the hope of creating an elite village.
Unfortunately by the 19th century, the “elite village” was among the most notorious slums in London.
The area was described by Charles Dickens in 1835: “... streets and courts dart in all directions until they are lost in the unwholesome vapour which hangs over the house-tops and renders the dirty perspective uncertain and confined.”
Today Dickens would not recognize the area and I’m sure King William and Sir Neale would be proud.
The Seven Dials area now offers a wide selection of restaurants and bars. If you are looking for many restaurants in one spot then the Seven Dials Market Food Court might be for you.
In the 19th Century, Seven Dials Market, housed cucumbers and bananas. The market is now split into two sections: Cucumber Alley and Banana Warehouse. The highlight is a huge two-story food court.
Goodwin’s Court
Taking just a few steps down this tiny alley will transport you from a busy street to the Victorian era. There really isn’t much to see it’s just a cool blast from the past.
Harry Potter fans have argued that this might be the inspiration for Knockturn Alley. If you are a Potter fan, Cecil Court, another contender for Knockturn Alley, is nearby.
If you are a Harry Potter fan you can find some wonderful Harry Potter-themed guided tours here.
Theaters
An astounding number of theaters are located in the Covent Garden area—more than twenty theaters house performances for every taste. At the Royal Opera House, you can see some of the world’s best opera and ballet.
You can purchase tickets ahead of time or try your luck with last-minute tickets on the London TKTS website.
Restaurants
Since nearly every other door in Covent Garden leads to a different restaurant, it's rather hard to recommend one. There really is a restaurant for any taste and price tag.
The White Lion is a pub in Covent Garden, London, on the corner of James Street and Floral Street. A pub has been operating on the site on the site since at least 1839.
I will mention that on two different visits to London, we dined at Din Tai Fung in Covent Garden. We ate at the internationally acclaimed restaurant in Seattle and Vancouver, so now we seek it out if there is one nearby. You can watch the kitchen staff prepare their wonderful dumplings through a huge glass window.
You really can’t go wrong dedicating a few hours to stroll, dine and drink your way through Covent Garden.
If you are looking for other things to do in London check out our blog post about watching the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace.
Some other England travel blog posts:
