Covent Garden is a world-class shopping and dining destination attracting food-lovers and fashionistas alike. Buzzing with the excitement of the opera and theatreland, the area boasts some of the best shopping and dining destinations in London's West End, from Mulberry to Petersham Nurseries and Balthazar to Frenchie.
When did Covent Garden stop being a flower market?
The market officially stopped trading on Friday 8th of November, 1974 – the entire enterprise relocated to Nine Elms in Vauxhall. Boursnell, of course, was there, recording the end of a very particular era of London history.
There are many attractions that draw tourists and locals to Covent Garden in London, not least its top designer shops, street performers and the world famous Royal Opera House.
Seven Dials Covent Garden is a unique quarter of London whose star-shaped layout remains as constructed in the early 1690s. It was brought back to life largely through the dedication of the Seven Dials Trust, working in partnership with the local authorities and landowners for nearly forty years.
Covent Garden Juicy Debauched History Romp - London Walk
Is Seven Dials a rundown area?
Seven Dials was first developed by entrepreneur Thomas Neale way back in 1693 and has since gone from a rundown slum to a listed conservation area, creating over 300 years worth of stories to uncover.
Seven Dials Covent Garden is a unique quarter of London whose star-shaped layout remains as constructed in the early 1690s. It was brought back to life largely through the dedication of the Seven Dials Trust, working in partnership with the local authorities and landowners for nearly forty years.
After the Great Fire of London in 1666, the entire square was devoted to the selling of fresh fruit and vegetables and Covent Garden became London's largest market.
Covent Garden comes alive with new energy at night, offering a variety of exciting things to do and see. From catching a show at the Royal Opera House to enjoy a drink in a rooftop bar, there are plenty of ways to make the most of your evenings in Covent Garden.
Honestly, if it's your first time in London and you're looking to explore some of the most famous neighbourhoods of the city, then Covent Garden is easily up there as one of the best.
Although most of central Covent Garden is currently owned by Capital & Counties, there have been several freeholders in the area's history, including the GLC who restored the buildings and converted them from their former use (the famous fruit and vegetable market) into the lively mixture of shops and restaurants that ...
The central square in Covent Garden is simply called "Covent Garden", often marketed as "Covent Garden Piazza" to distinguish it from the eponymous surrounding area. Designed and laid out in 1630, it was the first modern square in London—originally a flat, open space or piazza with low railings.
Covent Garden is home to the oldest theatre in London. The oldest theatre in London is the Theatre Royal on Drury Lane which dates back to 1663. Rumour has it there is an underground tunnel so the stars of the show could swiftly get to the nearby pub.
Markets began gathering at Covent Garden's new square as early as 1656, though the population was still sparse, composed mostly of wealthier tenants. Being relatively new and out-of-the-way, Covent Garden had the fortune to skirt the worst of the plague in 1665, and it avoided the Great Fire of London entirely in 1666.
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.
Dress code is 'smart casual' and we cannot allow any fancy dress. We accept sashes and veils. Do you have to be over 21? Bunga Bunga Covent Garden is a strictly over 21s venue.
General Market - Tuesday to Friday from 10.30am to 7.30pm. The general market is well placed to serve the Covent Garden community. It offers a wide range of goods, plants to picnic hampers, greeting cards to souvenirs, beauty care and garden equipment.
Historically, it was a flower and fruit-and-vegetable market and for those that have read Pygmalion by George Bernard Shaw, Covent Garden is likely the place flower girl, Eliza Doolittle, was referring to when she says “I want to be a lady in a flower shop stead of selling at the corner of Tottenham Court Road.”
Covent Garden is on the Piccadilly Line. Covent Garden's tube station is a very short walk from the Market Building at the end of James Street. Covent Garden underground station only has lifts up from the platforms so it can be slow-going at busy times.
The seven streets at Seven Dials originally had quite different names from what they have now. They were Great Earl Street, Little Earl Street, Great White Lion Street, Little White Lion Street, Great St Andrew's Street, Little St Andrew's Street and Queen Street.
Seven Dials is the only quarter of London remaining largely intact from late Stuart England – the late 17th century. It was the creation of two of the century's most extraordinary figures, Thomas Neale MP (1641-1699) and Edward Pierce (1630-1695).
