Covent Garden is an iconic destination in London’s West End, with a thriving food and shopping scene. Here are five reasons it’s one of our favourite spots in the city…

Nestled on the eastern fringes of the West End, between St Martin’s Lane and Drury Lane you can find Covent Garden – one of the best spots in the city. There’s something magical about this historical venue, offering an insight into the past, married with some of the best shops and street entertainment. It’s a perfect destination if you don’t want to stomach the crowds of Oxford Circus, or if you want a more unique shopping experience. There are so many places to stay if you’re looking for the perfect Covent Garden Hotel for a trip away and you’ll be enchanted by how the area transforms from day to night. Here are our top five reasons we love Covent Garden…

The food

Whether you’re looking for a cosy brunch with the girls, pre-theatre dining before heading to watch one of the city’s top shows, or for a fancy, five-star restaurant, Covent Garden’s foodie scene has something for everyone. Enjoy delicious seafood at SushiSamba or Oystermen, sip wine in the Crusting Pipe, enjoy Tom Kerridge’s forward-thinking cuisins in Kerridge’s Bar & Grill and sip crafty cocktails in the Alchemist. If you’re fancying something a bit more grab and go, there are a host of offerings for this too, from Cupcake Stories to esteemed vegan destination by Chloe. Whatever you’re fancying, you’ll find it here.

The shopping

Shopping in Covent Garden offers a playground of places to explore and things to purchase. Whether you’re looking for antiques, artisan chocolate, arts & crafts or a new designer handbag, you’ll find it here. There are a whole myriad of big-name brands, including Chanel, Clinique and Nars if you’re looking for beauty and cosmetics, as well as top fashion houses like Burberry and Olivia Burton. Take time to wander both the Piazza and Neal’s Yard and keep your eyes peeled for the many pop-ups that often take place in the main market courtyard.

The atmosphere

Covent Garden is always brimming with atmosphere and we recommend you visit both in the day and the night as they feel completely different. Street performers help add to this and they have long become so synonymous with Covent Garden, you can find up to a couple of hundred visitors crowded round watching the performers at any one given time. It is a venue that is busy, but not stress-inducing like Oxford Circus, it is beautiful, historical and somewhere you will never get tired of visiting.

The location

Covent Garden is conveniently located in the West End of London, near to all the main attractions. This means it’s super easy to get there no matter where you are coming from. 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).

The history

Covent Garden offers a real slice of London history and as you wander round it’s easy to feel you’ve been transported back to the 18th century. As opposed to other more modern shopping malls in the city, it has real character and charm. The main Covent Garden Piazza was laid out in 1631 by Inigo Jones and was influenced by piazzas of Italy.

Find out more and plan your trip to Covent Garden here.

Covent Garden Piazza
Cranbourn St
Covent Garden
London
WC2H 7AR