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The central London district of Covent Garden is a magnet for visitors to the city. It is a hive of activity day and night - famous for its shopping, bars & restaurants, streets performers, theatres and the Royal Opera House.
The Covent Garden Piazza is located in the geographical centre of the area and is normally a buzz with buskers and tourists. In the middle of the piazza you can browse through the market or stop off for a meal or drink and enjoy the passing entertainment.
If you're into shoes, head to Neal Street for the largest range of shoe stores in town. For those wanting a healthy lunch try one of the colourful cafés on Neal's Yard, and then perhaps head into the Neal's Yard Dairy check out what this master cheese-maker has on offer.
Afterwards there are historical pubs to drink in before heading off to see the latest smash hit show at one of the nearby theatres.
Yes, it can get pretty crowded here, and you do have to keep your hand on your wallet, but there are some great things to see just off the main drag, so have a wander and see what you can discover! Leave a Comment
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 Funniest street
entertainer by sourbugger
As one entertainer put it recently : "Please don't be afraid to bring forward your contribution....folding it as you do..."
The 'statue' street entertainers have a harder task to get tourists to part with their money despite having the best pitch in London.
You will usually find about five or six of them on the short pedestrianised road between the tube station and Covent Garden itself. The effort they put into their costumes is very impressive, and I particularly like the one in the picture who is often positioned outside the Monsoon shop. His long arms and squeeky voice extend out to shake hands tap heads and (nearly) grab bottoms.
You certainly don't have to give if you are just passing by, but do remember a contribution should be given if you photograph them. Leave a Comment Address: Covent GardenDirections: On the road from the tube stoip to Covent garden itself
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 covent garden by sylvie-uk
There is also a wide range of cafes and restaurant. It becomes very lively over the week-ends.
Near by is the transport museum, st pauls church , Neals yard and also a variety of shops: french connection, gap, dock martins and much more.... Leave a Comment Address: covent gardenDirections: covent garden tube
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These days this is possibly the centre of London’s tourist community. People seem to gravitate here and it’s easy to understand why. There’s always something to see or do – a craftsman at work or street-performer to watch, an interesting shop to explore, a new bar or restaurant to try.
Covent Garden was once the main fruit and vegetable market for London, in fact the largest in England. This market used to fill the square and you can still see some of the old structures, now used to shelter the craft market stall-holders. Meanwhile in the south-east corner of the square was a flower market (now the home of London’s Transport Museum, closed for refurbishment until autumn 2007). If you’ve seen the film “My Fair Lady” you should be able quite easily to imagine how the square would have looked in the days of the market – and do head for the western side to see the lovely Inigo Jones church of St Paul’s, on whose steps Eliza Doolittle took refuge.
The market closed in 1973 and there was talk of knocking down the old buildings, but they were saved through a public campaign, and a new and vibrant focus for enjoyment in London was created. Not only in the square itself, but in many of the surrounding streets, which are now filled with a wide variety of shops (many of them “one-off”s rather than chains), cafes, pubs and restaurants. There’s also, of course, the world-famous Royal Opera House in the north-east corner – tickets are traditionally expensive but efforts have been made in recent years to make them more affordable, and even if you’re not into opera the building is well worth a look.
By the way, my main photo with its aerial view was was taken from the terrace of one of my favourite pubs here, above the Cornish pasty shop in the north-west corner of the market. Directions: Nearest tube, unsurprisingly, is Covent Garden (Piccadilly line) but this can get very crowded. Leicester Square (same line & Northern too) is quieter and only 5 minutes walk away.Website: http://www.coventgardenlife.com/
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Covent Garden during the Christmas period is well worth a visit. You will find a Santa's Grotto for the kids, mulled wine and mince pies for a few pounds, market stalls with more gift ideas than you could possibly need, and - when we were there anyway - a trio of classical musicians playing the most wonderful renditions of Bach, Strauss and Mozart (There will be a collection at the end though - so be prepared to "put your hand in your pocket" (make a donation)).
There are various other street artists and performers such as jugglers and mimes who all seemed to require audience participation!! It all added to the fun, friendly ambience and Christmassy atmosphere and my visitors loved it!
The shops are VERY crowded at this time of year and often unbearably hot inside so do think about that when deciding what to wear on your day out! My visitors had come dressed for a Siberian Winter but London in December is often very mild! Leave a Comment Address: Covent GardenDirections: Covent Garden Tube
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 transport museum by sylvie-uk
You can see trams, buses and trains.
You can discover how the underground and buses systems were built and how they operate nowdays.
entrance is £6 for adults, dont make it a must see if you dont have much time unless you are really interested about the matter.
more pictures in my travelogues. Leave a Comment Address: covent garden by the market
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After finishing our late pub lunch, we hopped on the tube for a short ride to the old market area of Covent Garden as darkness was beginning to fall early nearing the shortest day of the year. Unlike the Westminster area with its very few Christmas decorations, Covent Garden was well decked-out for the Season and had a lively atmosphere. The very first thing we came across was this authentic old Victorian-era Carousel whirling around with it's music playing. Strolling along a bit further, we saw a nicely decorated huge Pine tree, donated from Scotland, standing outside the old Market building.
Inside the building (2nd photo), an audience was gathered around a talented and humorous busker as he went through his routines of juggling fire, knives, apples and pins with the grand finale of doing this atop a 10-foot high uni-cycle as he threatened to topple into the audience. It was a fitting way to end our short day-tour of the city and it was truly dark by the time we boarded the 5 PM train back to Farnham. Seeing all these city sights brought back memories of my last decent visit, in July 1979. Leave a Comment
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Luca - an urban cowboy found in Covent Garden was a momentary distraction from our shopping and other things... when I heard the opening chords of "Sweet Home Alabama!" I just had to stop and listen .. one of my all time favourite songs!! This is free street entertainment!! - these artists work damned hard to get their music out there so give them what you can and when they are done, whoop and holler appreciatively!!
Loudly .. all together now!!!
Sweet home Alabama!!
Where the skies are so blue
Sweet Home Alabama
Lord, I'm coming home to you
Here I come Alabama Leave a Comment Address: Covent GardenDirections: Covent Garden Tube or Charing Cross and up the Strand (away from Trafalgar Sq). Follow the signs.Website: http://www.lucamusic.co.uk/
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Good atmosphere and free entertainment - always good for some banter and stand up comedy. The cutting edge of entertainment and well worth trying.
Hold on to your wallet!
You will be cajouled to cough up money all the time - but don't have to!!
Shops are expensive, but its a fun place to spend a few hours and a great meeting place. Leave a Comment
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 by jo104
Comedians perform on the square, whilst buskers can be found all around each wanting to relieve you of your hard earned cash.
Covent Garden is a bustling place, full of life & an ideal place to visit. There is a market everyday from 10am - 6pm which sells general arts & crafts to food. There are also a variety of permanent shops. In the covered market there are eating places as well as a large number of eateries within covent garden.
Be careful perhaps of pickpockets. Leave a Comment
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