Covent Garden covers the area between Shaftesbury Avenue to the north, Kingsway to the east, Charing Cross Road to the west and up to the River Thames in the south.
At the centre of this area lies the well loved Covent Garden Piazza; site of the first open square in England.
Covent Garden’s name hails from the 13th century; it was a site which belonged to the Convent of St Peter at Westminster. This ‘convent garden’ became a prominent source of London’s fruit and vegetables.
In 1540, following a dispute with the Roman Catholic Church, King Henry VIII dissolved all of the country’s monastic properties and granted the land to the 1st Earl of Bedford. In 1627 the fourth Earl of Bedford commissioned architect Inigo Jones to build houses ‘fit for the habitations of Gentlemen’.
Influenced by classical Italian architecture, Jones built St Paul’s churchyard, located behind the Piazza, and three sides of terraced houses which looked out onto an open courtyard.
These houses appealed to the rich and famous and for some time, the Piazza was one of the most sought after residential addresses in the Capital, as it remains today.
Covent Garden has evolved into one of London’s most famous locations, commonly associated with entertainment and shopping. Retailers such as Paul Smith, Nicole Farhi, LK Bennett and Hackett have all helped to make Covent Garden one of the most popular shopping districts in the Capital. The recent opening of Burberry, Ralph Lauren and Apple will only enhance this reputation.
As well as being a retail hot spot, Covent Garden is the home of London’s theatres; with over a dozen venues showing world famous productions such as The Lion King at the Lyceum and the world’s longest running play, Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap at St Martin’s Theatre.
The area is popular with stage actors and actresses, ballet dancers and opera singers, and stage hands alike, all of whom enjoy the vibrant and welcoming nature of the pubs, bars and restaurants. Bankers and lawyers also enjoy the proximity of Covent Garden to Holborn and the City.
Around the Piazza is where daytime shoppers, tourists and street performers turn to numerous bars, clubs and pubs in the evening, while theatregoers head to the photograph covered walls of Joe Allen and London’s oldest restaurant, Rules, on Maiden Lane.
Away from the buzz of the Piazza and surrounding shops is some of London’s most striking architecture. The famous Royal Opera House commands the scene on Bow Street, while the cobbles on Floral Street, Neal Street and Seven Dials offer period charm reminiscent of 17th century London.
Covent Garden is extremely well connected for public transport; Covent Garden, Charing Cross, Embankment and Leicester Square underground stations are all nearby while Charing Cross also provides overground railway services.
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