Covent Garden
in London's West End
Covent Garden evolves around the Piazza which is a large area with a covered arcade modeled on Italian lines by Inigo Jones.
Today, designers and advertising executives, and PR people make their living in this area, and they are the people that so many high class restaurants aim to attract here. Visitors who want to explore London are typically drawn to this congested area of boutiques, colourful street stalls, and sidewalk entertainment in this area of London.
The famous old market which moved to the banks of the Thames used to sell fresh fruit, veg, nuts, flowers and many wonderful things. The quaint streets of this interesting area are packed with noisy, vibrant goings-on of locals and the comings and goings of visitors.
Fashion buffs shop in Long Acre, Neal and
Floral Street, and mix with designers whose clothes are displayed in the side-street boutiques in the area.
Catering to these trendy visitors and residents is a variety of excellent restaurants and brassieres, including the huge number of Oriental eateries flourishing in Chinatown. Sit down at virtually any table in these parts and you may find yourself staring at a TV producer, a pop singer, or even a movie star. Check out the Apple Market and outdoor stalls and a pedestrianized Piazza full of shops, restaurants, bars and cafés.
West of the Piazza is Soho, and since the beginning of the 1980s, the relatively cheap rents here have attracted a more fashionable clientele, including the filmmakers who produce big screen venues in Leicester Square.
This is the neighbourhood that began as a royal park but gradually deteriorated into low class slums and sex shops.
As a matter of interest, the name for this area comes from the ancient hunting cry of “So-ho!” that rang out in the area when it was a game preserve for King Henry VIII.
This is a great area to stay and if you get tired, you can always take one of the popular rick-shaw rides around for just a few pounds.
Not far away are the shops of Oxford Street and nearby is Long Acre which stretches from Holborn to Covent Garden and is overflowing with boutiques, restaurants and shops.
The Savoy Hotel
is another great place to stay, located on The Strand in the heart of the West End theatre district. The Savoy offers spectacular views of the River Thames. This landmark hotel opened in 1889 and is still considered to be the place to stay in London. The hotel's 268 rooms and suites, with Art Deco and Edwardian touches throughout, are elegantly appointed yet offer an extensive array of modern amenities.
Covent Garden is also London's famous theatre area and nearby are many other fine theatres full of top west end shows. The famous Drury Lane theatre is here and on the Piazza is the newly renovated Royal Opera House which dates back to 1732.
If you plan to stay in this area, this is where the City meets the West End.
The Strand Palace Hotel. Just minutes from Charing Cross, Covent Garden, Holborn and embankment underground stations, at the heart of London’s finest attractions and landmarks, they offer contemporary accommodation at great value.
Despite being a large hotel it retains an intimacy which is very pleasing and a reflection on the high quality of staff.
The glass covered market in Covent Garden is for many the centerpiece of this very exciting and colorful area. Boutiques, bookshops, tea and chocolate shops and coffee shops along with brightly colored indoor stalls that are stacked with unusual things for you to take home.
The streets are full of cafés, restaurants and street-entertainers who cast a magical spell over all who come to visit this very special area of London called Covent Garden Comedy Club - only £10.
It was fashionable for the rich to mingle in the square alongside country locals and the colourful flower girls in 1830, plus this is exactly where George Bernard Shaw got his inspiration for Pygmalion. And speaking of fashion and design; out of the 1631 original, only St. Paul’s (which was built by
Wren), Covent Garden, is the only structure that Jones built between 1631 and 1633 that survive.
But it's fun to stroll along these streets knowing they were once haunted by not only the very poor, you will quite likely walk in the footsteps of kings, Queens and actors. The Piazza is probably the most popular area of London to visit simply because it's so much fun and there's so much to do in all areas close by too.
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