London area of Covent Garden guide

What to do and where to stay in London's Covent Garden neighbourhood

Covent Garden gained its name when the Convent of St Peter opened a market in its garden more than 800 years ago, and it has remained dedicated to shopping ever since, though the focus now is on gifts, luxuries and fashion, rather than fruits and flowers. The Covent Garden Piazza, London’s most attractive covered market, sells novelty items, Neal Street specialises in shoes, while Seven Dials and Floral Street offer dozens of fashionable boutiques. There are a number of theatres in the area, including the stupendous Royal Opera House, and the West End’s trendiest venue, The Donmar Warehouse, so staying in one of the area's fashionable hotels is great for strolling into Theatreland and then sampling the abundant restaurants, bars and pubs that keep buzzing late into the night.

See our recommended nearby Covent Garden Hotels, Entertainment, Sights and Attractions, Shopping, Restaurants, Pubs, Nightlife, Leisure, Education, and Meeting Venues.