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 8,000 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, Events, Entertainment, Sights and Attractions, Shopping, Restaurants, Pubs, Nightlife, Leisure, Education, and Meeting Venues.

Strand Palace Hotel London
London > Hotels > Mid-Range Chain Hotel
372 Strand, WC2R
This West End Art Deco hotel right on the Strand and next to Covent Garden is in a fantastic location for accessing central London and theatreland. ... More

 

 

The Savoy A Fairmont Managed Hotel
London > Hotels > Luxury Chain Hotel
Strand, WC2R
... More

 

 

One Aldwych
London > Hotels > Luxury Chain Hotel
1 Aldwych, WC2B
... More

 

 

Hotels in Covent Garden

 

Falstaff
London > Events > Theatre
Royal Opera House, Bow Street, Covent Garden, London WC2E
Verdi's final masterpiece returns to Covent Garden after a ten year gap, this time under the direction of Robert Carson, with a much anticipated appearance from ... More

 

 

Hay Fever
London > Events > Theatre
Noel Coward Theatre, St Martin's Lane, Covent Garden, London WC2N
Written by one of the UK's most famous playwrights, Noël Coward, Hay Fever has been described as one of the greatest plays of the twentieth century. ... More

 

 

Madam Butterfly
London > Events > Concerts
London Coliseum - English National Opera (ENO), St Martin's Lane, Covent Garden, London WC2N
The ENO is reviving this masterpiece at the London Coliseum as a tribute to Oscar-winning film director Anthony Minghella. He turned his creative genius to the ... More

 

 

Events in Covent Garden

 

Aldwych Theatre
London > Entertainment > Theatres
Aldwych, London, Covent Garden, London WC2B4LD
With the Waldorf Hotel sandwiched inbetween them, the Aldwych and Strand theatres were originally built to work as a pair. The Aldwych is probably most noted for ... More

 

 

Novello Theatre
London > Entertainment > Theatres
Aldwych, London, Covent Garden, London WC2B
Built in 1905 to form a pair with the near-identical Aldwych Theatre, the Novello Theatre (formerly known as the Strand Theatre) is one of London's more ... More

 

 

Savoy Theatre
London > Entertainment > Theatres
Strand, London, Covent Garden, London WC2R
Situated alongside the Savoy Hotel, the building of the current theatre with its Art Deco auditorium, was financed by Richard d'Oyly Carte with the considerable profits ... More

 

 

Entertainment in Covent Garden

 

London Transport Museum
London > Attractions > Museums
Covent Garden Piazza, London, Covent Garden, London WC2E
After a two-year, £22 million refurbishment the London Transport Museum reopened on 22 November 2007 revealing more exhibition space than before. The museum travels back through ... More

 

 

St Paul's Covent Garden
London > Attractions > Historic Buildings
Bedford Street, London, Covent Garden, London WC2E
Affectionately known as "The Actors' Church", St Paul's in Covent Garden is in the heart of theatreland and has long been associated with the theatre community. ... More

 

 

Courtauld Institute Gallery
London > Attractions > Art Galleries
Courtauld Institute of Art, Somerset House, London, Covent Garden, London WC2R
Manet's 'Bar at the Folies-Bergeres', Van Gogh's 'Self-Portrait with a Bandaged Ear' and Renoir's 'La Loge' are just a few of the celebrated artworks displayed at ... More

 

 

Sights and Attractions in Covent Garden

 

Penhaligon's
London > Shopping > Perfume and Cosmetics
41 Wellington Street, London, Covent Garden, London WC2E
130-year-old scent emporium with royal warrants. For a sweet-smelling, sensory overload, Penhaligon’s has to be the place to go. From the original Hammam Bouquet to the Winston ... More

 

 

Primrose Bakery
London > Shopping > Food and Drink Shops
42 Tavistock Street, London, Covent Garden, London WC2E
If cupcakes are you cup of tea then head to the Covent Garden outlet of Primrose Bakery, a family owned enterprise which makes the most scrumptious ... More

 

 

Godiva
London > Shopping > Food and Drink Shops
17 The Piazza, London, Covent Garden, London WC2E
Belgium's finest export, the first Godiva was opened in Brussels approximately 75 years ago by master chocolatier Joseph Draps and named after the legendary Lady Godiva. ... More

 

 

Shopping in Covent Garden

 

Wagamama
London > Restaurants > South East Asian restaurants
1 Tavistock Street, Covent Garden, , London, Covent Garden, London WC2E
Taking inspiration from Japanese ramman-noodle bars, Wagamama is the ultimate in high-quality, fast food. Huge bowls of steaming, soupy noodles, chicken dumplings with a chilli-soy dipping ... More

 

 

Orso Restaurant
London > Restaurants > Italian restaurants
27 Wellington Street, London, Covent Garden, London WC2E
Italian cuisine. Booking advised. ... More

 

 

Joe Allen
London > Restaurants > American restaurants
13 Exeter Street, London, Covent Garden, London WC2E
Like The Ivy, Joe Allen is a restaurant that defies criticism. It has been a theatreland favourite since the times when dishes like Chilli Con Carne, ... More

 

 

Restaurants in Covent Garden

 

The Cove
London > Nightlife > Pubs
1 The Piazza, London, Covent Garden, London WC2E
Overlooking Covent Garden Piazza, the Cove is a world away from the crowds outside. Tucked up in a worn, leather armchair under the pub’s low, beamed ... More

 

 

The Marquess of Anglesey
London > Restaurants > Gastropub
39 Bow Street, London, Covent Garden, London WC2E
Gastropub ... More

 

 

Lamb & Flag
London > Nightlife > Pubs
33 Rose Street, London, Covent Garden, London WC2E
One of the oldest pubs in London, the Lamb & Flag was once known as the Bucket of Blood, thanks to the bare-knuckle fights held here. ... More

 

 

Pubs in Covent Garden

 

The Lobby Bar at One Aldwych
London > Nightlife > Bars
1 Aldwych, London, Covent Garden, London WC2B
Named one of the top five hotel bars in the world by the Sunday Telegraph, the Lobby Bar at the chic One Aldwych hotel is renowned ... More

 

 

Lowlander Beer Cafe
London > Nightlife > Bars
36 Drury Lane, London, Covent Garden, London WC2B
The reputation of the Benelux breweries precedes them and this themed bar captures the flair of Dutch cafe culture too. The impressive row of shiny silver ... More

 

 

Gordon's Wine Bar
London > Nightlife > Wine Bars
47 Villiers Street, London, Covent Garden, London WC2N
London's oldest wine bar and family-run underground tavern. Home to Samuel Pepys in the 1680s, the building housing Gordon’s is now home to a regular, thriving crowd ... More

 

 

Nightlife in Covent Garden

 

The Sanctuary
London > Leisure > Fitness
12 Floral Street, London, Covent Garden, London WC2E
This day spa exclusively for women is a total pampering experience from the minute you step through the door. Located in bustling Covent Garden you'll soon ... More

 

 

Phoenix Garden
London > Leisure > Parks and Gardens
21 Stacey Street, London, Covent Garden, London WC2H
In the shadow of both Centrepoint and St Giles-in-the-Fields Church, hidden from most tourists and residents alike, lies this beautiful West End garden. Originally a car ... More

 

 

Leisure in Covent Garden

 

Courtauld Institute of Art
London > Education > Arts and Drama
Somerset House, London, Covent Garden, London WC2R
The Courtauld is one of the most prestigious art schools in the country, affiliated with the Oxbridge system and boasting a huge private location and prime ... More

 

 

King's College Medical School
London > Education > Medical Schools
Strand, London, Covent Garden, London WC2R
Imperial College London is the foremost medical training faculty in the country but for non-medical graduates wishing for a change of career, King’s is the obvious ... More

 

 

Education in Covent Garden

 

Royal Society Of Arts
London > Business > Venue Hire
8 John Adam Street, London, Covent Garden, London WC2N
... More

 

 

Silver Fleet - Woods River Cruises
London > Business > Venue Hire
Somerset House South Wing Strand, London, Covent Garden, London WC2R
Enjoy a luxury cruise on the Silver Fleet. Departing from the Savoy Pier and cruising along the Thames. A classy way to see the Thames.... More

 

 

Somerset House
London > Business > Venue Hire
Somerset House, Strand, London, Covent Garden, London WC2R
Somerset House, once the site of a spectacular Tudor palace, now includes a magnificent 18th century art gallery housing celebrated collections belonging to the Courtauld Institute Gallery, ... More

 

 

Meeting Venues in Covent Garden