We all know the scene: “My Fair Lady’s” cockney flower girl, Eliza Doolittle, selling bouquets of flowers.
It was on a blustery March evening in 1912 outside the pillars of Covent Garden Piazza, jostling with the fruit traders outside the Opera House.
Today, the pillars and architecture of the surrounding buildings remain the same, yet elegant shops and buzzing restaurants have been added to this historic setting, replacing the flower market of the past.
Covent Garden in its original form once served as England’s largest flower, fruit and vegetable market, dating from the 1500s. By the 1970s however, the market had become rundown as people turned to newly opened supermarkets for their fresh produce; planners sought to redevelop the area into a modernised centre for offices. After much protest, Covent Garden was preserved and is now a Mecca for both boutiques and high-street brands. As a result, the area is thronged night and day with tourists and locals alike, strolling among the stalls, pausing to take in a performance by the now-famous street entertainers, or searching for that perfect restaurant on the Piazza itself. The area also has historic routes in the theatre, with several theatre houses still lining the historic cobbled streets, the oldest of which being the Theatre Royal, established in 1660.
Entertainment The London Transport Museum is a must-see for the kids, history buffs and guys in your group. An events calendar makes the museum a lively spot for learning. The exhibitions are both interactive and engaging, whilst the most popular allows you to take to the controls of an Underground tube train in the museum’s unique simulator. [Location: 39 Wellington Street, WC2E 7BB, Telephone: 020 7379 6344]
Several theatres, including The Royal Opera House, are located in Covent Garden. The Royal Opera House is home to The Royal Opera, The Royal Ballet and the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House. In addition to taking in a performance, why not take a backstage tour, visit one of the current exhibitions or simply enjoy a coffee on the Amphitheatre Terrace overlooking London’s fabulous skyline. [Location: Royal Opera House, Bow Street, Covent Garden, WC2E 9DD Telephone: 020 7304 4000]
Shopping Covent Garden and the surrounding streets are home to both unique and specialist retailers. Indulge in some retail therapy with shops dedicated to fashion, footwear, gifts & jewellery, health and beauty products, toys and games.
The Apple Market in the North Hall features handmade British antiques and collectibles; artwork, home wares, fashion and accessories, alongside the obligatory London Souvenir stalls. [Location: 41 The Market, Covent Garden Piazza, Westminster, WC2E 8BE]
Marvel at the post-war chic sweet emporium that is Hope and Greenwood, purveyors of traditional British confectionary. Selling everything from sherbet pips to rhubarb & custard sweets, lining the walls in over 400 glass jars, you’re sure to find that long-missed childhood favourite for an edible dose of nostalgia. [Location: 1 Russell Street, WC2B 5JD]
Restaurants and Pubs Sarastro restaurant is appropriately known as “the show after the show”, owing to the fact that the whole restaurant has been designed as a set of an opera by designers from The Royal Opera House; you are literally on-stage as you eat. The dramatic atmosphere attracts theatre and opera goers who enjoy the restaurant’s fusion cuisine, particularly the fabulously fresh fish dishes. Occasional live operas, opera box-style seating, borderline pornographic toilet wall murals and royal décor in the dining room combine to make this an unmissable dining experience. [Location: 126 Drury Lane, WC2B 5QG Telephone: 020 7836 0101]
Enjoy the second storey balcony at The Cove, a pub set above the Cornish Pasty shop at the heart of the action with a panoramic view of the Piazza’s street entertainment. Eclectic music and a relaxed vibe make this a worthwhile rest stop from the hustle and bustle, and why not have a pasty while you’re there? [Location: 1 The Piazza, WC2E 8HB Telephone: 020 7836 8336]
