Covent Garden Travel Guide

London

London showing heritage elements, markets and signage
St. Paul\'s Church showing a garden as well as an individual male
Royal Opera House which includes modern architecture and interior views
Royal Opera House which includes street scenes and a city as well as a small group of people
Covent Garden featuring street scenes as well as a small group of people
Come to Covent Garden and you're guaranteed the best of produce, both local and international – and the best of performance, both operatic and theatrical.

Covent Garden has been many things in its 500-year history – an elegant area of 17th century London a notorious district of coffee and vice and a thriving vegetable and fruit market, until the 1970s. Markets remain at the heart of the Covent Garden area, but so too does culture, with the Royal Opera House and the Theatre Royal both close by. But most visitors are drawn here for the Market itself, a beautiful covered Victorian arcade dating back to 1830.

Here you will find specialist vendors, selling everything from flowers, fruit, and organic meats to artistic works and gourmet coffees. There are also stalls and coffee shops, offering food and refreshments with a distinctly international flavour. Outside the covered arches, the square is given over to fresh farmers' produce, their stalls weaving a dazzling spectacle of colour and aroma. And once you've satisfied your urge to explore its markets, the local area has much to offer.

There are over 60 public houses and bars in the surrounding streets, many serving traditional English ales and hearty London cuisine. And there are 13 theatres close by, making this one of the entertainment hotspots of the West End. Musicals, plays and Shakespearean dramas are all played out here every night, making this one of the more exciting and bustling parts of town in the evening.

And the entertainment here isn't only of the formal variety. Covent Garden has a long tradition of street performers, going back to the time of Samuel Pepys. In 1662, he made the first mention of the slapstick puppet show of Punch and Judy. You may still catch these colourful hand-puppets – more likely you'll find mimes and acrobats, dancers and street artists. Variety is certainly the spice of life when you visit Covent Garden.


Popular places to visit


Top hotels in Covent Garden

Middle Eight - Covent Garden - Preferred Hotels and Resorts
Middle Eight - Covent Garden - Preferred Hotels and Resorts
5 out of 5
66 Great Queen St, Covent Garden, London, England
Stay at this 5-star luxury hotel in London. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, breakfast (surcharge) and a fitness centre. Our guests praise the bar and the helpful staff in ...
9.2/10 Wonderful! (1,283 reviews)
"Great location. Excellent staff at reception Breakfast was very good with very accommodating and friendly staff Great room accommodations"

Reviewed on 4 Jul 2025

Middle Eight - Covent Garden - Preferred Hotels and Resorts
The Hoxton Holborn
The Hoxton Holborn
4 out of 5
199 - 206 High Holborn, London, England
The price is ₹22,244 per night from 20 Jul to 21 Jul
₹22,244
₹26,693 total
20 Jul - 21 Jul
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 4-star eco-certified hotel in London. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, breakfast (surcharge) and room service. Our guests praise the bar and the helpful staff ...
9/10 Wonderful! (1,000 reviews)
"Quirky hotel. Great staff - super helpful!"

Reviewed on 1 Jul 2025

The Hoxton Holborn
Strand Palace Hotel
Strand Palace Hotel
4 out of 5
372 The Strand, London, England
The price is ₹15,801 per night from 3 Aug to 4 Aug
₹15,801
₹18,962 total
3 Aug - 4 Aug
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 4-star hotel in London. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, breakfast (surcharge) and room service. Our guests praise the breakfast and the restaurant in their reviews. ...
8.8/10 Excellent! (4,145 reviews)
"Beautiful hotel although it has low ceilings. If you are over 6 foot 3, the shower in our room would have been too low. Breakfast was great with lots of choices! Would definitely recommend staying here!"

Reviewed on 6 Jul 2025

Strand Palace Hotel
Zedwell Piccadilly Circus
Zedwell Piccadilly Circus
3 out of 5
Great Windmill Street, London, England
The price is ₹10,491 per night from 20 Jul to 21 Jul
₹10,491
₹12,589 total
20 Jul - 21 Jul
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 3-star hotel in London. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, a 24-hour front desk and premium bedding. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean rooms in their ...
7.4/10 Good! (4,873 reviews)
"Great location, convenient, staff was very helpful and polite. The room could have been abit more cleaner."

Reviewed on 6 Jul 2025

Zedwell Piccadilly Circus
The Tower Hotel, by Thistle
The Tower Hotel, by Thistle
4 out of 5
St Katharine's Way, London, England
The price is ₹13,502 per night from 20 Jul to 21 Jul
₹13,502
₹16,202 total
20 Jul - 21 Jul
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 4-star business-friendly hotel in London. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, 2 restaurants and 2 bars/lounges. Our guests praise the breakfast and the restaurant ...
8.2/10 Very Good! (7,569 reviews)
"Awesome location great view of bridge"

Reviewed on 6 Jul 2025

The Tower Hotel, by Thistle
Park Plaza London Westminster Bridge
Park Plaza London Westminster Bridge
4 out of 5
200 Westminster Bridge Road, London, England
Fully refundableReserve now, pay when you stay
The price is ₹21,370 per night from 27 Jul to 28 Jul
₹21,370
₹25,644 total
27 Jul - 28 Jul
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 4-star spa hotel in London. Enjoy a full-service spa, 2 restaurants and breakfast (surcharge). Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean ...
8.8/10 Excellent! (4,714 reviews)
"Great location and well maintained property."

Reviewed on 6 Jul 2025

Park Plaza London Westminster Bridge
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

Other neighbourhoods around Covent Garden

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London City Centre

4.5/5(21 area reviews)

Known for its fascinating museums, stunning river views and acclaimed art galleries, there's plenty to explore in London City Centre. Top attractions like Trafalgar Square and Piccadilly Circus are major draws. Catch the metro at Charing Cross Underground Station or Leicester Square Underground Station to see more of the city.

London City Centre
Soho

Soho

Soho is beloved for its fantastic nightlife. Take some time to explore sights in the area like Oxford Street and Soho Square.

Soho
London showing a bridge, a city and heritage architecture

Waterloo

4.5/5(11 area reviews)

Known for its stunning river views and popular shops, there's plenty to explore in Waterloo. Check out top attractions like London Eye and Southbank Centre, and jump on the metro at Waterloo Underground Station or Lambeth North Underground Station to see more of the city.

Waterloo
Bloomsbury showing street scenes and heritage architecture

Bloomsbury

4/5(1,172 area reviews)

Known for its fascinating museums and popular shops, there's plenty to explore in Bloomsbury. Check out top attractions like The British Museum and Oxford Street, and jump on the metro at Euston Square Underground Station or Russell Square Underground Station to see more of the city.

Bloomsbury
Mayfair

Mayfair

Travellers love Mayfair for its popular shops, and you can see more of London by jumping on the metro at Bond Street Underground Station or Bond Street (Elizabeth Line) Station. You might spend time checking out top sights like Oxford Street and Bond Street.

Mayfair
West End showing heritage architecture, street scenes and night scenes

West End

Piccadilly Circus and Trafalgar Square are a few top attractions in West End. Hop around the city on the metro at Bond Street (Elizabeth Line) Station or Oxford Circus Underground Station and check out the area's fascinating museums, popular shops and acclaimed art galleries.

West End


Covent Garden Travel Guide