Covent Garden, in London, is a place where excitement and spectacle are the daily bread, and where theater reigns supreme, with the prestigious Royal Opera House, one of the most important opera houses in the world, followed closely by many others. East of Soho and Piccadilly, Covent Garden remains one of the main attractions for tourists and Londoners alike, excellently served by the underground (Covent Garden, Charing Cross, Leicester Square or Piccadilly stops, for those who want to take a stroll) and other public transport.
Covent Garden daily offers the spectacle of the former covered market, which from the mid-16th century until 1974 was home to an important fruit and vegetable market, of which the beautiful structure remains, characterized by a system of Palladian-style arches. Instead of demolishing the old markets to build new ones in the form of shopping galleries, as the Parisians did with Les Halles, Londoners preferred to preserve this important piece of history and culture, filling it with new energy, a galaxy of venues, pubs, small restaurants, highly specialized shops, stalls, and little shops with incredible goods.
Besides the bustling external square, the neighborhood’s streets also have character: James Street, Long Acre, Neil Street, where little shops, small workshops of artisans and designers abound. And there are museums too, like the London’s Transport Museum housed in the former flower market, in a beautiful Victorian-style complex.
And then there’s St. Paul Church, the actors’ church (1633), the first Anglican church built after the Protestant Reformation. Beyond the daily entertainment offered by musicians, jugglers, and unimaginable street artists, Covent Garden also offers festivals and fixed events throughout the year, such as the June Flower Festival or the September Street Theatre Festival.
