Best Things To Do In Covent Garden

Walking around the hustle and bustle of Covent Garden it has hard to imagine the area as once being farmland belonging to Westminster Abbey (hence the name "Covent Garden"). In that time the only things to do would have been farming hence the area not being such a tourist attraction. Don't worry though times have changed and now if you take your partner or family to Covent Garden you will find plenty of things to do.

Covent Garden's relatively recent history, it's still older than America as a commercial area, does't take away from its charm. The street performers in particular give the illusion that you could be in stereotypical medieval times, the market and piazza can also transpose those thoughts.

Visit Covent Garden Piazza and Covent Garden Market

Did someone say pizza? No! Of course a piazza is a sort of a posh gazebo which is a sort of a post glasshouse. That's probably not much clearer for our foreign readers. Covent Garden Piazza is well worth a visit though and yes you can get pizza there.

Attend an Opera at the Royal Opera House

 No other area of any city in the world is home to two esteemed and respected artistic companies on the calibre of The Royal Opera and The Royal Ballet so if you are visiting London the chance to see either is an incredible opportunity.

Watch a performance at one of Covent Garden's 20+ theatres

Covent Garden is in the heart of London's theatreland so it is no surprise that it has a lot of theatres but with more than twenty to choose from you will find a show to suit your mood and the occasion. Some of the best known and most popular are The Adelphi; The Lyceum Theatre; The Duke of York's Theatre; and the Playhouse Theatre.

Visit the London Transport Museum or the London Film Museum

Probably one of the most interesting museums and underrated museums in London. Transportation, in particular railways affected all aspects of our lives. For example there was not a "standard" time as we know it before the invention of the railways. Fascinating and great for the family especially in the age of Thomas the Tank Engine.

Take a Moment at St Paul's Church

Not to be confused with St Paul's Cathedral.

Visit the Freemasons' Hall

A great place for anyone keen to research more about the Freemasons.

Take in a Street Performance

Let's face it, if you can visit Covent Garden and avoid a street performance you are doing better than most of us.

Recommended Restaurants in Covent Garden

Covent Garden has some great restaurants to suit every occasion and every budget. Eating well shouldn't be a class issue but then there is The Ivy. Ever popular with A-listers The Ivy has been an institution for actors performing at the many nearby theatres since it opened in 1917 as an Italian cafe. If you are on a budget then you could discover a new classic at one of the great pizza restaurants in Covent Garden. A few of our favourites are Bungatini, Pepe Italian Street Food, Prima Covent Garden, and La Ballerina.

Claiming to be London's oldest restaurant Rule's is so old the Charles Dickens used to be a regular later came Charlie Chaplin and Stan Laurel. That doesn't mean the food isn't great though with food being served with a story being event more enjoyable. Modern versions of British classics like pies and game dishes make it a great place to visit.

Recommended Pubs, Bars & Clubs in Covent Garden

Covent Garden is home to some of London's oldest and most traditional pubs many of them with their own rich history. The Lamb & Flag is said to have been a favourite pub of Charles Dickens for example. Many of the best pubs in Covent Garden also serve traditional English dishes like fish and chips and Sunday roast.

One of the largest bars in Covent Garden The Porter House is a traditional Irish bar split over three main floors with various mezzanine levels in between. It is well known for its award winning craft stout fresh from Dublin; and large selection of bottled beers and Irish whiskies.

If you are looking for adult entertainment then you are in the right part of London. Covent Garden is home to two of the best strip clubs in London, Secrets Covent Garden, and Stringfellows established by the late great Peter Stringfellow. Stringfellow is also a great place to grab a late night steak.

Of course Soho is just a short walk from Covent Garden so be sure to look at our recommendations for things to do in Soho including the best restaurants in Soho and the best nightclubs,

If you enjoyed this article we would love for you to take a look at our London guide and London blog for more entertaining articles. We regularly add new content and improve our website with new features. If you have visited Covent Garden and found some interesting things to do we would love to hear from you.