Covent Garden - Sightseeing, Monuments, Parks & Gardens, London Monuments

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Covent Garden

The name Covent Garden dates back to when the area belonged to Westminster Abbey and was a Convent Garden. This was London's Wholesale Fruit and Vegetable market for many years. The market was moved to Nine Elms some time ago and in 1980 Covent Garden was turned into a leisure area featuring novelty shops, restaurants, cafes and pubs.

It is also the venue for a weekly antique market and craft fairs. The buildings are lucky to have survived, as the original plan was to knock it down and build a BARBICAN style complex on the site. While you are here, make sure to visit the Cabaret Mechanical Theatre, a weird and wonderful place!

A favourite drinkers pub is the 'Punch & Judy', which is said to be on the site of the world's first Punch & Judy show. If you have been looking for excellent home-made London pub grub, you cannot do better than visit Porters English Restaurant in Henrietta Street, where you will find the sort of food that you expected to be offered in London pubs, but curiously ended up with lasagne instead!

A prominent feature of Covent Garden is the wonderful Inigo Jones designed St Paul's Church, known as the actor's church as it is in the heart of theatreland, and many great actors or actresses have their funerals or memorial services held there. Under the portico of the church you will also find many buskers and street entertainers, providing local colour and making Covent Garden great fun to just visit, or to go for lunch or dinner.

Nearest Underground (Tube) Station: Covent Garden