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Covent Garden is one of the main shopping and entertainment districts of London, and is hugely popular with visitors, who swarm to its shops, bars and restaurants, especially at weekends. Covent Garden incorporates some of London's Theatreland and also forms a smaller extension to London's gay village that is centred on the neighbouring district of Soho.
Understand
[edit]Covent Garden takes its name from history; it used to be Convent Garden many years ago and over the years, the name has changed to Covent Garden.
This is an extensive area of high-density building and narrow streets, officially bounded by High Holborn and New Oxford Street to the north, by Kingsway to the east, by the Strand to the south and by Charing Cross Road to the west. For all practical purposes, however, the district can also be seen to extend down to The Embankment along the Thames between Northumberland Avenue and Hungerford Bridge and to The Temple.
The main focus of the Covent Garden district for visitors is the Covent Garden Market Piazza. Further north, a secondary focus is Seven Dials, an intersection of seven streets, marked by a tall pillar with (you guessed it) seven (sun) dials. It is very easy for visitors to move on from here by foot to the attractions around Trafalgar and Leicester Squares, to Soho and to Bloomsbury.
Get in
[edit]
Owing to the London Congestion Charge and the general shortage of parking spaces (plus stringent parking restrictions and fines), it is highly recommended that visitors to the area consider public transport to access the district.
By Tube
[edit]This district is well served by the following Tube stations, all in Zone 1:
- Covent Garden (Piccadilly line). Exiting Covent Garden Tube Station, turn right (southwards, downhill) to walk to the Piazza, or turn left (northwards) to find the main shopping areas of Long Acre, Neal Street and Seven Dials. Covent Garden is one of the few Tube stations to lack escalators, instead having four lifts. Because of this, it gets extremely busy and TfL recommends using another station if possible.
- Leicester Square (Piccadilly and Northern lines). The distance between Leicester Square and Covent Garden stations on the Piccadilly line is the shortest on the whole London Tube network (just 260 metres (280 yards)). It is faster to walk between the two stations.
- Holborn (Piccadilly and Central lines).
- Tottenham Court Road (Northern, Central and Elizabeth lines).
- Embankment (Bakerloo, District, Circle and Northern lines).
- Charing Cross (Bakerloo and Northern lines).
By train
[edit]1 Charing Cross mainline station, Charing Cross, WC2N 5DR. Southeastern provides services to southeast England, as well as Woolwich and Lewisham. All trains stop at London Waterloo and Waterloo East. 
Southeastern trains to:
- Kent – Ashford International, Dartford, Dover, Gravesend, Hythe, Ramsgate, Royal Tunbridge Wells, Sevenoaks
- East Sussex – Hastings
2 London Waterloo station, Waterloo Rd, London SE1 8SW (south of the River Thames), ☏ +44 345 711 4141. South Western Railway has trains from London Waterloo to more destinations in southeast England, including: Basingstoke, Reading, Windsor, Winchester, Weymouth, Portsmouth, Guildford and Salisbury.
By bus
[edit]Over 30 bus routes serve Covent Garden. They are: 1, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 13, 15, 19, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 38, 55, 59, 69, 73, 87, 91, 98, 134, 139, 168, 171, 172, 176, 188, 242, 243, 341, RV1 and X68.
- Bus 8 (Bow Church to Tottenham Court Road station). Via Bethnal Green CEN , Shoreditch, Bank/Monument, Holborn CEN PIC .
- Bus 23 (Westbourne Park to Aldwych).
- Bus 24 (Hampstead Heath to Pimlico). 24 hour service. Runs via Camden Town NOR , Trafalgar Square, London Victoria CIR DIS VIC
, Westminister DIS JUB and Tottenham Court Rd CEN NOR ELI .
Get around
[edit]
Map of London/Covent Garden (Edit GPX)
See
[edit]
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Landmarks
[edit]- 1 Charing Cross and Charing Cross Station. Old train station with an enormous office and shopping complex in glass and pale stone. A lavish hotel is also on the site. The name comes from the Queen Eleanor (13th century) gothic pillar outside the station, which is actually a Victorian-era replica. Charing Cross Road was once famous for its vintage book shops, but these have now largely disappeared due to high rents and online competition; however, the road is still home to one of London's largest bookshops, Foyle's.
- 2 Cleopatra's Needle, Victoria Embankment, along the Thames (Tube: Embankment DIS CIR NOR ). Cleopatra's Needle originated in the ancient Egyptian city of Heliopolis, in the Temple of Atum, but the Romans moved it to Alexandria in 12 BC. In 1819, viceroy Mehemet Ali presented Cleopatra's Needle to the British, commemorating military victories in Egypt, but it remained in Alexandria until 1877 when transportation was arranged to bring it to London. On the voyage, the ship capsized in a storm, killing six crewmembers. Cleopatra's Needle was thought to be lost, but Spanish trawlers found it afloat a few days later, and after some repairs, it arrived in London on 21 Jan 1878. The obelisk is flanked by two faux-sphinxes, which show the effects of bombings of London during World War II. Today, Cleopatra's Needle shows some wear from exposure to London's damp weather.
- 3 Covent Garden Piazza and Central Market (Tube: Covent Garden PIC ). Once an important working market, and the backdrop for the musical My Fair Lady, Covent Garden today is a covered shopping mall with shops predominantly selling clothing, but also gifts and cosmetics, as well as stalls selling handicrafts (Tu-Su) or antiques (M), and restaurants. It's well worth a visit just for the attractive ambience, with classical musicians busking in the lower part of the market and a famous location for street entertainers. There is a popular pub, The Punch and Judy Tavern at the western end, with a large balcony overlooking a square where street entertainers perform. At the eastern end, the corresponding balcony is occupied by Chez Gerard, a restaurant selling relatively-expensive but good continental cuisine. Most shops are open daily 10AM-7PM, but may close earlier on Sundays.
- 4 St. Paul's Church, Bedford St WC2 (Tube: Covent Garden PIC . At the western end of the Piazza). Completed in 1633 to a design by Inigo Jones.
- 5 Seven Dials (Tube: Covent Garden PIC ). An intersection of seven streets in the northern part of the Covent Garden district. Lots of mid-range designer clothing and shoe stores
- 6 St Martins in the Fields, 8 St Martin's Pl, WC2. A neoclassical church that stands opposite the National Gallery. Since World War I, the homeless have sought shelter at this church, a tradition that continues to this day.
- 7 Edith Cavell Memorial, St Martin's Pl WC2 (just off Trafalgar Sq). Statue in honour of the World War I nursing heroine.
Museums and galleries
[edit]- 8 Benjamin Franklin House, 36 Craven St, WC2N 5NF (Tube: Charing Cross BAK NOR ), ☏ +44 20 7839-2006. The only remaining home of Benjamin Franklin in the world. The founding father of the United States lived here from 1757 to 1775. Many exhibits charting his life and achievements as well as artefacts. A special Historical Experience Show runs W-Su at noon, 1PM, 2PM, 3:15PM, and 4:15PM all year round. £7, under 16s free..
- 9 London Transport Museum, Covent Garden Piazza (Tube: Covent Garden PIC ), ☏ +44 20 7565-7299. In many cities a local transport museum would be of very narrow interest - not London, however! London's public transport is iconic, and the story of how it developed from horse and cart through early buses, Tube trains and trolleybuses to the present day is well worth coming to find out about. There is plenty of opportunity to clamber aboard the historic buses and Tube trains on display. Also, because London's transport is so well known, the museum shop contains plenty of items that make interesting and original gifts and souvenirs. £18, concessions £17, accompanied children under 16 free.
- 10 Aldwych station, Surrey Street, WC2R 2NE (Meet outside the main entrance). Weekdays: 17:05, 19:00 Weekends: 10:05, 12:00, 14:40, 16:35. The TfL-backed Hidden London offers tours around the disused Aldwych tube station which had its own branch on the Piccadilly line. The tour explains the station's unusual history including its use for protection (for both people and historical artefacts held by the British Museum) from the Blitz during WWII. More recently, it was used as a filming location and for testing station equipment and decor. Of note, it was used for filming James Bond: Die Another Day, V for Vendetta and the Prodigy music video for Firestarter. Tours are roughly an 1 hour and 15 minutes long, wear sturdy shoes (not sandals). Tickets: £44 / £39 concessions (includes 50% discount on entry to the London Transport Museum).
Do
[edit]Theatres
[edit]
Along with neighbouring Leicester Square, this is the capital of London's theatreland. For current programmes please check the relevant theatre website or the Official London Theatre listings. Budget travellers should look for last minute bookings and off-peak performances.
Most of the booking office numbers given will only work from within the United Kingdom. If you want to make a booking from overseas, use the relevant website.
- 1 Adelphi Theatre, Strand, WC2E 7NA, ☏ +44 844 412 4651.
- 2 Aldwych Theatre, Aldwych, WC2B 4DF.
- 3 Ambassador's Theatre, West St, WC2H 9ND, ☏ +44 844 8112 334.
- 4 Cambridge Theatre, 32-34 Earlham St, WC2 9HU, ☏ +44 844 412 4652.
- 5 Donmar Warehouse, Earlham St, WC2H 9LX, ☏ +44 844 871 7624.
- 6 Duke of York's Theatre, St. Martin's Ln, WC2N 4BG, ☏ +44 870 060 6623.
- 7 Fortune Theatre, Russell Street,Covent Garden, WC2B 5HH.
- 8 Lyceum Theatre, 21 Wellington Street, WC2E 7RQ.
- 9 Gillian Lynne Theatre (New London Theatre), Drury Ln, WC2B 5PW, ☏ +44 844 412 4654.
- 10 Noel Coward Theatre (The Albery), St. Martin's Ln, WC2N 4AA, ☏ +44 870 950 0920.
- 11 Novello Theatre, 5 Aldwych, WC2B 4LD. Home of Mamma Mia since 1999.
- 12 Playhouse Theatre, Northumberland Ave, WC2N 5DE, ☏ +44 870 060 6631.
- 13 Savoy Theatre, Strand, WC2R 0ET, ☏ +44 844 871 7627.
- 14 Shaftesbury Theatre, 210 Shaftesbury Ave, WC2H 8DP.
- 15 Theatre Royal Drury Lane, Catherine St, WC2B 5JF.
- 16 St Martin's Theatre, West St, WC2H 9NZ, ☏ +44 844 499 1515. The theatre which has been showing Agatha Christie's The Mousetrap continuously since 1952!
- 17 The Phoenix Theatre, Charing Cross Rd, WC2H 0JP, ☏ +44 870 060 6629.
- 18 Wyndham's Theatre, 32-36 Charing Cross Rd, WC2H 0DA, ☏ +44 844 482 5120.
- 19 Garrick Theatre, 2 Charing Cross Rd, WC2H 0HH, ☏ +44 844 579 1974.
Opera
[edit]- 20 Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, WC2E 9DD (Tube: Covent Garden PIC ), ☏ +44 20 7304-4000. One of the world's great opera and ballet venues. Peak time tickets are like gold dust and it is very unlikely that a casual visitor will be able to obtain one. However, at least 65 tickets per performance are held off for on-the-day in person sales from 10AM, and tickets are sometimes available for off peak (especially matinee) performances and can be surprisingly affordable. Check the website or at London ticket agencies. Whilst there's no formal dress code for attending a performance, dressing smartly is advised. Casual styles (jeans, trainers) may get you disapproving looks from other attendees.
- 21 English National Opera, London Coliseum, St. Martin's Lane, WC2N 4ES (Tube: Covent Garden PIC ), ☏ +44 871 911 0200, box.office@eno.org. A little easier to get tickets here than it is at the Royal Opera House but still difficult for the most notable productions. Look for last minute availability and off peak performances.
Buy
[edit]Shoes are a speciality of Covent Garden, particularly in Neal Street where virtually every shop sells shoes, from Birkenstocks to trainers, campers to Doc Martens.
Like its neighbour Soho, Covent Garden has a wide range of clothing shops. Head to Floral Street and Long Acre for a start, but explore the backstreets too as they often house more interesting stores. If you are on a budget, head to Earlham Street for occasional clothing stalls and Oxfam Originals.
- 1 The Astrology Shop, 78 Neal St, London WC2H 9PA, ☏ +44 20 7813-3051. 11AM-6PM. The place to buy astrology books and tarot cards.
- 2 Ben's Cookies, 13a The Piazza (Inside the Covent Garden Market), ☏ +44 20 7240-6123. M-F 7:30AM-7PM, Sa 9:30AM-6:30PM, Su 10:30AM-6:30PM, bank holidays 10AM-6PM. Very nice cookies - try their white chocolate with macadamia cookies. Price is about £1 per cookie, and the cookies here are almost twice as big as those at Millie's. They also have branches at 12 Kensington Arcade, Kensington High St; at 39 Leadenhall Market; and at 9 Pelham St, South Kensington.
- 3 Monmouth Coffee, 27 Monmouth St, West End, WC2H 9EU (Near Seven Dials), ☏ +44 20 7232-3010, beans@monmouthcoffee.co.uk. M-Sa: 8am–5pm; Su: Closed. Some people say this is the best coffee in London. Primarily a venue for quality coffee roasters, the shop on Monmouth street has a tasting room, i.e. a café, where you can marvel at the fact that not everywhere in London sells poor chain-café coffee. A selection of goodies such as croissants, pastries, and brownies are also available. As you would expect of a roasters you can also purchase excellent coffee in bean form or ground, with various blends to suit your taste. Helpful and knowledgeable staff can help you make a selection.
- 4 Neal's Yard Dairy, 11 Shorts Gardens, WC2H 9AT (Tube: Covent Garden PIC ), ☏ +44 20 7240-5700. M-Th 11AM-6:30PM, F Sa 10AM-6:30PM. A fabulous cheese shop specialising in British cheeses. The smell as you walk up the street can be enticing or repulsive, depending on your preference for fragrant cheese. But regardless, a trip to this shop is well worthwhile. Whether they are busy or not, the staff are always keen to have you taste a few cheeses to ensure you find what you are looking for. Everyone here is passionate about their cheese, and while the prices are higher than you will pay pretty much anywhere else in the world for cheese, the quality and taste are second to none.
- 5 Stanfords, 7 Mercer Walk, WC2H 9FA (Tube: Covent Garden PIC ), ☏ +44 20 7836-1321, sales@stanfords.co.uk. M-F 9AM-5:30PM, Sa 10AM-7PM, Su noon-6PM. This is the flagship store of the world's largest map retailer. They have been selling maps and travel guidebooks of all descriptions from this location since 1901. With three floors of regional maps, walking maps, guidebooks, travel books, a digital mapping service and more this is a huge store that is interesting even if you do not intend to buy anything.
- 6 Thomas Neals Centre, 29-41 Earlham St. A nice shopping plaza with clothes shops, design shops and cafes.
- 7 The Tintin Shop, 34 Floral Street, WC2E 9DJ, ☏ +44 20 7836-1131, tintinshop@btconnect.com. M–Sa 10:30AM–5:30PM, Su noon–4PM. The place to go in Britain for fans of the Belgian reporter. Sells non-fiction books, clothes, posters, figurines and memorabilia, as well as each of Hergé's 24 Adventures of Tintin comic books in English, the original French and any other language you can think of.
- 8 Kryolan City London (formerly Charles Fox), 22 Tavistock Street, Covent Garden, WC2E 7PY, ☏ +44 20 7240-3111, info-uk@kryolan.com. This is where the professionals buy make-up, so on the pricey side, but the range of products kept is large. Staff are highly approachable even on specialist queries.
- 9 Forbidden Planet, 179 Shaftesbury Avenue, WC2H 8JR. M-Sa 10AM-7PM, Su noon-6PM. Massive "geek supplies" store for London and the South-East. Merchandise (T-shirts, toys, figurines, etc.) on the ground floor, comics and manga (all genres) and SF, fantasy and horror books in the basement. Lots of U.S. publications that are rarely available in other London bookstores.
Books
[edit]Charing Cross Road and the tiny Cecil Court which leads off it have long been the centre of the specialist and antiquarian book trade in London. There are fewer outlets than previously as spiralling rents pushed out a lot of the traditional booksmiths but many still remain. Any book lover will be in heaven here.
- 10 Any Amount of Books, 56 Charing Cross Rd, WC2H 0QA (Tube: Leicester Square PIC NOR ), ☏ +44 20 7836-3697. Rare and second-hand books. Specialist in scholarly academic works and art-related titles.
- 11 David Drummond at Pleasures of Past Times, 11 Cecil Ct WC2N 4EZ (Tube: Leicester Square PIC NOR ), ☏ +44 20 7836-1142. Specialises in books and other memorabilia related to the performing arts and old children's books.
- 12 Goldsboro Books, 7 Cecil Ct, WC2N 4EZ (Tube: Leicester Square PIC NOR ), ☏ +44 20 7497-9230, enquiries@goldsborobooks.co.uk. First editions and signed fiction.
- 13 Paul J Hilton, 12 Cecil Ct, WC2N 4HE (Tube: Leicester Square PIC NOR ), ☏ +44 20 7379-9825. Antiquarian and general books, especially first edition English literature.
- 14 Henry Pordes Books Ltd, 58-60 Charing Cross Rd, WC2H 0BB (Tube: Leicester Square PIC NOR ), ☏ +44 20 7836-9031, info@henrypordesbooks.com. Secondhand, antiquarian and all out-of print books.
- 15 Quinto Bookshop & Francis Edwards, 72 Charing Cross Rd, WC2H 0BB, ☏ +44 20 7379-7669, sales@quintobookshop.co.uk. Huge collection. Francis Edwards have been in business here since 1856.
Marine and watersports
[edit]- 16 Arthur Beale (Yachting Chandler), 194 Shaftesbury Avenue, WC2H 8JP, ☏ +44 20 7836-9034, sales@arthurbeale.co.uk. M-W 9AM-6PM, Th-Sa 9AM-8PM, Su 11AM-5PM. A quite unusual shop for the centre of London. A marine supply store which sells numerous items related to yachting: from clothing to sailing hardware and accessories. The shop has been at its current location for over 120 years.
- 17 Ocean Leisure, 11-14 Northumberland Avenue, WC2N 5AQ (under Hungerford Bridge), ☏ +44 20 7930-5050, internetsales@oceanleisure.co.uk. M-F 10AM-7PM, Sa 10AM-5PM, Su 11AM-5PM. Watersports-related items.
Eat
[edit]Budget
[edit]- 1 Chequers, 47 Bedford St. Sandwiches
- 2 Jin's kitchen, 232 Shaftesbury Ave.
- 3 Ben’s Traditional Fish & Chips, 200 Shaftesbury Ave.
- 4 Chipotle Mexican Grill, 92-93 St Martin's Ln.
- 5 Koshari Street, 56 St Martin's Ln. An Egyptian restaurant
- 6 Benito's, 19 New Row. A casual Mexican restaurant
- 7 Lanzhou Lamian Noodle Bar, 33 Cranbourn St. Chinese
- 8 Wok To Walk Cranbourn St, 22 Cranbourn St.
Mid-range
[edit]- 9 Brown's, 82-84 St. Martin's Ln, ☏ +44 20 7497-5050. Always buzzing, this popular restaurant is frequented by hip (often single) clientele, who are served by attentive staff. Meals are good, the braised lamb shank is especially tasty.
- 10 Maison Malinowski Brasserie, 63 Neal St. Serves really delicious crêpes among other things. Perfect for a break while shopping!
- 11 Cafe Pacifico, 5 Langley St, WC2H 9JA, ☏ +44 20 7379-7728, info@cafe-pacifico.com. Daily noon–11PM. London's original Mexican Cantina, serving all your typical Mexican food along with a good range of margaritas and tequila.
- 12 La Perla, 28 Maiden Ln, ☏ +44 20 7240-7400. M-Sa noon-11:30PM, Su 4-10:30PM. Another of Cafe Pacifico's venues, this one is slightly smaller with more of a bar feeling.
- 13 Scoop (Natural Luxury Gelato), 40 Short's Gardens, ☏ +44 7944 779693. This place is popular among the university students in London. Come here for some genuine Italian gelato or coffee and cake. Try their hazelnut gelato, which is simply amazing. Large £3.60.
- 14 Café in the Crypt, Trafalgar Square, WC2N 4JJ (tube: Charing Cross BAK NOR ). In the basement of St Martin-in-the-Fields church is the Café in the Crypt which offers reasonably-priced cafe food that you can eat amongst the brick-vaulted ceilings, pillars and gravestones.
Splurge
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- 15 The Ivy, 1 West St (Tube: Covent Garden PIC ), ☏ +44 20 7836-4751. Wining and dining rooms of celebrities, the actual difficulty in getting a table these days gives the restaurant slightly more kudos as an eatery than it deserves. Cosy and intimate, serving traditional but diverse restaurant meals. Competent cooking and reasonably good service, but not worth waiting 6 months for. Unless you are an avid star-gazer, go at a time when celebs are unlikely to be around. Average price £40.
- 16 Joe Allen, 13 Exeter St, WC2E 7DT (Tube: Covent Garden PIC ), ☏ +44 20 7836-0651, info@joeallen.co.uk. Legendary informal bistro which is incredibly hard to find for the first time - look for the dark, discrete door with a simple plaque on it on the north side of Exeter St. Food is a take on American-style grilled fare using the very highest quality ingredients. Steaks and chops are superb. Favoured by lots of celebs and booking essential, especially pre- and post theatre.
- 17 Rules, 35 Maiden Lane. Claims to the oldest restaurant still-going in London dating back to 1798. It's high-class decor matches its posh diners. Rules has a dress code: "jacket or tie not required, but smart casual preferred. No shorts."
Drink
[edit]Covent Garden Pubs
[edit]- 1 The Lamb & Flag, 33 Rose St, WC2E 9EB (Tube: Covent Garden PIC ), ☏ +44 20 7497-9504. Fullers
- 2 Marquess of Anglesey, 39 Bow St, WC2E 7AU, ☏ +44 20 7240-3216. 11AM-11PM. Youngs
- 3 Nags Head, 10 James St, WC2E 8BT (Tube: Covent Garden PIC ), ☏ +44 20 7836-4678. McMullens
- 4 The Porterhouse, 21-22 Maiden Ln, WC2E 7NA, ☏ +44 20 7379-7917. A modern pub split across multiple levels connected by narrow staircases and walkways, with a selection of over 100 bottled beers from around the world. Often with a band in the basement at weekends.
- 5 Punch & Judy, 40 Henrietta St, WC2E 8RF (Upstairs on the 1st floor. Tube: Covent Garden PIC ), ☏ +44 20 7379-0923. Visit its balcony looking over Covent Garden Piazza
- 6 The Sun Tavern, 66 Long Acre, WC2E 9JD (Tube: Covent Garden PIC ), ☏ +44 20 3609-7857.
- 7 The White Swan, 14 New Row, WC2N 4LF, ☏ +44 20 3077-1129. A Nicolson's free house.
Seven Dials Pubs
[edit]and around New Oxford Street
- 8 BrewDog Seven Dials, 142 Shaftesbury Ave, WC2H 8HJ, ☏ +44 20 7836-3119, sevendialsbar@brewdog.com. BrewDog Scottish Ales
- 9 The Craft Beer Co., 168 High Holborn, WC1V 7AA, ☏ +44 20 7240-0431. A vast array of beers.
- 10 The Old Crown, 33 New Oxford St, WC1A 1BH, ☏ +44 20 3904-2744. noon-11PM M Tu W, noon-3AM Th F Sa (closed Su). A stylish pub which closes late.
- 11 The Hercules Pillars, 18 Great Queen St, WC2B 5DG, ☏ +44 20 7242-2218. with two life-sized Hercules holding up the bar.
- 12 Princess Louise, 208–209 High Holborn, WC1V 7BW (Tube: Chancery Lane CEN ), ☏ +44 20 7405-8816. Ornately designed Victorian interior, mostly preserved from an 1891 remodelling, with wood and etched-glass partitions dividing it into smaller sections. A Grade II listed building and on CAMRA's national inventory of historic pub interiors.
- 13 The Spice of Life, ☏ +44 20 7437-7013, spiceoflife@mcmullens.co.uk. M–Sa noon–10PM, Su noon–9PM. On Cambridge Circus, is a bustling middle-of-the-road gaf, with open-mic performances from talented musicians downstairs.
- 14 The White Hart, 191 Drury Ln, WC2B 5QD, ☏ +44 20 7242-2317. Oldest licensed premises in London - 1216.
St Martins Lane
[edit]- 15 The Harp, 47 Chandos Pl, WC2N 4HS (Tube: Charing Cross BAK NOR ), ☏ +44 20 7836-0291. Narrow pub with stained glass windows that is enthusiastic about beer.
- 16 The Lemon Tree, 4 Bedfordbury, WC2N 4BP (Tube: Charing Cross BAK NOR ), ☏ +44 20 7831-1391.
- 17 The Salisbury, St. Martin's Ln (Tube: Leicester Square PIC ). Beautifully preserved Victorian pub. Full of mirrors and lights, cut glass and mahogany, this place is nothing like the dark and dingy pubs that are all too common in London.
Strand Pubs
[edit]and to the south:
- 18 The Coal Hole, 91-92 Strand, WC2R 0DW, ☏ +44 20 7379-9883. Grade II Listed
- 19 Gordon's Wine Bar, 47 Villiers St, WC2N 6NE.
- 20 The Ship & Shovell, 1-3, Craven Passage, WC2N 5PH, ☏ +44 20 7839-1311. Two pubs in one, either side of Craven Passage.
Bars
[edit]- 21 Light, 45 St. Martin's Ln, WC2N 4HX, ☏ +44 20 7300-5599. Stylish, ultra-modern space inside the St. Martin’s Lane Hotel. On Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights, many of London's most popular DJs are featured.
- 22 Freud (Frevd), 198 Shaftesbury Ave, WC2H 8JL, ☏ +44 20 7240-9933, gm@freudltd.co.uk. Th F 4–10PM, Sa 3–10PM, closed Su–W. If you blink, you'll miss this casual cellar bar that serves up a variety of cocktails you can't find anywhere else in London. Has good mojitos, and even an Apple Pie concoction that tastes like a drink version of the real thing! Always very crowded at night on the weekends despite the fact that you need to go down a rickety metal staircase to find it.
Gay and lesbian
[edit]- 23 Halfway to Heaven, 7 Duncannon St, WC2N 4JF (Tube: Charing Cross BAK NOR ), ☏ +44 20 7484-0736, halfwaytoheaven.london@stonegatepubs.com. M–Th noon–midnight; F Sa noon–3AM; Su noon–11PM. Traditional pub owned by the night club, Heaven. Aimed more at office workers and locals than the clubbing crowd. The basement bar hosts entertainment in the evenings.
- 24 Heaven, The Arches, Villiers St, WC2N 6NG (Beneath Charing Cross station and the Craven St arches; Tube: Embankment DIS CIR NOR or Charing Cross BAK NOR ), ☏ +44 20 7930-2020, info@heavennightclublondon.com. M 11AM–5AM; Tu W closed; Th F 11PM–4AM; Sa 10:30PM–5AM. The most famous gay club in London, and perhaps the world. Has secret performances by the likes of Britney Spears or Kylie Minogue. Good fun, whether gay or straight. from £4 bottle of beer.
- 25 The Retro Bar, 2 George Ct, WC2N 6HH (Tube: Charing Cross BAK NOR or Embankment DIS CIR NOR ), ☏ +44 20 7839-8760, retrobar.london@stonegatepubs.com. M–F noon–11PM; Sa 2–11PM; Su 2–10:30PM. The antidote to gay bars: a pub-like atmosphere and great music.
Sleep
[edit]Budget
[edit]Mid-range
[edit]- 1 The Fielding, 4 Broad Court W2B 5QZ (tube: Covent Garden PIC ), ☏ +44 20 7836-8305. Great little hotel between Bow St and Drury Lane. No breakfast or other meals, but lots nearby. No dogs. Double (room only) £170.
- 2 Strand Palace Hotel, 372 Strand, WC2R 0JJ, ☏ +44 20 7379-4737. Good value hotel in a convenient location for Covent Garden theatres and shopping. From £65.
- 3 Travelodge London Covent Garden, 10 Drury Ln, WC2B 5RE, ☏ +44 871 984 6245. Popular hotel with visitors and decent value for the area. Convenient for Covent Garden theatres and shopping. From £135.
Splurge
[edit]- 4 The Savoy, Strand, WC2R 0EZ, ☏ +44 20 7836-4343. The famed Savoy offers magnificent views of the river Thames. It opened in 1889 as Britain's first luxury hotel and remains a popular destination in London. The hotel has 263 rooms and suites, a nifty blend of elegance and contemporary design. Inventive cuisine can be enjoyed in the Savoy Grill and the more informal Banquette.
- 5 St Martins Lane, 45 St. Martin's Ln, ☏ +44 20 7300-5500. Ian Schrager (of Studio 54 fame) is known worldwide for being an innovator in the ‘hip’ hotel business. His first foray into London, St Martins Lane, is a playful and urbane destination in the West End theatre district off Trafalgar Square that combines urban cool and modern design (via design guru Philippe Starck). Unique features of this trendy-meets-luxury hotel include the Asia de Cuba restaurant, the popular Light Bar and interactive light displays in every guest room that encourages guests to personalise their own individual space.
- 6 Henrietta Hotel, 14 Henrietta Street WC2E 8QH, ☏ +44 20 3794-5313. Chic hotel in the former offices of Victor Gollancz publishers, great Basque dining. Assistance dogs only. B&B double £250.
- 7 Covent Garden Hotel, 10 Monmouth St, WC2H 9HB, ☏ +44 20 7806-1000. Gets good reviews.
Connect
[edit]Wi-Fi is available along the Thames for free with ads, and in various commercial establishments in Covent Garden.
Go next
[edit]- Go south – crossing the River Thames via the 11 Hungerford or Golden Jubilee foot Bridge
(tube: Embankment CIR DIS NOR ) to the western part of South Bank, home to the Tate Modern gallery and Shakespeare's Globe Theatre. - Head west – into Leicester Square and Trafalgar Square or south to Westminster, home of the British government and royal family.
- To the east – lies the law courts and inns of court of Holborn and the City of London.
| Routes through Covent Garden |
| Bloomsbury ← Leicester Square ← | W  E |
→ South Bank → Southwark-Lewisham |
| West London ← Bloomsbury-Soho ← | W  E |
→ Holborn-Clerkenwell → The City |
| Notting Hill-North Kensington ← Westminster ← | W  E |
→ Holborn-Clerkenwell → The City |
| Wimbledon / West London ← Westminster ← | W  E |
→ Holborn-Clerkenwell → The City |
| Bloomsbury ← Leicester Square ← | N  S |
→ South Bank → South London |
| Westminster-Mayfair-Marylebone ← Leicester Square ← | W  N |
→ Holborn-Clerkenwell → Bloomsbury |
| Routes through Covent Garden |
| Paddington ← Soho ← | W  E |
→ Holborn → The City |