Covent Garden, London
1 / 5
Covent Garden - by David Sury on Unsplash
Description
Covent Garden is a compact neighbourhood situated between Shaftesbury Avenue and The Strand. It is divided almost equally by Long Acre: the southern side is centred around the Royal Opera House and the Market Building filled with restaurants and tourist shops whilst the northern side is more geared towards independent boutiques along the various streets leading to the Seven Dials.
Access & Transport
The location is very central with Covent Garden underground station (Picadilly line) in the middle of the neighbourhood. Other stations on the periphery include Leicester Square, and Charing Cross. It is also very convenient to reach by bus along The Strand, / Aldwych, Charing Cross rd or Shaftesbury Avenue. Driving there is straightforward but not recommended on account of traffic and challenge in finding parking spots (not mentioning the cost)
Instructions & Recommendations
We would recommend going there for lunch or dinner and spend some time walking the area randomly, peeking inside the small boutiques around The Seven Dials. This is a lively and convenient place to come after a show in the West End but also during the day, before or after visiting the National Gallery and/or Trafalgar Square - or possibly on your way towards Holborn and the City of London.
Environmental & Social
It is a very urban environment but no high rises. The flow of visitors allows independent boutiques and restaurateurs to operate but the area has clearly become over-commercialized.
Conclusion
Covent Garden manages to retain a quaint charm in the face of rising commercialization and tourism flow, thanks to its narrow streets and attractive architecture. We would highly recommend visitors to spend some time in the area and patronize independent operators when possible because they are the one that make the attractiveness of the place.
Key positive
Well preserved architecture creates an enjoyable atmosphere
Plenty of F&B and shopping options
Centrally located and easy to get to
Key negative
Becoming overly touristy and revenues driven
A lot of F&B venues do not have a great price to quality ratio
Suitability
Suitable for all ages but adults will enjoy it more than children. Technically accessible for visitors with mobility issues but wheelchair users will certainly not enjoy all those cobbled streets.
About this Rating
TYPE
Onsite
RESEARCHED IN
May 2024
PROVIDER
Koreval
av. transport time:0h 20m
est. visit time:2h 30m
Sunrise / early morningNo
MorningOk
Lunch timeOk
AfternoonOk
Sunset / eveningOk
Night – bef. midnightOk
Night – aft. midnightNo