Covent Garden

Arguably, Covent Garden is one of the most famous areas in London, lying in Central London and straddling the City of Westminster and the London Borough of Camden. Covent Garden’s popularity is fuelled by its central location bordering the districts of Soho, Bloomsbury and Holborn.

The always-bustling Covent Garden is probably best known for being the centre of Theatreland, and has been a popular entertainment district since the 18th century, when the first Royal Opera House opened. The pedestrianised square is pure tourist hell, with performance artists and mimes somehow managing to find a space to perch amongst the hoards of people, especially at weekends. You’ll find high street shopping on Long Acre while Floral Street offers slightly trendier brands; the quaint Neal’s Yard is also here with complimentary medicines and a vegetarian restaurant. There is a multitude of restaurants, bars and pubs to cater for theatregoers and visitors, which much like the shops, can range from run of the mill chains to quality eateries. Overall you’re more likely to encounter camera-wielding groups of foreign students here rather than a Londoner on his/her day off.