This week I visited the Covent Garden area of London with my teenage daughter as a pre-Christmas treat and I was struck by what a bustling, vibrant and fun place it is to spend an afternoon in London.

A fruit and vegetable garden was set up at Covent Garden in the 1660s, after the Great Fire of London but in the 1970s, the Market buildings were becoming run down and so it was decided to move the market to a new purpose-built location on the other side of the river in Battersea. The old glass and iron buildings were renovated and a few years later, Covent Garden re-opened as a centre for shops, boutiques and restaurants, housed in the attractive market buildings.

If you’re visiting London here are some ideas to keep you busy in Covent Garden for a few hours;

Shopping
Under the cover of the Market buildings you’ll find interesting boutiques and shops and there are also craft and antique stalls in the Apple Market at the centre of the covered area and in the Jubilee Hall Market to one side. Don’t forget to explore the side streets that radiate from the Market area, where you’ll also find plenty of smaller specialist shops. If you’re looking for mainstream clothes shopping, then there’s a good selection of high street fashion chains along Long Acre close to the tube station.

Street-entertainment
As you walk down from the tube towards the Market, you’ll find those living statues adding a little colour and frisson for the passers by and there are also many street-entertainers in and around the market itself. Just follow the sound of music and laughter and you’ll find them around the lower level cafes entertaining a willing audience. In Summer, the Royal Opera House sometimes screens concerts free in the piazza.

Eating
Covent Garden is full of bars, restaurants, and coffee shops so you can guarantee you won’t be going hungry. In the week, look out for the pre-theatre menus which can keep the cost down, as long as you don’t mind eating early. There are several cafes within the market itself, but if you’re finding them a bit crowded and over-priced, I’d recommend you explore the network of streets that surround the market as prices tend to become more reasonable as you get further from the Market.

Theatre
Covent Garden Market is at the heart of London’s theatreland and if you’re attending a west-end show, this is a good place to explore and have your pre-theatre dinner beforehand. We loved seeing The Lion King at the Lyceum Theatre – it wasn’t cheap but it made for a special Christmas treat. Of course, The Royal Opera House is right by the Market area, and is also home of the Royal Ballet, so you should check out their programme if you’re visiting London. Around Long Acre and the tube you’ll find plenty of cycle rickshaw taxis who can take you to your chosen venue.

The Actor’s Church
Alongside the Market Area, you’ll find the church of St Paul’s, also known as the Actor’s church. It was build by Inigo Jones in the 1660s when the Market first opened and has a beautiful and spacious interior. If the hustle and bustle of the main market gets too much it’s a restful place to sit, while spotting the memorials on the walls to famous actors such as Sir Noel Coward. There’s also a paved garden behind the church where you can sit and relax in good weather. Check out their website for details of services, concerts and other events.

Pampering
The Sanctuary in Covent Garden is a ladies only day spa which is ideal for a few hours of pampering to relax from the retail therapy. It’s been around for thirty years and originally attracted dancers and actresses who were working nearby. Now it has pools, relaxation areas and treatments on offer and you can try and buy the Sanctuary range of products.

Getting There
Nearest Tube is Covent Garden, but it gets congested at peak times, so I recommend walking from Leicester Square which is only 5 minutes away. If you’re on the South Bank, you can also walk over the bridge from Waterloo station.

Photos by Heather on her travels

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