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Covent Garden
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Covent Garden

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Covent Garden
4.5
#13 of 2,703 things to do in London
Points of Interest & LandmarksFlea & Street Markets
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Monday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Tuesday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Wednesday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Thursday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Friday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Saturday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Sunday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
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About
Filled with restaurants, bars, markets and boutiques, London's premier tourist center offers fabulous shopping by day, and the destination of theatergoers and patrons of the Royal Opera House by night.
Suggested duration
2-3 hours
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The area
Address
Neighborhood: Covent Garden
Whether you're headed here to check out the multitude of shops, theaters, cafes, pubs, and restaurants, or simply to be among the multitude of people who pass through this pretty part of town, you'll love soaking up the festive and historic atmosphere in and around Covent Garden. Even if you don't have tickets to the opera or a show at one of the many famous theaters here, don't be surprised if find yourself captivated by some impromptu act of a street performer wowing the crowds in Covent Garden's Piazza. If you do have tickets, you'll be pleased to note that many of the local eateries accommodate theatergoers with prix fixe menus, early dinners, and later than usual opening hours. 


How to get there
  • Covent Garden • 3 min walk
  • Leicester Square • 5 min walk
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Best nearby
Restaurants
10,000 within 3 miles
Chop Chop
146
0.3 mi$$ - $$$ • Chinese • Asian • Vegetarian Friendly
Da Mario Covent Garden
1,739
0.3 mi$$ - $$$ • Italian • Mediterranean • European
Heliot Steak House
2,097
0.2 mi$$ - $$$ • American • Steakhouse • British
Angus Steakhouse Leicester Square
2,012
0.2 mi$$ - $$$ • Steakhouse • British • Gluten Free Options
Vasinikó London
212
442 ft$$ - $$$ • Italian • Pizza • Neapolitan
Cafe de Provence
457
0.3 mi$ • Cafe • European • British
Monmouth Kitchen
1,704
0.2 mi$$ - $$$ • Italian • Peruvian • Mediterranean
Bustronome
258
0.3 mi$$$$ • French • European • Contemporary
The Wine Place Covent Garden
330
110 ft$$ - $$$ • Italian • Mediterranean • European
Frog By Adam Handling
717
452 ft$$$$ • European • British • Contemporary
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Attractions
2,333 within 6 miles
Apple Market
200
48 ftFlea & Street Markets
Richard Filby
166 ftCabarets
Royal Opera House
3,037
459 ftBallets • Operas
London Film Museum
1,258
332 ftSpeciality Museums
The Harry Potter Photographic Exhibition
148
460 ftSpeciality Museums • Exhibitions
St. Paul's Church (The Actors' Church)
175
225 ftHistoric Sites • Religious Sites
London Transport Museum
2,969
290 ftSpeciality Museums • History Museums
Adelphi Theatre
377
0.1 miTheaters
The Vaudeville Theatre
377
0.1 miTheaters
Lyceum Theatre
1,223
0.1 miTheaters
See all
See what travelers are saying
  • Janka K
    Brno, Czech Republic6,264 contributions
    Too posh and too crowded for me
    The place won't be one of me most liked ones in London. It was full of shops and people, but not full of places to sit or chill. So everybody is just constantly bumping into someone in a search for some bench or so. If you go into a shop, you almost automatically get into some queue where you need to wait to get to the shop's products/staff. The architecture of the shopping mall is nice, though, and it deserves to take some pictures. There is paid toilette. The good thing is that you can use your card to pay. The bad thing is that the admission is 1 pound.
    Visited July 2022
    Written December 11, 2022
  • 123pix
    Falmouth, United Kingdom508 contributions
    Covent Garden Market
    Great to visit anytime, but especially at Christmas. The decorations are fab, especially the mistletoe ones inside the Apple Market. There is live music and lovely craft artisan stalls. Also another Christmas indoor market, just to the side of the main market. Nice area to spent a couple of hours.
    Visited December 2022
    Written December 11, 2022
  • Bermiegal
    69 contributions
    Familiar Shopping Turf
    A holiday in London is hardly every complete unless my husband and I visit VivoBarefoot or Neal's Yard in Covent Gardens. Not only is the shopping magnetic but the atmosphere or independent cafes, cobbled streets and the kooks and crannies that exist. All roads seem to lead back to the square. We've spent many summer moments there enjoying the artistry of buskers and soaking up the peaceful atmosphere. It's a "pause button" in the middle of rat race London.
    Visited July 2022
    Written December 15, 2022
  • Vanitha
    Dubai, United Arab Emirates797 contributions
    Happening place
    Hip and happening place. Since I am visiting during Christmas times it was so crowded especially in the evenings. This place has plenty of theaters around and plenty of restaurants and csfes, jubilee Market.. so there is a lot do to and yes so may places are walking distance from here..this is the place to be !
    Visited December 2022
    Traveled with family
    Written December 22, 2022
  • Annefromryder
    Essex, United Kingdom1,408 contributions
    Great for all
    Love it here any time of the year as there is so many restaurants & close to theatres. Christmas time is such a lovely time to visit as the efforts put into the area, including the large Christmas tree, the lights & market. The boutique shops and street entertainment. You don’t have to spend anything to just go and take it all in.
    Visited December 2022
    Traveled as a couple
    Written December 24, 2022
  • Darren D
    Texas761 contributions
    Exciting neighborhood!
    Restaurants, theatres, shops. There is so much happening in this area, and it was exciting to explore (walking). We visited at Christmastime, which meant beautiful decorations and a lot of people. Even if you are not planning to eat, shop, or attend a theatre production, walking through Covent Garden is a great experience.
    Visited December 2022
    Written December 26, 2022
  • gsgman777
    Columbia, Illinois706 contributions
    Very welcoming with lots of shops
    A nice quaint outside but covered shopping area. 2 levels, places to eat, snacks, ice cream, souvenir carts, small stores. All covered. On the lower level they have a small corner for local musicians to set up and play
    Visited May 2022
    Written January 13, 2023
  • Doolie77
    London, United Kingdom663 contributions
    Afternoon tea on a weekday
    Visited this branch of Cafe Concerto in Covent Garden and we were very pleased with the location,service and afternoon tea. Selection of dainty cakes,scones with jam and cream and the sandwiches were well presented with our choice of tea. The ambience of the place was really relaxing and service was excellent from Suraj and Nassim. Thoroughly enjoyed our afternoon tea and will not hesitate to return with a bigger group.
    Visited January 2023
    Traveled with friends
    Written January 16, 2023
  • Francesca
    6 contributions
    Really nice place to eat and shop
    Love coming here to buy gifts for friends or treat myself. Such a beautiful area in London and everything is so pretty. Also has independent stores and market boutiques to pick up unique pieces which is great
    Visited February 2023
    Written February 7, 2023
  • TravelingSoccerLoon
    Saint Paul, Minnesota3,188 contributions
    Lively Area Filled With Restaurants and Pubs and Street Performers
    Wonderful district in central London, home of the Royal Opera House. The area has great nightlife and is filled with restaurants, shops and pubs. Many West End theatres are nearby making it a great place for a pre or post theatre meal or drink. A couple of the best pubs include The Harp and The Lamb and Flag. Always a lively area and it’s fun to watch the street performers here who are usually highly talented.
    Visited September 2022
    Traveled as a couple
    Written February 7, 2023
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
25,298 reviews
Excellent
14,538
Very good
8,227
Average
2,080
Poor
320
Terrible
134
Kieran lane
5 contributions
Where should I start !
Aug 2020 • Couples
After travelling from Liverpool with my partner for a gorgeous weekend in London.

We Arrived on time to be seated at table, once sat the concept was explained and the drink order was taken. This is where things went south. After making our food order and we waited 30+ minutes for our 2 glasses of sparkling wine and a bottle of beer. We had to then speak to a waiter and ask where our drinks were to be told they would arrive shortly. Another 10 minutes in and we had to ask another waitress about the drinks and she sorted them ASAP ( valuable member of team as she was sincere ). Food then arrived and it was poor quality ! Chewy meat, popcorn shrimp rubbery, any rice based sushi was mushy and so sticky it glued to the plate, vegetable gyoza fell apart mid air while picking it off the plate.

We thought maybe this is just fluke and ordered our second round of food, to wait another 20 minutes ! To then chase the food with a waiter to be told that many of our options ( salmon, tuna, the dragon sushi and basically anything meat based ) were out of stock ! along with several other dishes leaving the chewy beef, dry salmon maki and endless veggie options for choosing.

I did not pay the almost £40 per head (total almost £120) to be served with mediocre drinks and poor quality food.

We’re not big drinkers we had 2 glasses of sparkling wine and 3 beers !

we asked to speak to the manager on shift in the afternoon ( Saturday 8th August ) and we’re told “we’re sorry the menu items were out of stock, this is a supplier issue not delivering enough stock. We will give you a special offer” and 10 minutes later our table received a simple bottle of sparkling wine ! So much for a special offer. Bearing in mind we had spent almost £120 for this experience to be met with what I can only describe as poor quality fizz.

We were very excited to dine here. The venue was stunning and were told the venue was a flagship store ! I’d hate to think what the other stores must be like if this is their main store !

My advice to anyone considering of dining here is to head to Tesco and get a sushi platter or two as the quality would be much better and with the money you save maybe head to yo sushi as the attention to detail and customer service is clearly superior.

To anyone from the restaurant wishing to reply, I’m still waiting for my special offer.
Written August 8, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ropes22
10 contributions
Busy and popular
Nov 2019 • Friends
I frequently find myself in Covent Garden. It is always very busy with people shopping, watching street entertainers and minding themselves on the cobbles.
Enjoyable for a couple of hours max.
Good luck getting a seat at any of the local bars/pubs in the area, it’s always very popular and a bit pricey.
Written February 4, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hannah M
Manchester, UK28 contributions
Magic show in Covent garden
Feb 2020 • Family
Great place to kill half an hour if you're in the area with children. Ours (aged 10, 6 and 2) enjoyed watching the street performers which was well worth the couple of quid we contributed to his collection at the end. Watching the street performers is usually a highlight of our London trips for the children 🙂
Written February 25, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
704jules
London, UK58 contributions
Poor service
Dec 2020 • Friends
Have just left The Ivy Brasserie in Covent Garden. Had the £33.50 lobster linguine, can I say that the same meal at Madisons St Paul's was of far better quality (far far better) and £28!! Today we refused to pay the service, which is the first time I have ever done this in a restaurant.the waiter came up to our table literally every 5 mins and really spoilt our enjoyment of our lunch out. Such a shame for quite an expensive meal in what is supposed to be a well known and reputable restaurant.
Written December 11, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Visit Blighty
2,762 contributions
Always a winner. Especially at Christmas
Dec 2019
Covent Garden to me just has something very special about it whatever time of year, but at Christmas in particular it paints the perfect scene. Covent Garden does an excellent job at dressing to any occasion so in festive finery and with a large Christmas Tree it’s splendiferous. Plus they always make sure there’re several very Instagram friendly spots. For 2019 they had an enchanting mainly adult orientated Tiffany & Co Winter Wonderland area which looked magical and even included a mini ice rink.

It’s always fun seeing singers in the markets and the street performers. I feel a trip to London over Christmas would not be complete without a stroll through Covent Garden.

For those not familiar with Covent Garden there’s a rabbit warren of excellent shops to explore (The Apple store is a highlight and Chanel Make Up is a mecca for sure), fabulous food options and even market stores in one area. Venchi gelato is super, Marriage Freres is one of the best tea emporiums on the planet and SushiSamba is always a good idea. It has a wonderful unique atmosphere which I find myself drawn to time and time again. Also don’t forget it hosts the Royal Opera House and also the London Film Museum with its Bond in Motion exhibit. .
Written January 12, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Karen Tann
421 contributions
Fun Place to Wander
Jan 2020
We often visit this area when filling time before a theatre visit. Yesterday it was grey and wet so wandering under cover was ideal. There are some stalls and a variety of small shops along with a few eateries. We like the pub at one end called the Punch and Judy for a drink. In the summer, you can sit on the balcony and watch the crowds and sometimes buskers.
Written January 28, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Nicky T
Enfield, UK128 contributions
Cosmopolitan and vibrant
Dec 2019
Exit via the lifts at Covent Garden tube (never take the stairs!) or walk from nearby Leicester Square. In the centre is an undercover craft market with boutique shops on ground level and eateries. Buskers will entertain the crowds on the cobbles around the market and the popular Transport Museum and Bond In Motion exhibit is nearby.
What sets this area apart is the variety of shops and restaurants in a time when the shopping industry is struggling. Take time to explore all the side streets because there is so much more than just the central market. Restaurants vary and all tastes are covered.
Please note that most streets are cobbled so wear sensible shoes and it gets very busy so you will need to exercise some patience.
A must for tourists and Londoners alike, make a day of it, take your reusable shopping bag and enjoy.
Written February 23, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
sleightofhand
Tonbridge, UK164 contributions
Took the Family to Covent Garden near New Year - Magical
Dec 2019
It was a cold day and the whole family had hot chocolate in the area where they play live music. It was not cheap as you can imagine but was magical. the scenery and feel of the place is fabulous and going there any time of the year is stunning. Lots of street performers who do a great job un all weathers and lots of good forrd and fun ships to visit. Especially like the Oakley Store and Apple Store and Ted Baker Store. We ended up eating just outside of here but the food in and around is great with local theatres just around the corner as well. Good tube access and Leicester Square and China Town within quick walking distance as well.
Written March 10, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
rhi
United Kingdom62 contributions
Always visit when in London
Dec 2019
We always visit Covent Garden when in London as there is so much to do and see. I love just sitting on the steps and watching the entertainers perform. There is a lot of places to eat so you would not be stuck for choice! Only down side would be you have to pay to use the toilets so if you're someone like me who tends to go often it can be a problem. There is a market too which sells all sorts.
Definitely worth going to.
Written January 21, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Chris M
Lichfield, UK1,139 contributions
Pick your time depending what you want!
Feb 2020
Very very popular tourist magnet here. If you want to see all the street entertainers then pick the busy peak times 12-5. For a more quieter browse round the stalls/market go earlier or late afternoon. It'll be rammed by the tube station at a weekend. Only 5 min walk from Leicester Square though.
Written February 26, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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