Investigating Covent Garden

Covent Garden is one of Londons most famous areas. Taking its name from its foundations on an ancient Benedictine Convent, it was passed on by King Henry VIII in the early 17th Century to the 4th Earl of Bedford. It was then that the shaping of Covent Garden as we know it today began.

Redeveloped by Inigo Jones, the first and arguably the greatest of Englands Renaissance architects. The area quickly attracted traders and, with the great fire of London destroying most of the competition, the market flourshed and became the largest and most important market in Britain.

Despite the market moving in the 70's, the streets today are still among the busiest in central London with the area being home to The Royal Opera House, The British Transport and The National Theatre Museums and Neal Street, famous for its large numbers of shoe shops.

Below are some of my favourite finds in the area:

Apple market was a small indoor market style arcade just past the original market square. I quite liked it although it missed the energy of a real market and it just felt like a glorified shopping mall trying to appeal to the upper-class.

Here is an example of the street performances Covent Garden is famous for. It is the only area of London liscensed for street performers and entertainers and thus attracts acts woldwide. This guy was doing some form of strip whilst throwing a diablo and the audience were mesmorised.

This was the cutest shop! It was really small and really kitch. The array of cupcakes was impressive and although they weren't amazing, they were pretty good.

My coffee cupcake

A store in Apple Market devoted to tea. I really liked that the exterior was traditional and in reference to Englands world renowned love of tea. I also quite like the pigeon perching on top.

This was a stall devoted to old board games and mainly marbles. Marbles aren't something that you see much any more and I loved the way they were displayed almost like fruit.

Some chocolates

A stall selling traditionally made soaps in the style of cheese

A real cheese store, this place was so popular. The range of cheeses and the sheer size of some of the wheels were incredible. A must for any cheese fan.

A guy I stopped to ask about Covent Garden, he worked round the corner and said his favourite place was a Thai restaurant called