| Many agree that Covent Garden offers the best | | | | residential Italian style piazza complete with surrounding |
| shopping experience in London. Whatever you are | | | | streets and church. Having visited Italy and studied the |
| looking for Covent Garden has it. Whether it be | | | | many public squares there he designed Covent |
| fashion, jewellery, beauty products or that unusual gift, | | | | Garden in the Renaissance style surrounded by |
| you won't have to look far in the shops and markets | | | | straight streets. Although many of the original buildings |
| of Covent Garden. | | | | may have been replaced, the centrepiece and street |
| The area boasts many shops whose names you | | | | grid system still remain. |
| would instantly recognise, but equally there are many | | | | The Great Fire of London in 1666 destroyed many of |
| unique, one-off boutiques found within the famous | | | | the city of London markets, which then regrouped and |
| streets that attract shoppers from all over the globe. | | | | relocated to stylish Covent Garden. For almost 300 |
| But it's not just the shopping that draws the crowds; a | | | | years the area became renowned for its fruit, |
| plethora of highly talented street entertainers can be | | | | vegetable and flower markets, carrying the title of the |
| found performing in and around Covent Garden every | | | | largest wholesale produce market in England. |
| day. It is the only place in London that allows licensed | | | | In the1970s the fresh produce markets moved three |
| outdoor entertainment. International musicians, jugglers, | | | | miles to a custom-built New Covent Garden Market in |
| and mime artists all come to Covent Garden to display | | | | Nine Elms. However, the old site at Covent Garden |
| their skills and entertain the visitors who can watch | | | | Piazza grew in popularity attracting visitors and |
| these amazing artists perform their fantastic array of | | | | shoppers to the arts and crafts market housed in and |
| acts before grabbing a bite to eat at the many bars, | | | | surrounded by some of the most beautiful architecture |
| cafes and famous restaurants. | | | | on offer in London. The distinctive Royal Opera House |
| However, many of the visitors to Covent Garden are | | | | is housed on the corner of the square which, as well |
| unaware of its historical significance; the land on which | | | | as Opera, also features productions from the English |
| it stands on has been continually occupied for over | | | | National Ballet. |
| 2,000 years making it the oldest inhabited part of | | | | As well as being a superb venue for shopping Covent |
| London. It was originally the site of a Benedictine | | | | Garden is also a great place to dine. It has numerous |
| Convent from which its name is derived. King Henry | | | | fantastic restaurants, many of which offer the full |
| VIII used the land to train his falcons, after he dissolved | | | | al-fresco experience. Conveniently situated on the |
| the monasteries and destroyed the Convent, before | | | | fringe of the West End, it is only a short walk from |
| he gifted it to the aristocratic Bedford family. | | | | many top theatres and quality London hotels, so if you |
| In 1632 fashionable architect Inigo Jones was | | | | are visiting the nation's capital make sure it is on your |
| commissioned by the Earl of Bedford to design a | | | | 'to see' list. |