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