• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • About
    • First Time Here?
    • Archive
    • London Blogs
  • Blog
  • Travel
    • London Theater Tickets
    • Shopping
    • Tips
    • Tours
    • Transport
    • Maps
    • Parks
    • Resources
    • Restaurants
    • Top 10 London
  • Culture
    • Art
    • Buildings
    • Food
    • London Books
    • Movies
    • Museums
    • Music
    • Pubs
  • Londonism
    • Reviews
    • Fun London
    • Iconic London
    • Life in London
    • London Realities
    • Moving to London
    • Politics
  • The Tube
  • London History
    • Great London Buildings
    • Great Londoners
  • Contact
  • Guidebooks
    • 101 London Travel Tips – Guidebook
    • 101 Free Things to do in London

Londontopia

The Website for People Who Love London

You are here: Home / Travel / Attractions / Exploring London: 10 Random Facts and Figures about Covent Garden Piazza and Market

Exploring London: 10 Random Facts and Figures about Covent Garden Piazza and Market

Jul 24, 2013 By Jonathan

DSC02812

Covent Garden is probably our second favorite tourist destination in London after Trafalgar Square. Despite turning into a bit of a tourist trap, the area is steeped in London’s history. In honor of this lovely destination, here are ten facts and figures about Covent Garden. One of our most favorite things to do is listen to the musicians who busk on the lower levels.

1. Covent Garden get its name because there used to be a convent/monastery located on that spot. It was dissolved with the dissolution of the monasteries by Henry VIII and the Duke of Bedford took over the land.

2. The area receives over 44 Million Visitors a year – making it one of the most popular tourist attractions in the world.

3. The Covent Garden Piazza was originally inspired by European piazzas and was hoped would create the first of many public open squares in London. This became a huge influence on town planning throughout Britain.

The Piazza Before the Market Was Built
The Piazza Before the Market Was Built

4. There has been some kind of market in Covent Garden since the 1600’s but the current market was built in the 1830’s to a neoclassical design by architect Charles Fowler. It acted as London’s central fruit and vegetable market until 1974, when a modern market was built in Nine-elms and the whole market moved.

5. When tourists say “Covent Garden” they mean the covered market in the center of the Covent Garden Piazza, but “Covent Garden” actually describes an entire neighborhood in London that used to have a, shall we say, red-light reputation. Now it’s popular with tourists and retailers. People still live there but with London property prices, you have to be a millionaire to be able to afford to live in former brothels!

6. The Covent Garden area has over 60 pubs and bars.

Eliza Doolittle
Eliza Doolittle

7. Covent Garden has appeared in a number of film and literary works. Eliza Doolittle, the central character in George Bernard Shaw’s play, Pygmalion, and the musical adaptation by Alan Jay Lerner, My Fair Lady, is a Covent Garden flower seller. Alfred Hitchcock’s 1972 film Frenzy – about a Covent Garden fruit vendor who becomes a serial sex killer, was set in the market where his father had been a wholesale greengrocer.

8. Covent Garden is served by its own Tube Station but due to the popularity of the area, it’s often overcrowded and difficult to navigate. Tube and City officials would prefer you use Charing Cross or Leicester Square as they are not that far way and can handle more passengers.

9. The Royal Opera House, often referred to as simply “Covent Garden”, was constructed as the “Theatre Royal” in 1732 to a design by Edward Shepherd. During the first hundred years or so of its history, the theatre was primarily a playhouse, with the Letters Patent granted by Charles II giving Covent Garden and Theatre Royal, Drury Lane exclusive rights to present spoken drama in London. In 1734, the first ballet was presented; a year later Handel’s first season of operas began. Many of his operas and oratorios were specifically written for Covent Garden and had their premieres here. It has been the national home of The Royal Opera since 1945, and the Royal Ballet since 1946.

Old_Covent_Garden__2262505i
Shop in Old Covent Garden Market

10. When the Fruit & Veg market closed in the 1960’s the 1830’s market building at the center of the piazza was at risk of being torn down and redeveloped. This horrified Londoners and a protest movement sprang up that succeeded in the getting the building listed, which protected it from ever being demolished. It stayed emptied until 1980, when it was repurposed into the shopping destination that we all know and love today.

Here’s a video on what the market used to look like:

What’s your favorite part of Covent Garden? Let us know in the comments!

jonathan
Author: jonathan

Jonathan is a consummate Anglophile who launched Anglotopia.net in 2007 to channel his passion for Britain. Londontopia is its sister publication dedicated to everything London.

close

Free London News

Get the latest news on London history, culture, travel, exhibitions, and more right in your inbox!

Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription.

Share this:

  • Print
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • Reddit
  • Pocket

Filed Under: Attractions, Exploring London, Featured, History

Subscribe to Our Free London Updates

Free London News

Get the latest news on London history, culture, travel, exhibitions, and more right in your inbox!

Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription.

About jonathan

Jonathan is a consummate Anglophile who launched Anglotopia.net in 2007 to channel his passion for Britain. Londontopia is its sister publication dedicated to everything London.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Garry Jantzen says

    Jul 24, 2013 at 12:29 pm

    TFL Museum!

  2. AntKristi says

    Jul 30, 2013 at 11:37 am

    I’ve heard there is a wonderful flower market at Covent Garden, I hope to visit there next summer on my next trip.

    • Nicky says

      Apr 23, 2014 at 4:56 am

      I think you will find the flower market is at New Covent Garden, which is not in Covent Garden (or even near it) but in Nine Elms near Battersea south of the river. There is a great flower market at Colombia Road on Sundays, which is in the East End near Shoreditch:

      http://www.columbiaroad.info/

  3. Steve says

    Jul 30, 2013 at 1:29 pm

    Apple store

  4. Maureen says

    Oct 2, 2013 at 7:21 pm

    The buskers and other zany performers both dowstairs and in front of the Church. ALso of course the Royal Opera house and it’s gift shop!

  5. Corrina says

    Oct 8, 2013 at 2:00 pm

    Back in the 70s, I used to take dance lessons in Convent Garden where I would travel all the way from Mile End to Convent Garden.

    • Josie says

      Apr 25, 2014 at 11:04 am

      You mean Covent Garden? I danced there when it became a dance hall during WII

  6. Stephen Ball says

    Apr 22, 2014 at 5:17 pm

    As a kid about 50yrs ago my Mum used to walk me through the old Covent Garden market taking me to Clement Danes infant school, I remember so well.

  7. Sherry Howell Harman says

    Apr 22, 2014 at 5:22 pm

    The original LUSH store!!!

  8. wayneb says

    Apr 22, 2014 at 6:33 pm

    The streets around the piazza, especially across from the Tube Stn. and up Neal St., left at Earlham, then up to Seven Dials for the streets that shoot off from it. There are some great little shops (On Earlham: Magma – the book shop, just doors up from Magma gift shop; Bolongaro Trevor – cool clothing for guys and gals…really different…the Who’s Roger Daltry and Helen Mirren shop here…just up a few doors up and across from Bolongaro Trevor…). The whole area, Long Acre included, is a great day (or evening out), and certainly gets my vote over many other ‘shopping’ areas in the city.

  9. Chris W says

    Apr 23, 2014 at 2:07 am

    On Thursdays and Friday afternoons they have the food stalls. My mum and I would go and have such a hard time choosing our lunch, lovely place for an afternoon.

  10. Dick Bringloe says

    Oct 7, 2014 at 3:38 pm

    TFL Musem

  11. U singh says

    Feb 9, 2017 at 11:22 am

    Punch and Judy pub

Primary Sidebar

Subscribe to Our Free London Updates

Free London News

Get the latest news on London history, culture, travel, exhibitions, and more right in your inbox!

Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription.

Get the Anglotopia/Londontopia App

Our Advertisers

If you are a mobile gamer, you may want to take a look at UK’s new mobile casinos and slots reviewed by NewCasinoUK.

Join the London Forum

  • MY FAVOURITE PLACE IN LONDON
  • What's Your Favorite Place in London?
  • Paddington Station

London Guide

  • London’s Non-Free Museums: Your Guide to London’s Museums That Charge Admission
  • Trip Planning: Top 10 Exhibitions To Plan Your 2018 Trips to London Around
  • London Guide: Our Favorite Restaurants in London – London Restaurant Recommendations for Americans – What’s Your Favorite?

Connect With Us

  • Facebook
  • RSS Feed
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Support Londontopia

Search our Extensive Archive

Top 10 London

  • Ten Unusual Exhibits to See in London
  • London Pubs: Ten Thameside Pubs for a Pint and a View
  • Top 10 London: Ten More Things to Do Along the River Thames
  • Top 10 London: Top Ten Shopping Centers in London
  • Museums of London: Ten Overlooked London Museums
  • Top 10 London: Top Ten Things to See and Do in Haggerston
  • Top 10 London: Top Ten Things to See and Do in Haringey
  • Top 10 London: Top Ten Things to See and Do in Redbridge
  • Top 10 London: Top Ten Things to See and Do in Hillingdon
  • Top 10 London: Top Ten Things to Do in Canonbury

Recent Posts

  • Match Girls’ Strike of 1888 commemorated with blue plaque in east London
  • British Museum launches hieroglyphs exhibition to mark special anniversary
  • New giant waterlily and ‘botanical wonder of the world’ discovered in Kew
  • Wacky racers descend on Alexandra Palace for soapbox challenge
  • Eurostar boosts train services between London and Amsterdam
  • London City Airport bids to ease Saturday flight ban
  • London Alert: Announcing the Beautiful London Annual for 2023 – Special Holiday Weekend Pre-order Offer!
  • Freddie Mercury’s childhood stamp collection to go on display this summer at The Postal Museum
  • Heathrow Airport told to reduce passenger charges
  • City of London urged to reconsider plans to demolish historic Barbican buildings and Museum of London

Best Posts on Londontopia

  • 101 London Travel Tips
  • Top 100 London Attractions
  • How to Find the Cheapest Airfares to London
  • 10 Things NOT to do in London
  • Best London Guidebooks
  • 101 Free Things to do in London
  • London Lingo – A London Word Dictionary
  • Top 7 Tips for Doing London on the Cheap
  • Top 11 Myths American Believe about London
  • Guide to Eating in London
  • Best Times of Year to Travel to London
  • London Packing Tips
  • Top 11 Movies Set in London
  • Top Attractions off the Tourist Track
  • Top 5 Most Amazing London Hotels
  • Top 10 Hostels in London
  • Best Views in London Restuarants
  • London Taxi Ettiquette
  • Top 12 London Views
  • Great Fire of London
  • A Guide to Five of London’s Bridges
  • 10 Random Facts and Figures about Trafalgar Square
  • Top 100 British Slang Words

London Places to Explore

Bloomsbury Buckingham Palace Canary Wharf City of London Covent Garden Cutty Sark Greenwich Hampstead Hampton Court Palace Heathrow Houses of Parliament Hyde Park Imperial War Museum Islington Kensington Kensington Palace Leicester Square London London Eye London Transport Museum Museum of London National Gallery Notting Hill Piccadilly Circus Putney Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park Regent's Street Royal Academy Selfridges Somerset House Southbank Southwark St Pancras St Paul's Cathedral Tate Britain Tate Modern The City Tower Bridge Tower of London Trafalgar Square V&A Wandsworth West End Westminster Westminster Abbey

SIGN-UP FOR FREE LONDON WEEKLY UPDATES!

Please enter a valid email address
That address is already in use
The security code entered was incorrect
Thanks for signing up

Recent Videos

Walk Around London Virtually Right Now – Watched Walker is the YouTube Channel We All Need Right Now

Jason Hawkes Shares a Beautiful Video of London From Above That We All Need Right now

London Tube: You’ve Got to Watch This Amazing Mesmerizing Animation That Shows the Real Geography of the London Underground

Video: The Basics of Crossrail – London’s New Underground Line

London History: The Place Where Old London Double Decker Buses Went to Die

London Video: A Look at the Great Smog of London

London Alert: Announcing Our latest book – London Tube 101 – History, Culture, and Travel on London’s Transport Network

Tube Histories: A Brief History of Docklands Light Railway

London Alert: Passengers told to avoid Tube on Monday during 24-hour RMT strike

Tube Histories: A Brief History of the District Line

It’s a hit! More than one million journeys were made on new central section of the Elizabeth line

Laura’s London: Elizabeth Line Opening Day First Person Report

Footer

About Londontopia

Londontopia is simply the website for people who love London. It was founded by Jonathan & Jackie Thomas from Anglotopia.net as a place to post articles solely focused on London and its environs. Keep up with all the latest London news at Londontopia! This site is geared towards people who love to visit London and our primary audience is North American but everyone is welcome!

When We’re in London Next

We don’t currently have any travel plans to London but hope to visit at some point in 2021.

  • SEO Backlinks
  • Travel Blog

SIGN-UP FOR FREE LONDON WEEKLY UPDATES!

Please enter a valid email address
That address is already in use
The security code entered was incorrect
Thanks for signing up

Copyright © 2022 Anglotopia, LLC · Website Developed by Anglotopia, LLC · Log in

loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.