Experiences
Things to Do in Covent Garden
Street performers, opera and a covered piazza: the theatrical heart of the West End.
In short: our top picks are Covent Garden Piazza, London Transport Museum and Royal Opera House. 6 places in total, chosen on merit, with the full reasoning below.
Covent Garden has been putting on a show since the 1660s, and the licensed street performers on the piazza still draw a crowd. Around them sit the Royal Opera House, the London Transport Museum and more than twenty theatres within a few minutes’ walk. It is compact, walkable and made for an afternoon that rolls into an evening. The area’s restaurants, afternoon teas and bars are built for the pre-theatre and post-show rush.
| Place | Area |
|---|---|
| Covent Garden Piazza | Covent Garden |
| London Transport Museum | Covent Garden |
| Royal Opera House | Covent Garden |
| Apple Market | Covent Garden |
| Neal's Yard and Seven Dials | Covent Garden |
| A West End show | Covent Garden |
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Editor’s choice
Covent Garden Piazza
Why we pick itThe covered market square where licensed street performers have entertained crowds since the 1660s, still the beating heart of the area.
market square
-
London Transport Museum
Why we pick itTwo hundred years of the capital's transport in vivid detail, from horse-drawn omnibuses to the first Tube trains, right on the Piazza.
museum
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Royal Opera House
Why we pick itHome of the Royal Ballet and Royal Opera, with tours, daytime foyers and world-class performances on Bow Street.
opera house
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Apple Market
Why we pick itHandmade crafts, jewellery and art under the market's iron-and-glass roof, with antiques taking over on Mondays.
crafts and antiques market
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Neal's Yard and Seven Dials
Why we pick itA hidden courtyard of rainbow-painted buildings off the seven-street junction, the prettiest corner of the area for independent shops.
hidden courtyard
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A West End show
Why we pick itMore than twenty theatres sit within a few minutes' walk, from the Lyceum's Lion King to the Theatre Royal Drury Lane.
theatre
Before you book
Covent Garden station gets crowded, so Leicester Square or Charing Cross are often easier exits. Weekday mornings are best for browsing the Apple Market without the crowds; weekends bring the most street performers. Book any West End show and dinner around the same curtain time.
Common questions
What are the top picks in this guide?
Covent Garden Piazza is our editor's choice: The covered market square where licensed street performers have entertained crowds since the 1660s, still the beating heart of the area. Covent Garden Piazza, London Transport Museum and Royal Opera House lead the guide, with 6 places in total, all chosen on merit.
How does Lamplit London choose its recommendations?
Every place is chosen on merit, after first-hand visits where possible, with no pay-for-placement. Read our full method at https://www.lamplitlondon.com/how-we-choose/.
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