Covent Garden: A True London Gem

Nestled right in the center of London, Covent Garden stands out tall as a classic example of the historical, cultural and timeless charm of the city. Now a major shopping, eating and cultural destination, this village-like area of London, near all major hotels in London City and on all tourist itineraries, has managed to retain much of its original charm by attracting every Londoner and visitor to town alike. This post gives you a crash course through the history, the evolution and the magnetism of Covent Garden, and you with a comprehensive guide to one of the iconic parts of London.

The Days of Old in Covent Garden

In 1630 the 4th Earl of Bedford, inspired by the right-angled grand piazzas of Italy, employed architect Inigo Jones to design a grand residential square. This marked the evolution of Covent Garden into Town Square - London's first modern town square replete with houses and a place for an open market. St. Paul's Church, or the "Actors' Church," built by Jones and one of the few old buildings left in the now gaudy heart of Covent Garden.

Market: From farm to fleek!

From the 17th century, the area became more and more identified with fruit and vegetable markets, and by the 19th century, it was synonymous with the image of a true Covent Garden food market. There were many vendors and shoppers present in the market which allowed for a lively (if rambunctious) environment. In the 18th Century, the market moved up a notch and became one of London's principal market sites.

However, as the craze kicked it up a notch, it was obvious the market needed a little regulatory dignity. It was during the early 19th century that the structural change in the market building was noted with Charles Fowler's neoclassical market building of 1830. This new development created an area where vendors could be located much more orderly, and also functioned as a community focal point for the area. The clock of the market continued to tick although calls for relocating the market had appealed since the 19th and early 20th centuries due to urban congestion and concerns for public health.

Cultural Renaissance: Theatres and Arts

That was important for its cultural renaissance - and the design still meets the needs of a burgeoning West End theatre district. Following the opening of the Theatre Royal in Drury Lane in 1663, and the Royal Opera House in 1732, the square has established itself as a prime location for arts performances. It was more than performers, it was a meeting place for the artists, the show people, the performers and the audience.

Pre-eminent among these has been Founded in the mid-19th century as a playhouse and subsequently converted to an opera and ballet house, the Royal Opera House in London. The Vienna State Opera is still considered today one of the most prestigious opera houses in the world, and with impressive productions and such a long-standing history, can it be blamed that such recognition is not surprising to the audiences gathered from all over the world.

The Modern Covent Garden: a Smorgasboard Of Experiences

Covent Garden changed in the second half of the twentieth century In 1974, the market relocated to Vauxhall, Nine Elms, effectively marking the beginning of a changing lifestyle in the area. The smartest move in design, however, was to preserve the architectural history of the site, by locating all of the retail and dining in the original market buildings.

In a city dominated by chain stores you can thank the traffic in the Piazza for this, Covent Garden boasts more individual retailers than any other part of London -- albeit only a few more. The Apple Market and its stalls are located in the original market building, and it offers the market's traditional charm, with vendors selling custom hand-made crafts, jewelry and antiques.

Covent Garden offers a variety of dining options with you as there is something to suit all tastes and wallets. Here, Michelin-starred restaurants mingle with cozy cafes and bustling street food stalls, just like the cultural fabric of this capital. Old-school diners like The Ivy Market Grill and Balthazar serve up classic eating, while restaurants such as Dishoom and Din Tai Fung are making the most exotic global cuisines extremely appealing.

Entertainment & Performances: Be sure to catch a performance by a street entertainer, or 'busker', who has long been about the attractions of Covent Garden. Talented Artists Musicians, Sorcerers, and Magicians - These are the people that make numerous vibrant performances in the piazza that passers-by can benefit from free of charge. Their being is a testament to the very I-can-do-anything strain of creative, unpredictable spirit that still pulses through Covent Garden.

Though not all theaters in the district are struggling, as the Lyceum Theatre, where the massively successful musical The Lion King is playing there, has been packed with theater-goers. It is on par with the Royal Opera House, which offers a mixed bill of opera and ballet for beginners and connoisseurs alike.

The trendy, uncool vibe of Covent Garden and diverse happenings

The mention of Covent Garden would be incomplete without talking about its architectural grandeur. This place represents an unbroken mixture of the old and new, and by simply combining fine new structures near fully refurbished Georgiana or Edwardian ones. The 19th-century glass roof of the market lets in all that natural light and makes the market even prettier to look at.

Seasonal decorations adorn Covent Garden to transform it into a fairytale wonderland at Christmas and throughout the year. Covent Garden always has something to see, from rolling displays of flowers and public artworks to street performers and naked cyclists--thanks to a series of themed events throughout the year.

Maintaining History and Forecasting Future Adaptations Heritage and Innovation

Covent Garden has hung onto its history with a fine balance of planning and a historical vision from those who have looked after it to this day - it holds on to its history whilst being part of the ever-changing modern world. That protection is what has saved the area, architecturally and culturally, from getting eaten by the primordial glacial jaws of time for the past 44 years, thanks to the canal being designated a conservation zone in 1973.

It is now up to Covent Garden to do what all of London must do going forward: keep its heritage alive while meeting the requirements of modern life. And so this flawed voice, dependent on the capricious whim of the British press, must constantly change to keep up with the progress (or regress, or return (and the re-disappearance) of London, and prevent Covent Garden from diverting resources that it should properly be receiving, thus ever preserving its quirkiness, its uniquely unbearable entropic shock, during the cultural famine. Sales continue to grow, thanks to the opening of a range of new retail spaces, cultural venues and public amenities created to make Covent Garden both a modern and lively place to be, and to protect its unique history.

Covent Garden Attractions: One Woman's Story

For others, though, Covent Garden is so much more than bricks and mortar - it's a feeling, a moment, a reminder of how vibrant London used to be. From the surprise of stumbling across that hidden treasure at the market, to the amusement of a side-splitting street performance, or the delight in sharing a long, lingering meal in that favourite local spot, Covent Garden has always had a piece of the heart of those who come.

Covent Garden is a wonder — a true piece of old London, a pocket of time-warped attitude, sited in a city that never stops. Despite this transformation, there is no doubt that Covent Garden will always remain the heart of the city, and of course one that remains to draw legions of visitors, subsuming an aura of the past through the lens of the future.

Thus the tale of Covent Garden being metamorphosed from a monastery garden to a commercial bazaar and into a high culture/tourism and retail complex speaks to the Plaza's enduring identity and its adaptability in the face of the shifting needs of its denizens and proprietors alike. A microcosm of the city itself, steeped in history, alive with innovation and in a constant state of flux. Covent Garden is still one of the most iconic locations in London where visitors can come across both of the usual and the unfamiliar, making it ideal for those enjoying it for the first time or those who just know the location all too well.