Covent Garden is a special place to me. I used to visit the cobbled streets and shops with my friends when I was a teen and I have spent many fashion weeks in the area when I first started blogging. It’s somewhere very close to my husband’s heart also so we decided we would spend a day in Covent Garden so I could create a guide of what there is to do in the area.
Where to stay
If this will be your first time visiting Covent Garden, staying somewhere close by is a must. There are plenty of cool hotels to visit including the elegant Covent Garden Hotel.
Based on Monmouth Street, Gary and I had never been to the hotel before so we decided to drop in and sample the food at the hotel’s restaurant, Brasserie Max.
The menu had a great selection of vegetarian and vegan options as well as classics such as the lamb shank and steak. The portion sizes were good too leaving room for something sweet at the end. We also had a mini-tour from Alex who informed us that the hotel was once a French hospital during WWII and was a hospital until 1994.
It is a beautiful hotel, with classic yet orignial features and is worth a look even if you don’t end up staying there.
Where to visit
You defintely won’t get bored when you go to Covent Garden. It’s right smack bang in the middle of the Theatre district and there are some great shows on. The Lion King is at the Lyceum Theatre. If you haven’t been to see the show it is worth a visit and a show I thoroughly enjoyed. The Royal Opera house is also in the area and even if you don’t have tickets for any performance, you can still go there and enjoy a quick coffee or a sit-down meal.
If shows aren’t your thing, you can also visit the London Transport Museum. Situated in one corner of the Covent Garden Piazza, the Museum has a great selection of transport items from buses to old tube trains and 450,000 other items for you to explore.
Where to shop
Many people head to Oxford Circus to do their Christmas shopping but personally, I think Covent Garden is a much better choice. With independent little shops and big brands stores, you are bound to find something you want and best yet, you will avoid most of the shopping crowds too.
Covent Garden Piazza is the best place to go if you want something a little different. The Apple Market operates from Monday – Sunday but hosts different sellers on different days. Monday hosts antique sellers and Tuesday to Friday are more general stalls selling clothes and household goods. On Saturday and Sunday, the market hosts arts and crafts sellers which is great for any creatives who want to buy something unique.
Neal Street and Seven Dials have more of the usual shops you would expect like Dr Martens and Mango but there are some great vintage and indepentants that are good to visit also.
Where to pose
With social media being at the forefront of how we communicate today, I get how important it is to capture some inspirational images when you visit Covent Garden. Lucky for you, I have done a little run down of where you should go to do some snapping but please watch out for cars when taking pictures as Covent Garden can be a busy place.
Covent Garden Piazza – The main square is very attractive but there is always a promotion going one with one of the stores which is good to look out for. There are currently lots of swinging chairs covered in Ivy and flowers dotted about and even an old piano which will make an interesting picture.
Pubs – There are plenty of pubs to take pictures of including Mr Fogg’s Tavern which is stunning inside and out and cute little pubs like The Cross Keys.
Neal’s Yard – Now this place is a treasure trove. It boosts the most colourful buildings that look like they have come straight out of Camden and it really is the cutest place. If you want to go and take pictures, go early in the morning as by 11am it will be packed. The yard area also includes come lovely restaurants and food shops so it’s a great place to visit when you go to Covent Garden.
The spending money for this collaboration was gifted by Hotels.com, but all views are my own.
