Cobbles under your feet. The sound of street performers in the distance. A bustling market selling classic British treasures. Fine dining and lovely London pubs. West End shows. It just has to be Covent Garden.

This iconic part of London’s West End is a place where history, culture, shopping, and entertainment collide. Discover the best of it with our ultimate guide to Covent Garden.

From Fruit Market to Fashion Hub: A Brief History

The Covent Garden area originally belonged to the Benedictines of Westminster. The monks maintained a kitchen garden there, where they grew their food. In fact, they referred to it as their ‘convent garden’, with the name eventually evolving to be Covent Garden.

The land was seized by King Henry VIII when he dissolved the English monasteries in 1536. It then went through various royal hands, where it did very little. In the 1630s, Francis Russell, the fourth Earl of Bedford, decided to build a house for himself in Covent Garden on the north side of The Strand.

He decided to make money out of it and develop the area. So, he commissioned Inigo Jones, King Charles I's Royal Architect, to build a square there, with houses fit for the aristocracy. This led to The Piazza, with its Italian style

Temporary market stalls were held in Covent Garden in the 1650s before King Charles II granted a licence to hold a market there in 1670. The market sold fruit, vegs, flowers and herbs. It became famous for pineapples, with the fruit being adopted as the symbol of Covent Garden.

The market was rebuilt in 1748 to add an upper story of shops. It had another facelift in 1830, adding the iconic Greco-Roman design. In 1974, the official market moved to Battersea, with further redevelopment in the area. Covent Garden was transformed into a hub of fashion, food and entertainment. This is the Covent Garden we know today.

What to do in Covent Garden: The Top 5 Experiences

Today tourists flock to Covent Garden, and it’s one of the most popular places to visit in London. Here are five of the essential experiences to enjoy in this famous part of the city:

Catch a show at the Royal Opera House

The Royal Opera House in Covent Garden is one of the world’s leading opera houses and also home to the Royal Ballet. Shows to look out for in 2026 include Samson et Dalila, La Boheme, and Peter Grimes. You can buy tickets on the official website, but get them as early as possible to avoid disappointment.

And to truly experience the magic of the venue, you can book a backstage tour. Lasting one hour and 15 minutes, it takes you behind the scenes and lets you get up close and personal with everything that happens behind the velvet curtain. It’s highly recommended.

Explore the Apple Market

Once home to the famous fruit and veg market, the Apple Market is at the heart of Covent Garden’s historic Market Building. Step inside and you’ll find a treasure trove of independent sellers specialising in crafts, jewellery and vintage collectables.

From Tuesday to Sunday, the market is packed with traders selling handmade jewellery, prints, watercolours and beautiful crafts. Every Monday, it’s all about one-off antiques and collectables.

Watch the street performers

This is a tradition dating back centuries, and it still happens today. You’ll see crowds gathering round performers, so take some time to enjoy the show.

The performers are all licensed and of an extremely high standard. You’ll enjoy everything from singers, jugglers, magicians, ventriloquists, and more. Just make sure you have some cash to drop in the hat afterwards and give generously if you appreciate the show. You might even end up being part of proceedings, as crowd participation is actively encouraged.

Discover the London Transport Museum

Perfect for families, the London Transport Museum takes you on a tour of 200 years of groundbreaking design and innovation, telling the remarkable stories behind the city’s transport history.

You’ll discover many different modes of transport, including tube trains, red London buses, overground trains and more. There are hundreds of classic London transport signs, posters, artwork and tales from the people that made the transport system tick over the years.

It costs £27 for an annual pass for an adult. You simply pay once and can go as many times as you want during the year. Kids go free.

Visit Neal’s Yard

This colourful, hidden courtyard is one of London’s most Instagrammable spots. Step into the courtyard and you’ll be surrounded by colourful buildings that instantly catch your eye – get your smartphone at the ready for those essential snaps.

Getting from Heathrow to Covent Garden

It’s simple to get from Heathrow to Covent Garden.

First, jump on the Heathrow Express at Heathrow. It runs direct into London Paddington station in 15 minutes from Terminal 2 & 3, and 21 minutes from Terminal 5. Trains also run every 15 minutes. It’s the fastest way to travel from the airport into Central London.

Change to the Elizabeth Line at Paddington and travel eastbound to Tottenham Court Road station. This should take you approximately 10 minutes.

Once you leave Tottenham Court Road station, it’s a short 5-minute walk to Covent Garden.

Alternatively, you can take the Bakerloo Line southbound from Paddington and change to the Piccadilly Line at Piccadilly Circus. It’s then just two stops to Covent Garden. Covent Garden station is right at the heart of Covent Garden and a short walk to the Market Building.

The Best Restaurants and Pubs in Covent Garden

Covent Garden is full of great places to drink, dine and enjoy yourself. Some of our favourites include:

British Cuisine: Head to London’s oldest restaurant, Fine Dining Rules, for classic British hospitality. You’ll enjoy a unique historic dining experience with classics including steak and kidney pie, roast rib of beef and roasted pork belly.

Pre-Theatre Dinner: If you’re grabbing a quick bite in Covent Garden before the theatre and fancy a little upscale and fashionable dining, make a beeline for either The Ivy or J Sheekey.

Casual and Trendy: For popular Indian street food and a real taste of Bombay, check out Dishoom. We love the prawn pathia, a Covent Garden special. If Italian is more your thing, grab a table at Ave Mario for pizza and pasta with a side of fun. The interior is worth the visit alone.

Historic Pubs: Hunker down in the Lamb & Flag, one of London’s oldest pubs. Or grab a pint at the Punch & Judy. Step out onto the terrace and you can survey the whole of Covent Garden below, and even watch the street performers from on high.

Where to Stay Near Covent Garden

If you’re planning on staying in or near Covent Garden, there are some great London hotels to choose from.

Boutique Luxury:

One Aldwych is a stunning hotel just minutes from the action in Covent Garden. Each room embraces a contemporary stylish character, and offers a sense of modern British style. It’s also the first luxury hotel in London to achieve B Corp status for sustainability.

Mid-Range:

The Strand Palace Hotel is ideal for a mid-range budget, and brings both modern comforts and classic British charm. You can enjoy afternoon tea at The Palace Tea Parlor and tuck into some modern British food at Haxells Restaurant & Bar.

Affordable:

TheZ Hotel Covent Garden offers 113 compact and stylishly decorated rooms. The location is incredible for an affordable hotel, nestled in a peaceful courtyard behind St. Paul’s Cathedral.

Start your Covent Garden adventure with Heathrow Express. Once you arrive at the airport, you’ll be in Central London in minutes and ready to explore the very best of the capital. Book your Heathrow Express tickets today.

Book a ticket on the quickest way to get to Heathrow

Are you looking for the best way to transfer to and from Heathrow Airport and Central London? The Heathrow Express and the London Underground’s Elizabeth line both serve the airport, but the Heathrow Express is by far the most efficient and fastest way to Heathrow.

This handy guide compares Heathrow Express vs the tube, providing useful information about cost, comfort, convenience, and overall experience to help you get your trip off to a smooth start.