Covent Garden was the site of a flower, fruit and vegetable market for more than 300 years until 1974, when the wholesale market relocated to New Covent Garden Market in Nine Elms. The name was originally Convent Garden from a 13th century monastery garden, which was seized from the church by Henry VIII . The King granted part of the land to Earl of Bedford.
The modern-day Covent Garden has its roots in the early seventeenth century when the land was redeveloped and laid out as a residential quarter by Inigo Jones for the 4th Earl of Bedford ( 1593-1641 ). The area rapidly became a base for market traders, and following the Great Fire of London of 1666, the market became the most important in the country. Exotic items from around the world were carried on boats up the River Thames and sold on from Covent Garden.
Since the early 1980s, the area has been transformed and the old market buildings turned into a mall of shops , stalls and restaurants. Many of the streets have been pedestrianised with cordoned off pathways and the area is famous for the high standard of street theatre.
London's Transport Museum (the old flower market) and the rear entrance to the Royal Opera House are also located on the Piazza. The portico (the back of the church) of St. Paul's - the actors'church, is seen from the western end of the square. The vaults and grounds of this church are said to contain the remains of many famous people and here lie some of the notable figures of the Restoration period. They lie here without memorial, but others are remembered on the walls of the church.
The marketplace and Royal Opera House were memorably brought together in the opening of George Bernard Shaw's play, Pygmalion, where Professor Higgins is waiting for a cab to take him home from the opera when he comes across Eliza Doolittle selling flowers in the market.
The first mention of a Punch and Judy show in Britain was recorded by diarist Samuel Pepys, who saw such a show in the square in May 1662.
Today Covent Garden is the only part of London licensed for street entertainment.
Nearest London Underground stations: Covent Garden (Piccadilly Line) Charing Cross (Northern Line, Bakerloo Line, National Rail) Leicester Square (Piccadilly Line, Northern Line) Holborn (Piccadilly Line, Central Line) Embankment (Circle Line, District Line, Northern Line.
Other pages you may wish to visit:
London Areas
West End Theatre
Dr. Johnson's House
