Property Sales Covent Garden, London WC2

Covent Garden dates back to the 16th Century. In 1670 it became a fruit and flower market and the architect Inigo Jones was commissioned to design an Italian-style piazza. Much of this design remains today.

Covent Garden is one of London's liveliest areas both day and night. It lies next door to London's theatreland and the streets are lined with every type of shop, boutique, wine bar restaurant and coffee house. Market stalls and market stalls provide year round entertainment. The London Transport Museum is in the centre of Covent Garden and only a stone's throw away from the newly refurbished Royal Opera House.

History of Covent Garden

Covent Garden was originally part of the land owned by Westminster Abbey, specifically St Peter's Convent. Henry VIII passed on the "Convent Garden" to the Earl of Bedford during the dissolution of the monasteries. It wasn't developed until almost a century later though, when the fourth Earl recruited noted architect Inigo Jones to design and build a piazza.
Jones, famous for his love of classical Italian architecture came up with an elegant solution to the brief, and the church of St Paul's on the west side of the piazza provides a fine illustration of his style.

There had been a fruit and vegetable market in the square since 1649, but by the 18th century this had expanded to fill most of it up. With the construction of various theatres in the surrounding streets what had been a very prestigious address became somewhat less appealing. The market building that we know today appeared in 1830, and other buildings in the square went up later that century.

The fruit and veg market moved to Vauxhall in 1973, and the empty buildings stayed as they were for a few years before people began to realise that there was plenty of opportunity to draw tourists to the area.

The Royal Opera House has had a major effect on the area over the years. Built in 1732 it was a theatre for many years before music became the main draw. Riots about pricing and fires followed. More recently it was again the scene of controversy, when huge funds for modernisation were donated from the National Lottery.

Today Covent Garden is part tourist trap and part shopping arcade. Despite all this it's a part of London that many Londoners visit regularly and seem to like. And luckily these days you're unlikely to slip on a banana skin…

Travel Links to Covent Garden

Covent Garden (Piccadilly Line)

Charing Cross Railway Station

Motorway Junction M1 Junction 1

Airport London City