London Covent Garden and Theatreland

Your guide will build the story of the development of Covent Garden from a 'convent garden' to a market area and upmarket housing development in 17th century to London's principal theatre district. Walk through quiet back streets, passing the Royal Ballet School and pause to look at the beautiful building of the Royal Opera House with it's glass 'Floral Hall'.

Passing several theatres with well-known productions, your guide will entertain you with stories of plays and shows past and present.
Pause to look at the famous Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, one of London's original two 'patent' theatres and with its 2 royal boxes.

You visit the main square of Covent Garden, known as the Piazza, designed as an upmarket residential square in 17c. Imagine the wealthy people in London's 17c parading through the arcaded area in their finery. You walk through the Covent Garden market and look at some of the quirky independent shops, restaurants and cafes.

See the back porch of St Paul's Church with its great Classical-style columns. This has always been a favourite spot for street entertainers and was where the first Punch and Judy Shows were performed in Britain. You might even spot 'Eliza Doolittle' selling her flowers! You are then taken inside this fascinating church where you will see commemorative plaques and monuments to many famous actors.

Exploring more tiny back streets and alleyways, you will pass a famous London restaurant where actors and royalty have dined and hear more theatre stories before pausing to look at the Savoy Theatre, where many of the Gilbert and Sullivan comic operas were premiered.

We continue our walk past more famous theatres, where famous actors and playwrights such as Noel Coward have performed and stop to look at St Martin's Theatre, home of Agatha Christie's 'The Mousetrap', the longest running play in the world!

You now meander through the back streets of Covent Garden, where you can enjoy seeing all the small independent boutiques, cafes and restaurants. We pause in the quaint Neal's Yard, with its converted warehouses, housing health-food restaurants and independent retailers.

Your tour finishes near to the Seven Dials Market, where you will find many food outlets and independent shops. You can now enjoy wandering around and browsing in some of those small boutiques you passed earlier or grab a snack in one of the atmospheric local cafes. A short walk will take you back to Covent Garden Underground Station