Covent Garden
History
Covent Garden's history is reputed to date back to medieval days when the Benedictine Convent of St Peter at Westminster Abbey owned a garden - the "Convent Garden" - at a site just north of The Strand adjoining the Long Acre.
Surplus produce was sold there by monks and a horticultural market, which came to be called Covent Garden, gradually grew up in that area. These lands were acquired by King Henry VIII during the Dissolution, and around 1556 his son, Edward VI, granted them to the first Earl of Bedford.
During the following century successive Earls of Bedford undertook major development of the Covent Garden area, including the creation of a piazza and market square, designed in part by the architect Inigo Jones.
The area became a fashionable part of London, with theatres and coffee houses. During this time the market's trade continued uninterrupted. In 1670, therefore, King Charles II granted a Royal Charter for a market in fruit, vegetables and other produce to the fifth Earl of Bedford, who proceeded to grant formal leases to traders.
In the mid 18th century the Covent Garden area become notorious for its immorality and rowdy atmosphere and by 1813 an Act of Parliament was needed to regulate the market.
In 1829-30 the central Market building, designed by James Fowler, was erected, yet the business of the Market continued to increase, necessitating further building and expansion into some 30 acres of the surrounding area.
After the Second World War, the government accepted that public sector involvement would be necessary to achieve modernisation of the Market. In 1961 Covent Garden Market Authority was established and acquired the central Market area and some surrounding properties extending to 6.5 acres.
The continued expansion of the Market caused severe traffic congestion and this, coupled with the out-of-date buildings and inefficient handling methods, made a move essential. Nine Elms at Vauxhall was eventually approved by Parliament as the new home for the Market and construction began in 1971.
On 11th November 1974 trading began on the new site. Covent Garden began to transform itself into a retail market from 1980 and is now one of the main areas of attraction for shoppers in London as an array of market stalls, famous shops and bars and restaurants await visitors.
Shopping
Market Stalls
The rows of colourful market stalls in the North Hall of the colonnaded Covent Garden Market are collectively known as the Apple Market, and are home to an enormous variety of crafts, jewellery, clothing, accessories and antiques.
Over 200 stallholders are registered with the Market, although most only exhibit once or twice a week, which ensures a wide mixture of arts and crafts each day. The Apple Market is open seven days a week.
From Tuesday to Sunday you can find the general art and craft stalls, and on Mondays, the stalls are devoted to antiques and collectables including specialists in teddy bears, costume jewellery and antiquarian prints.
Many of the goods on display are handmade and often unique, and so most stallholders can accept individual commissions. Homemade soaps, handpainted textiles, watercolours, decorative hairslides, candles and glassware are all on offer, as well as a wide range of interesting fashion and accessories.
The market is open from 10.30-19.30hrs.
Market Shops
Benjamin Pollock's Toyshop is one of the original shops which has been in Covent Garden since the market opened. Situated on the first floor just along from the Punch and Judy pub, is a treasure trove of toys and gifts.
With a specialist range of goods from across the globe, many of which are exclusive to the shop, there is plenty to admire here. As well as toy theatres there are an interesting range of traditional toys for pocket money spenders plus more expensive frivolities for those wishing to dig little deeper into their pockets.
Another quirky neighbour can be found above The Crusting Pipe Wine Bar. The Segar and Snuff Parlour is a specialist tobacconist offering expert advice to smokers.
A wide selection of Cuban cigars are stocked, along with pipes and Mullins and Westley blended tobaccos and snuffs. If you like, you can create your own blend of pipe tobacco, blended and mixed to your own tastes.
If all that thinking makes you hungry, you can visit a new addition to Covent Garden Market, The West Cornwall Pasty Co. which serves a wide range of pasties. They are handmade in Cornwall using traditional ingredients and baked on the premises throughout the day and are available to eat-in or take-away.
For fashion, stores such as Monsoon, Whistles and Kookai or specialist jewelers, Argentus are available to satisfy female shoppers.
Street Shopping
Shopping in Covent Garden is not exclusive to the market. In fact, it extends as far as Holborn and Shaftesbury Avenue in the north and the Strand in the south offering an enormous variety of fashion, accessories, books, gifts and unusual home decorations. You may also just enjoy walking around this relatively car-free area.
Neal Street, for instance, has the widest range of shoe shops that you can imagine. From trainers in Foot Locker to the loads of leather in Buffalo Boots, you can find everything your feet desire along this stretch. If you are looking for beachwear, O'Neill and Speedo also have shops here.
If you are looking for fashion then there are plenty of designer names to choose from in the surrounding area. On Endell Street, Spanish label Adolfo Dominguez sells a range of tailored clothing and accessories designed to create a smart but casual look.
If British fashion is more your thing then Paul Smith on Floral Street offers clothing and footwear for men and women from the London-based designer. Displaying the diversity of stores in this area, The Tintin Shop a few doors further down has all kinds of memorabilia for fans of the Belgian comic.
Long Acre is like a mini Oxford Street with a good range of chain stores such as Woodhouse, The Levis Store, Muji, Shelly's, David Clulow, Marks and Spencer, French Connection and Mango all within a walkable distance of each other.
Culinary delights are also available in the area. Neal's Yard Dairy on Short's Gardens has specialised in providing quality cheeses from small and often family run producers in the Britain since 1979.
Be warned that they consciously refrain from selling a large range of cheeses but prefer to offer a smaller range to which they can apply greater care.
Once inside the store, though, you can have a taste test of anything you want, including the different oils, chutneys, and yoghurts as well as the cheeses that are available. If you keep walking towards the Seven Dials junction you will see Boxfresh on the corner.
Their shop, selling streetwear for both sexes, has recently undergone a refurbishment and has doubled in size so there should be plenty of choice. Even if you are not looking for clothes, they also have regular exhibitions from up and coming British photographers and artists to entice you.
Monmouth Street runs to the north and south of Seven Dials and has some spicy treats for female shoppers. Koh Samui, a fashionable boutique, offers elegant clothes for all kinds of occasions.
Poste Mistress is the best location to find a decadent pair of shoes to go with any outfit. Coco De Mer has all kinds of lingerie and toys should you still not be satisfied. |
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