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Covent
Garden Web Site |
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Covent
Garden is a general area of London with a focal point of an old
fruit and vegetable market.
The market has since moved on but the market buildings have been
transformed into what can best be described as a visitors mall with
some style, Piazza is the preferred term.
Around the market buildings the square has been pedestrianised and
there is usually street theatre going on. The ambience seems to
attract the crowds both during the day and night.
For some it is dangerously close to a tourist trap, but there is
some style to it and little sign of tourist tat.
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In
one corner of the square in an old flower market and the London
Transport Museum. This has everything you would expect from a museum
with focus on such a narrow subject. The museum is large enough to
house a large collection of trams, buses and trains in addition to
the smaller exhibits.
In the opposite corner of the square lies the Royal Opera House. This
has been recently renovated, largely with funds from the UK national
lottery. Apart from regular performances of opera and ballet, backstage
tours are available.
Just down the road in Russell Street is the Theatre Museum. This is
the national museum of the performing arts and is free to enter.
In the evening this as good a place as any to come. There are plenty
of restaurant choices and you can stroll over to Leicester Square
/ Piccadilly area, the heart of London's theatre district.
Apart from acting as a meeting place and a pleasant enough place to
while away an hour or two away from the traffic, there are a few secondary
attractions in the area. In the evening a number of theatres are close
by and there is of course a wide range of restaurants for every taste
and pocket.
Because t here are a lot of restaurants, bars and coffee shops and
especially in the evening one of the best places to people watch in
London. |
Getting
to Covent Garden:
The easiest
option is Covent Garden Underground Station. Unusually there are no
escalators at this station, instead lifts are used. Often there are
long queues for the lifts and its an exhausting climb of the stairs.
You may find it much more comfortable to use neighbouring Leicester
Square Station. Its quicker to walk between Leicester Squarae and
Covent Garden than take the Underground. |
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Its
quicker to walk between Leicester Square and Covent Garden than take
the Underground.
Leicester Square is the centre for film premieres and cut price theatre
tickets.
The very popular hop
on, hop off London tour buses stop nearby Covent Garden at Aldwych,
a 100m walk. |
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Tours - 80 Minutes |
In
an amphibious vehicle you will drive past famous London landmarks
such as Big Ben, The House of Parliament and Trafalgar Square before
a dramatic launch into the Thames from out slipway at Vauxhall for
the water borne part of the 80 minute tour.
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 | London
Taxi Tour - 2 hours |
Your
own London cabbie to take you around the main sights of London. You
can pick the sights you want to see and/or extend the tour to your
personal needs.
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