Places to see in London -Covent Garden London

Covent Garden is one of London's biggest tourist magnets. The area around the glass-covered building, which was a former fruit and vegetable market, is always crowded, especially during weekends and in summertime. Covent Garden is known for its many open-air cafés, pubs, market stalls and shops. Famous are the many street performers who entertain the visitors on the pedestrianised piazza.

A former floral market now houses the London Transport Museum. The Covent Garden district is also home to several theaters and the Royal Opera House.

History

The now high-class neighbourhood soon started to decline. During the civil war, which started in 1642, many houses around the square were empty. Some of them were now used as shops.

Central Market

When the Great Fire of London destroyed the markets in the city, many businesses moved to the Covent Garden. The market kept expanding until it occupied the whole square.
In 1830, a central market building was constructed in the centre of the square. The glass roofs over the aisles were added later, the first in 1875 and the other in 1889. The Flower Market building was added in 1870 and in 1904, the Jubilee Market was completed.

Shopping & Leisure Centre Already in 1921, the government decided that the location in a crowded central section of London was unsuited for the market. It would take until 1973 before the market finally moved out to Nine Elms.

Real estate developers planned to tear down most of the now emptied houses and markets at Covent Garden. A new district with hotels and office blocks would replace the old buildings; but campaigns by local residents and opposition by the general public prevented the demolition of the market. The plans were changed and the buildings were restored. The transformation into the current shopping and leisure centre was remarkably successful: Covent Garden now attracts some 30 million visitors each year.  

Are you considering visiting London and the U.K.? Then contact the London official visitor agency-Visit London and Partners at: 08701 566 366  visitorinfo@londonandpartners.com     

You can also contact the City of London Information Centre: Opposite St Paul's Cathedral:

City of London, Guildhall, PO Box 270, London, EC2P 2EJ     pro@cityoflondon.gov.uk

Telephone: 020 7606 3030

They can offer you credible, pursuable and realistic information and advice on the following fronts: Cheap flights to London, hotels in London, cheap hotels in London, boutique hotels in London, bed and breakfast in London, guest houses in London, holiday apartments in London, timeshare accommodation in London, youth hostels in London, transportation in London, bus tours in London, river tours in London, coach tours of the U.K., entertainment in London, tourist attractions in London etc.

At the North-East corner of Hyde Park is the Marble Arch. It was originally built in 1827, as a gateway to Buckingham Palace, but it was moved to its present location in 1851. The design by John Nash was based on the Arch of Constantine in Rome.

Wellington Arch

The Wellington Arch, can also be found on Hyde Park Corner, at the South-East corner of the park, connecting Hyde Park with Green Park. The arch was built in 1826 by Decimus Burton.

A statue of the Duke of Wellington was added later, in 1846. The statue was replaced by the Quadriga of War in 1912. Inside the arch are exhibitions and galleries open to visitors.

Are you considering visiting London and the U.K.? Then contact the London official visitor agency-Visit London and Partners at: 08701 566 366  visitorinfo@londonandpartners.com     

You can also contact the City of London Information Centre: Opposite St Paul's Cathedral:

City of London, Guildhall, PO Box 270, London, EC2P 2EJ     pro@cityoflondon.gov.uk

Telephone: 020 7606 3030

They can offer you credible, pursuable and realistic information and advice on the following fronts: Cheap flights to London, hotels in London, cheap hotels in London, boutique hotels in London, bed and breakfast in London, guest houses in London, holiday apartments in London, timeshare accommodation in London, youth hostels in London, transportation in London, bus tours in London, river tours in London, coach tours of the U.K., entertainment in London, tourist attractions in London etc.