Covent Garden

Covent Garden is probably the most popular area of London to visit simply because it's so much fun and there's so much to do.

The famous old market which moved to the banks of the Thames used to sell fresh fruit, veg, nuts, flowers and many wonderful things.

Today there is the Apple Market and outdoor stalls and a pedestrianized Piazza full of shops, restaurants, bars and cafés.

At Christmas the entire area becomes an Aladdins cave full of mouth-watering Yule-tide goodies, entertainment and seasonal fun.

This is a great area to stay and if you get tired, you can always take one of the popular rick-shaw rides around for just a few pounds.

Not far away are the shops of Oxford Street and nearby is Long Acre which stretches from Holborn to Covent Garden and is overflowing with boutiques, restaurants and shops.

This is also London's famous theatre-land and nearby are the lovely theatres full of top west end shows. The famous Drury Lane is here and on the Piazza is the newly renovated Royal Opera House which dates back to 1732.

The glass covered market is for many the centerpiece of this very exciting and colorful area. Boutiques, bookshops, tea and chocolate shops and brightly colored indoor stalls are choca-bloc with unusual things to buy.

The streets are full of cafés, restaurants and street-entertainers who cast a magical spell over all who come to visit this very special area of London.

In the old cobbled streets up-market boutiques and high street stores blend well with some of the oldest and most fascinating shops in London.

The very popular and trendy Neal's Yard is tucked away in a small corner of the area known as Seven Dials.

An easy way to get there is to go to Neal Street, take a left at Shorts Gardens and you'll see a very tiny alley on your right which leads to Neal's Yard. Turn into the alley and you'll be hit by the brightly colored shops, cafès and restaurants.

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