Covent Garden’s hidden gems: A self-guided walking tour

Supplied by: Vidi Guides

Overview

Start the guide outside Covent Garden tube station as Ed and Claudia introduce Covent Garden’s famous faces, multitude of markets and chat about how the area’s identity has changed over its lifetime! Walk up to Neal’s Yard and discover what exactly made this area so iconic as we wander past a selection of fashionable shops.

Head into Neal’s Yard, a cosy, colourful corner that's the perfect spot to hunker down for a coffee or a glass of wine! This used to be a hub for alternative medicine, as well as occultism and astrologers, and it was also the location of the Monty Python production offices – a hit series that satirised the bizarre British way of life.

Listening to Charles Dickens as you walk, head into Seven Dials. This unusual spot sits at the heart of seven streets weaving off into different corners of the city. This used to be one of the most derelict parts of the West End as the drunken nature of this place gave it the nicknames “Gin Lane” and “Beer Alley.”

Head down into the beautiful Rose Street and Floral Court for breathtaking views of delightful flower arrangements. Designed by restaurant and plant nursery, Petersham Nurseries, this square is green all year round. There are over 100 flower pots around Covent Garden Market. There’s also a famous floral swing – see if you can find it!

Pop by St. Paul’s Church and learn about the origins of slapstick theatre, before heading into the heart of the neighbourhood, Covent Garden Market. Learn how a Market Town has existed here for around 1000 years, as a small Ango-Saxon trading town known as “Ludenwic” once sat here. The trading focus shifted to “Londinium”– and this town became known as Ealdwic, meaning “Old trading town”. Once the market was up and running, its popularity only grew and in 1828, a bill was put to Parliament to build a proper market building.

Visit some of the best pubs in the area and learn about the story behind Nell Gwynn, a celebrity figure of the Restoration period. Also, hear about the visionary that opened Europe’s first record recording studio in 1898.

Head onto one of London’s most famous streets, the Strand. This has always been a prime location for lords and ladies of the day. As well as aristocrats, there were some notable literary neighbours. Charles Dickens, Ralph Waldo Emerson and Virginia Woolf, Rudyard Kipling lived on or by Strand. Stop by the Savoy Hotel, London’s only five-star hotel on the river, and hear about some of its strangest stories, from driving on the wrong side of the road to the unlucky number 13.

Finish the tour at the world-famous Royal Opera House, the second theatre in London allowed to perform spoken drama. Hear about the area’s Flower Girls and the origins on London’s West End Theatreland.

The Vidi Guides experience is enriched with on-screen photos and videos. We also point out where to take the perfect Instagram photos during the tour, and include recommendations for food, drinks, and local attractions. Don't worry, none of our recommendations are sponsored - they are simply favourites of the locals who helped craft the experience.

Vidi Guides creates immersive audio experiences that are like podcasts. This is a self-guided audio tour that can be started or stopped at your own convenience. Download the Vidi Guides app & your Covent Garden tour to explore the area independently and safely! Make sure to download your tour before your visit to streamline your trip!