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Covent Garden

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This is the fourth in our series of London Walks. Each walk lasts about three hours and will give you an efficient route to the maximum number of tourist attractions.

The walk will take you from Covent Garden, through through Chinatown, Theatreland and Soho, to Piccadilly Circus. There is no specific recommended route as with our other walks. Feel free to follow your nose. There are many stops of interest along the way so regard our advice only as suggestions. Do whatever catches your eye.

Arches, Covent Garden

We start in Covent Garden, home of the Opera House, and where the most highbrow street performers you have ever seen will entertain you. From opera singers to string quartets you will find them year round, just follow your ears!

Covent Garden has a history going back to the Romans. It was a fruit and vegetable market, the largest in England. Modern Covent Garden was developed in the 1630s by the Earl of Bedford, Charles I, and Inigo Jones the most important architect of the day. Consequently it is architecturally very pleasing on the eye.

Covent Garden is home to an upmarket flea market and shops of all curiosities. Take time to explore it then head back to the tube station. This is on Long Acre. Follow this road to Leicester Square.

There's always something happening in Leicester Square (pronounced lester not lycester!) like these showgirls seen above. The Square is famous for film previews with wall to wall celebrities.

Take one of the side streets off the north side of the square (by the Empire) and you will come to Chinatown. This is an interesting area with a multitude of Chinese herbalists, restaurants, etc. Continue north to Shaftesbury Avenue. This is the heart of Theatreland. Turn left and walk down to Piccadilly Circus.

Centred by the statue of Eros, the pagan god of love, Piccadily Circus is one of the most famous London Landmarks. Piccadilly takes it name from a 17th century frilly collar called a “picadil”.

That's the end of this walk and our series. We hope you enjoyed it!