Start at Covent Garden Station
Finish at Trafalgar Square (near Charing Cross Station)
THE EXPERIENCE
Just as theatre is the ‘art of looking at ourselves', this route through Covent Garden and the Strand will help you with the art of looking at London and understanding how the area evolved to become one of the most important entertainment regions in London from the 1660s onwards.
It is great for its atmosphere, history, iconic sights, entertainment venues, crowds, transport links, shops, theatres, museums, art galleries, and lots of places to eat, drink, and be merry.
MUST SEE PLACES
What to See List
PLACES TO EAT, DRINK AND BE MERRY
Areas to Eat, Drink and Be Merry List
Links to nearby Eat, Drink and Be Merry Routes.
BEST TIME
Morning - The best time to do this route is on weekends in the early morning when it is quiet and free from crowds and heavy traffic.
Day - Most of the route will be busy during the day.
Evenings - Covent Garden and the Strand will be busy during the evening.
ROUTE OVERVIEW
This 1.8 Km route begins at Covent Garden, where the west end entertainment zone was born. It traces the path down past historic theatres and great places to eat and drink before emerging at the Aldwych and then the Strand by Somerset House. The route travels the length of the Strand past the Savoy and Charing Cross before ending up on the south side of Trafalgar Square.
Route at a Glance Video..
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DESCRIPTIVE PHOTO GALLERY
This gallery provides a descriptive and visual reference to many sights along this route. Use the Google Map above to find their location. Double-click to see its full size.
INTERESTING FACTS
Covent Garden Market
Royal Opera House - Bow Street
Theatre Royal Drury Lane - Catherine Street
Strand Facts
Trafalgar Square
VIRTUAL TOUR OF THE AREA
Click on the picture below to take a 360-degree virtual tour of the area.
Use the red route to explore this location by looking around in 360, taking in the sights and sounds, listening to an audio recording about the area and going on a virtual tour.
HISTORY & GUIDES VIDEO LIBRARY
Please note - These date from before 2018 and have been done in a variety of styles to determine which one works best. They all provide very useful information and we would welcome feedback to help create the new version
SIGHT GUIDES
These short videos give you a quick guided tour of some sights on this route.
Part 1 - Around Covent Garden (4:42)
Part 2 - Around the Aldwych (6:54)
Part 3 - Along the Strand (5:53)
HISTORY GUIDES
These history videos provide you with a history of the area and a history of entertainment in the west end of London.
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