Covent Garden Christmas Market

Stopped by to see the Covent Garden Christmas Market. Bustling space within an existing arcade of shops and eateries. Come for the fabulous oversized Christmas decorations and the oversized tree in the middle of it all. Street performers and musicians entertained the crowd. Lots of people milling about in good cheer. Festive kickoff to a holiday visit to London.

Spectacular view, beautiful decorative lighting and traditional market with a lot of street foods choices. What more we want from such a historic place. Additionally we have enjoyed a magic show on the streets, few other performances were also running but it was too cold to enjoy on the evening we visited.

Covent Garden is a great place to walk around and soak in the London vibe. Lively atmosphere, street performers, nice shops, and plenty of cafes and restaurants. Always something happening and never boring.

Pros: Stunning festive decorations, buzzing atmosphere, great street performers, lovely shops and cafés, feels magical at night. Cons: Extremely busy, prices run high, limited space to browse calmly, best enjoyed off-peak or early evening.

A true Christmas market experience! From the lights to the craft and food booths to the overall feel. A must do if you love that Christmas cheer feeling and want to get some unique gifts.

Such a pretty area to have a stroll around. Not very excited by the food options but some cute gift stalls. The tree is super pretty too

This was the best of the three Christmas markets we visited on Friday 5 December. What made it different was a far better Christmas atmosphere and lovely decorations. It also had some good street entertainment as it always does

Christmas magic in Covent Garden 🎄Sparkling lights, historic streets, and festive energy everywhere you look. London never disappoints.

London has all these amazing pockets throughout the city. Covent Garden is a cute area with amazing shopping, cobble streets and restaurants. It's not overly big but does packs a major punch. Walking through the area, which is well decorated. Pockets of restaurants with beautiful seating area. The warmer season is perfect for that nice meal and drinks while people watching. Obviously during the winter, there's no one seated outside as it's wet and definitely freezing. Another shopping district in London. The beautiful architecture of the area brings European charms. Each building just gets prettier and prettier. I don't think cars are allowed in the strip as there's barricades. They normally have wagons covered in beautiful plants welcoming you in. There's also a tube station which makes it easy to get too. Plus it's walking distance to other areas. The restaurant option is pretty good as well. Both inside the area as well as outside. A cute section of London that is also a must to check out. To one side of the garden is a flea market where vendors have stalls lined up. Basically all tourists souvenirs trinkets.

Covent Garden is an area in London that marries tradition with modern luxury retail. I came from the side of the market where it was like an open air old swapmeet, through the halls of crafted merchant goods with hustling crowds and story tellers, then to my surprise a Rolex shop and other high end luxury retailers. Within a few minutes walking around this area, there was so much to see and explore. I even got to take my iconic London red telephone booth photo in this area. Highly recommended if you enjoy exploring the old and the new.

I loved walking around Covent Garden. It's such a pretty little street to shop in! There are two markets on Sunday mornings: the Apple Market and the Jubilee Market. As a tourist, I was very excited to get to make it to both. (See pictures below)

As I was walking around the first night, I heard a lot of cheering so I thought I'd check it out which turned out to be the Covent Garden area. What a great find. The area is a mixture of shops, various restaurants, small small vendors and street performers. It was a fun area to check out.

Covent Garden isn't all about plants and flowers, rather, it's a piazza and a collection of urban streets boasting numerous upscale stores as well as bars, restaurants, art installations, and more. Covent Garden is one of the most vibrant parts of London. It is known for its lively markets, street performers, and world-class cultural attractions. In 1630, the Earl of Bedford was given permission to demolish buildings on an area of land he owned north of the Strand for redevelopment. The result was the Covent Garden Piazza - the first formal square in London. In other words, it's a bustling neighborhood within London's West End. Shops range from famous trademarks like Ralph Lauren and Mulberry to independent brands. In addition to conventional shops and boutiques, Covent Garden has a covered market area where vendors sell everything from antiques to crafts. Similarly, dining options range from foodie destinations like Sushi Samba and Balthazar to casual pubs. Given Covent Garden's open-air orientation, there are appropriately more than 1,000 seats for al fresco dining. Covent Garden is also home to the Royal Opera House. Even if you're unable (or disinclined) to see an opera, you can tour the lavishly appointed Royal Opera House.

A unique Piazza it is! And a central hub for dining, shopping and entertainment just near the theater district. Our hotel was just around the corner so we strolled through here everyday during our trip. Many unique shops inside the Apple Market and Jubilee Market. Here you will find some boutique items and souvenirs. Many of them have good deals compared to other gift shops. We bought a couple of tote bags, t shirts, London sweatshirts and magnets to take back home. We did some price comparisons prior to shopping here and this place just had a better deal and quality items. There are also some higher end retailers here as well such as Chanel if that's your thing. Many different restaurants and pubs to choose from. The Royal Opera House is here too... go to the 5th floor to get a rooftop view of the square. It's really beautiful. You can stroll through here day or night. They've got a bit of everything for everyone and street performers to keep you entertained.

A hybrid of American shops and local spots, Covent Garden area is fun to explore and walk around the parameters for a bit of fun including the adjacent flea market featuring tons of vendors. During the holiday season they have a massive christmas tree that is fully decorated for viewing and they have so many fun holiday bars and pop-ups surrounding Covent Garden. When you enter the grand hall, we were welcomed by these massive bells suspended in the air. We also saw a few stations with mulled wine and drinks available to sip and enjoy. Depending on the shops and eats you swing by it can be super reasonable or a bit pricey. I thought it was a bit funny to see so many Americans flock towards Five Guys and Shake Shack but that's just me. If you're in need of perfume or cologne, even makeup, there's a few shops around here to take care of you too.

A nice center for a rest and snack while the family shops for books and an extra suitcase to take the shopping home. This area was on my bucket list to check out on this trip to London. Great service and fair prices.

Cool area with all kinds of touristy shops, food,'and outdoor performers. The architecture was impressive and while it had many visitors, it didn't feel cheap.

About 20 Tina Turner dresses on display for view and enjoyment. "Proud Mary" dress (in gold with detailed beads in foreground).used on her famous Ed Sullivan show appearance. Wonderful surprise

We went for a quick lunch and were not disappointed. We were seated promptly and the ambiance was really cool. We had some beers, sandwiches and fish and chips. All were tasty. The service was good too. The prices were fair for the food that we consumed. I'd definitely recommend this place.

We would've never found this place until we saw some guy go down to the basement amazing place and service drinks were also amazing highly recommend the P star martini. Matthew R was very sweet and knowledgeable about every single cocktail 10/10 will be returning!

Covent Garden is a wonderful destination of upscale shops and restaurants. Much less crazy than Piccadilly Circus which lives up to its name. This shopping district has plenty to see with nice shops and superb variety . We found coffee here with one of the local chains, a man who sang in the courtyard of wine shops, and stores from trinkets, jewelry, candy and toys.

Covent Garden is a great center point for your London trip! It's in a central part of the city near many of the most accessible and popular hotels. This is made especially clear by how busy the tube station is here. If you need to get off the tube in Covent Garden, it's a great idea to stop either one spot before or after to avoid the horrific tube crowds (and the lack of escalator in the station). Covent Garden has an American feel, especially with the giant Shake Shack in the center of the mall. But, there are still London local shops too. The area in Covent Garden is lively, but I like it so much better than Piccadilly Circus, which is covered in ads and feels much more Times Square.

Covent Garden is a nice shopping and entertainment center in London's West End. It's known for its fun atmosphere, street performers, shops, and restaurants. Great boutique shopping. Hugo Boss, Lululemon, Micheal Kors, Vans and more, sprinkled in with some of Londons nice specialty stores. Nice selection of restaurants and pubs. The Apple market has local booths and vendors as well as a nice wine bar with live performers singing opera.

All the big American chain stores appear to be here - Sketchers, Mac, Lacoste, 5 Guys, Lululemon, Shake Shack ... much more expensive than they are in the states. A charming indoor crafts market with restaurants, nothing is particularly unique. Street performers were playing music, doing magic & telling jokes too. The tube station here is very busy.

Amazing shopping and just having fun with the sights and sounds of London and the various flavors of food and the many different people love London. We had an accident and had to return home but we will be back.

Came by the other day with high hopes and was somewhat surprised that is was merely a few blocks! Managed to purchase a small wallet from a vendor and it was quick and easy. Payment was done via NFC card. There were a few food stalls along with luxury Swiss watch boutiques, although apparently I wasn't welcome to shop inside it?!?

If part of your London experience includes partaking in some "retail therapy," then we'd recommend that you give Covent Garden Market a go. The shoppes in and around it range from a farmers market to high end retail, with everything in between. Street performers are throughout and supplement the atmosphere. It would be difficult to imagine a better time to visit than the holidays, whether you shop or just browse. While retail therapy isn't my particular cup of tea, a visit here is definitely worth a few hours of your time. And that's...Henry's Take. #londoncoventgardenmarket

What a beautiful space filled with art, cafes, shops, and restaurants. It's open-air but with a roof so shelter here during rain. Bathrooms that cost one pound to use are on the bottom floor. If you enjoy art, walk to Jubilee Market next door.

Shopping, food and entertainment! Glad I passed through the area... everything I needed in one place!

Went here for Xmas shopping while in London. Im totally over Herrods, and this place is really charming. Its intimate, quaint, and has something for everyone. Small shops, outside, food courts. Boutique and large chains are all present, and its a great holiday place. Close to some great restaurants, nice courtyard, and the holiday decorations were really great. Food court has good options, but you do have to pay to use the LOO...so be prepared for that. Its smart, keeps it clean and there's an attendant. When I think of shopping in London, I really want to come here from now on.

You've undoubtedly heard its name before. Hell, you've probably even seen it several times before, in movies and TV shows, even if you've never had the chance to visit. One of my wife's favorite (yet critically panned) holiday movies, "Last Christmas", spent much of its runtime situated in a fictional Christmas gift shop here. But the magic of Covent Garden is a very real thing, and absolutely begs exploration into its myriad wonders. The actual, core Covent Garden market building, and surrounding piazza, is a dense, labyrinthine, multi-leveled, glass-ceilinged bazaar, loaded to the gills with souvenirs, clothing, accessories, with several restaurants and cafes tucked away in its corners and crevices. The entire places seethes with activity; shoppers of all kinds, from locals to tourists, pass between its vaulted pillars, to and fro, with the pulsing rhythm of a manic heartbeat. High end, name brand purveyors of posh goods complete with home-spun, hand-crafted wares, candies and confections. And all of this greedy, gluttonous, mercantile mayhem happens in the shadow of a humble church, where over-stimulated souls can seek refuge from the chaos and clamor just outside its doors. The sprawl of Covert Garden spreads its tendrils far beyond the boundaries of the former vegetable market itself, but the magic mentioned above happens only at its heart. For first time visitors, or those looking to relive the nostalgia, be prepared for the crowds, but even the pervasive crush of humanity that constantly inhabits this place cannot rob it of its enchantment. An absolute must visit in London!

lots of restaurants, shops, markets and live performers on the street. Can spend a whole afternoon here

Great to place to just hang out and/or shop! It has a wonderful vibe and is so vibrant. It is one of my favorite areas in London. It does not get busy so better to go earlier in the day if you want to avoid the hordes.

Great area to dine, drink, shop and hang out. Upscale experience. It's a large shopping district encompassing a few blocks. Has its own tube station nearby. Very beautiful area. There are live popup entertainers to amuse the crowds. Has an amazing Apple store. Must pay for public restrooms in the lower level. Great place to bring kids, family or a date. The London Transport Museum is located here. Has a Ben's Cookie, 5 Guys, Shake Shack and a Ladurée as well. Lots of choices for dining and shopping. Endless options to keep you busy. Enjoy.

Saw this hooded sweatshirt at the market place and bought for £25. Guess this is the place to shop for souvenirs. Just make sure to go around as some merchandise look cheap. Used the Picadilly Station to get here.

I can't believe that I never wrote a review on Covent Market before - whaaatt??!!! I love this place and the surrounding area since I was a kid growing up in England (single digits in terms of age - yes the late 1950's!!) until the present day. It is the center of the West End for everything Theater related, it has countless good places to eat (surrounding the market in nearby streets), it is simply iconic and then there is the market itself with every souvenir that you heart could possibly desire. Add to that all day long there are musicians playing, crazy artists dressed as fake statues and whatever else plus magicians and everything in between. If I bring a visiting friend then this is one of our first stops to have fun together and explore from there - or visit before a show. Fun, iconic, history, entertainment and food eats. Can't beat that combo can you?? Two thumbs up! Review #94 2019

Very accessible shopping center from the Picadilly line. One thing that stood out was that this shopping center contained a lot more high end recognizable American stores compared to the other nice shopping centers in London (Reformation, Glossier, Mejuri etc). Great environment and felt safe and lively. Interesting street performers as well

Great place to spend half a day while you are visiting London. Higher end retailers and some smaller size merchants providing very unique goods to mostly tourists. There few eateries and brunch places to satisfy your cravings. Very accessible with public transportation. There is live music band playing during the day. You easily can spend 3-4 hours strolling in the "garden". There are plenty of restrooms available to the visitors.

Has everything you could want and maybe a little more. Beautiful and charming architecture. This whole area is a delight to walk around. One gripe, Saturday evenings there are a crazy amount of people.

I think it's a great place to go. Great central place in London, always lots of activity going on, and pretty interesting. i'd recommend it!

Some of the worst street performers I have ever seen. They should be embarrassed. Very limited skills , except very skilled at asking for money. One of them actively denigrated the audience to shame them into giving him more money than he earned. I can't believe that the powers that be review these performers and approve them.

Good old Covent Garden market. I came here after graduating college and after seeing on Rick Steves multiple times I finally got here. It is such a cute little market that many of the travelers to the UK fail to notice it's charm. Back then the hotel I stayed in was super close by and it took a short bus ride to get here. When I came here there were really gorgeous flowers nearby and some of it was for sale. Now there could probably be succulents for sale but I am just taking a wild guess. This landmark is nice and airy it's not confined entirely by a roof like other markets. There's a certain sense of nostalgia when you come here because CGM is a lot older than all of us . If you come here during the holidays it is such a cute place with toys that will blow your mind away.

Okay outdoor shopping area with a few interesting restaurants and stores, but not too many! The best store there is the Apple store. Covent Garden doesn't seems like a shopping mall, not even look like a outdoor shopping mall. I feels like I'm just walking on a normal street. I will shop here if if happens I am here anyway. But I would make a special trip to Covent Garden just for shopping!

Try to get there earlier before everything shutting down but you can do everything: shop, eat, people watch, and sightsee! Most definitely worth a visit!

I still remember how beautiful this place was. Upstairs they have different themes all the time, when I was there it was the balloons that look like clouds, I believe after that they had umbrellas. They change them often. Downstairs they have a restaurant with live band and music is just wonderful!!! Covent Garden is a must see place!

Covent Garden is one of those premier shopping centers that's got the perfect mix of the mainstream shops, the designer stores, and the up-and-coming local brands. You can literally go from Dior to rinky-dink trinkets and jewelry within a few minutes. I loved wandering through the indoor and outdoor market, grabbing food, trying tea samples, exploring all the makeup stores, and buying souvenirs at the flea market area by the street performers - who are breathtakingly talented, by the way. There's so much to do and see. Don't forget to go downstairs, where there are plenty of restaurants. It's just so festive and fun! Just hate how they charge for restrooms, but you can try to use the ones in the restaurants if the staff is kind enough. This is one of the spots I know I'd keep coming back to if I lived in London, because it's the exact type of energy I dig. If you're visiting, I suggest giving yourself a couple of hours to see all they have to offer. Bring an umbrella, and - this is coming from a New Yorker - try something other than the Shake Shack!

Covent Garden is a district in Greater London, on the eastern fringes of the West End, between Charing Cross Road and Drury Lane. It is associated with the former fruit-and-vegetable market in the central square, now a popular shopping and tourist site, and with the Royal Opera House. The district is divided by the main thoroughfare of Long Acre, north of which is given over to independent shops centred on Neal's Yard and Seven Dials, while the south contains the central square with its street performers and most of the historical buildings, theatres and entertainment facilities. A great area to spend an evening or day browsing the various shops and food stalls as well as dining around here. Tons of nice restaurants in this area for all budgets and of course plenty of street performers and other things to keep you entertained. It's also a great meeting point as it's quite central. We have been here many times and dined in a number of restaurants in the area. We have also been to the theater in and around here. A lonely part of London you can enjoy come rain or shine.

A fun place It's a great place to be, to stroll and to shop a bit on a sunny day. The streets fill up with visitors and locals alike and has a great and friendly vibe. Pubs and Restaurants put their chairs and tables out. Sit down and watch the world go by. Some good shops line up on the streets too, good bargains to find on "sale"-season. With a bit of luck and time. The Covent Garden Market is surely a looker and nice to have a stroll. But shopping-wise not as interesting. It's a wonderful area two spend a bit of time. Fells more like a small-town than big London, which is a nice change. The Subway Station is really busy and packed though. You can easily walk from Piccadilly Circus or Leicester Square.

Covent Garden is unbelievable! Unfortunately, I arrived minutes after all the stores closed; however, I had a lot of fun walking around. I came during the holidays and there was a massive Christmas tree in the middle of the garden -- many people took turns taking a photo in front of the tree. There was also a couple ice sculptures a few feet away from the giant tree.

Absolutely lovely open shopping area in the heart of London, next door to the Apple Store. We were there early for our walking tour, so not all of the merchants had opening their stalls, but what we did see was a variety of homemade items, from clothing to artwork. Covent Garden once housed the farmer's market, so the center is open and airy, with glass ceilings that let in light. Fun place to visit, with eateries to boot. It was beautifully decorated for Christmas, too!

Very lovely and cozy. Variety of shops Very lovely and cozy. Variety of shops

What a fun area to grab some food, an adult beverage and listen to some local bands/music. We dropped in during the dinner hour on a Saturday and it was hoping. The food court offered pretty much anything under the sun. Just be patient as the lines and wait time tend to go long. TIP: Due the popularity, if you go with a group of folks grab an open table as soon as you get there and just take turns grab food and saving seats.

One of the places I love most in London! I love coming here for a drink in the evening or before a show... Perfect place for a cocktail in one of the many cocktail bars or pubs... I especially like grabbing a beer in Punch and Judy, sitting on the balcony and watching the street performers. Simply a MUST!

Covent Gardens is one of the places you have to go to as a tourist or local. Walk through the open air markets (Jubilee Market and Apple Market). There were so many cute stores in Covent Gardens. They had a David & Golaith one!!! Their shirts were £20 ($40)!!!! O_O In Hawaii, it was $20! My favorite store was called Octopus!! I wanted to buy everything in that store!! But I had to refrain. There also a lots of yummy places to eat here. Lots of entertainment and people watching!

A must visit touristy area. not because of anything in particular, but because of a number of little things. Like the stalls at Jubliee Market for souvenirs, the homemade arts and crafts being sold, along with the street performers and nearby theaters and little shops and restaurants. It's also close to Chinatown.

o9.o6.14 Even though we were super tired since we barely got to our hotel after this 12 hour flight, but we still managed to pick up our feet and head out to Covent Garden. I really thought it was a garden garden until I arrived. Hahaha, silly me. Anyway, I really like this corner of London. There are street arts and performances everywhere. In a way, it's sad because there are the ones who are probably depending on this for living. Another is really nice how others gets entertained. I couldn't help but throw a few coins for a grandpa that was playing with an Erhu. It is nice just to walk around and check out every corner of this place. I feel chill just by seeing people chilling outside a cafe shop. :) Especially when it was sunny! It's crazy how the weather report indicated it will be rainy and cloudy, but the sun was out while we are here. Lucky!

It's a beautiful place to take a stroll around. I've been here a couple times when I was in the UK and it was truly a sight! Everything was so different and it's an experience worth your while, check this place out cuz they have lots of cool shops and performances