Covent Garden Market

We visited the CONVENT GARDEN MARKET today before heading to lunch. There's some construction going on in front of the market, but the market remains open for local tourists. The market was enticing to the eyes with a variety of products, we visited the Plant store and bought a Bamboo Shoot which is right opposite the entrance of the Market. We also found a lot of scrumptious desserts in the Market. There was also a person hand crochetting characters like stuffed toys to the end of the market adjoining an uncle selling handmade clay ornaments made by his daughter. We bought toys and earrings from both the stores to support local businesses. I would definitely recommend the two stores if you're looking for something unique and a gifting experience. The bakery to the end next to NEW DELHI had a lot of interesting desserts. You should actually visit the place, it's amazingggg 🤩🤩🤩

Fun little theatre space above a bunch of food places- great idea. Parking is convenient. Location makes sense for the locals to visit. If it weren't for the overwhelming smell of Indian food that overpowered the place, it might be a good place to visit. If there were other awesome vendors, their smells weren't noticed, and with a curry allergy and no proper ventilation, it made for an unpleasant visit for me. But, other people didn't seem to mind.

An eclectic little market area where you can find delectable treats as well as gifts and fresh produce. Meats evolve types and eateries from around the world.

This was a super cool market to visit. Local produce, restaurants, vendors. Closest thing we have to that where I'm from is the Farmer's market. Wish I could've brought back a lot more!

Great place for lunch. Many choices. Lots of crafts and gifts. Flowers and chocolates.

We were visiting from the states and fell in love with this market while in London. The produce was wonderful and all the vendors had great stuff and friendly faces.

I love the Covent Garden Market. This place has everything, there's definitely something for everyone here. There's food, entertainment, massage, grocery, AND a farmers market on the weekend. Out door seating in the summer and an icerink in the winter. 1-2 hour free parking, with validation. Located in the downtown core, so very accessible by bus. Definitely a must-see if you're local or visiting from out of town.

Was there last Saturday. The vendors outside were minimal. I bought an apple tart and a small bag of scones for a crazy $30. Inside was nice. Not as busy as I expected on a Saturday morning. 20 years ago it was hopping busy.

Really impressed. Exceeded my expectations. Lots of wonderful food and charming shops.

Nice market, has a bit of everything from food groceries, vitamins, gifts, as well as a global selection of food stalls and hot bars for lunch or dinner. Bring a cooler for fresh butcher meats or dairy products. It's spacious but not big enough to get lost in. One hr is more than enough time to finish shopping. Seated eating area both indoors and outside. Free underground market parking with validation. 1 hr mon-fri, 2hr on wknds.

I hoped to visit today ( Sunday am) but it's closed til 11 am Cream puffs another day I guess Odd underground parking entrance on the left but exit 2 lanes are in right , I guess it's because King is 1 way east BUT CARS are parked on King in the no stopping / no parking zone close to doors and very close to that Entrance lane to the dark narrow lane underground to park . Maybe another day for will review the next step in process of shopping g the market It's not a farmers market ?! As farmers get started at 8 am , Lunch time is 11

Note: There is 1-hour free, validated, underground parking. Validation machine is right in the middle of the Market. This indoor Market is right downtown, across the street from Budweiser stadium. Maybe my impression would've been different on a bustlin' day, but during the weekday, this place was dead and kinda sad. Interior is nice, most if not all of the vendors have a nice aesthetic to them. There is a lot of picnic tables in their outdoor courtyard just in front of where the watch tower is. Since it was dead, most shopkeepers are just doing their own thing. None of them really asked if I needed help, even with extended lingering. There seemed to be quite a few dining options here!

All I want is a room somewhere Far away from the cold night air With one enormous chair Aow wouldn't it be loverly? Lots of choc'lates for me to eat Lots of coal makin' lots of 'eat Warm face, warm 'ands, warm feet Aow wouldn't it be loverly? "I wash'd me hands an' face I did." So said Eliza Doolittle to Professor Henry Higgins at the other Covent Garden in the other London. I'm not sure what she'd say if she came here, something like "Blimey! Lots of food stalls for a genteel lady but not for a poor Cockney flower girl like me. Three stars." I'm just presuming Eliza would be a Yelper, don't you know? Well, I can presume this one was inspired by the original one, though having been to that one, I didn't really feel like I was stepping into Jolly Ole with this place. It's really a big cavernous food hall, focused more on prepared foods, cheeses, and meats and less on fresh produce which they sell outside in the big courtyard on Thursdays and Saturdays from May to December. Considering how big the building is, I was surprised how claustrophobic it felt and frankly how lethargic. There was only a trickle of would-be customers in here, and finding something healthy to eat was rather challenging. Still, I encourage passing tourists to make a stop. They need the business. Aow, so loverly sittin' abso-bloomin'-lutely still. I would never budge 'till spring Crept over me windowsill. Someone's 'ead restin' on my knee, Warm an' tender as 'e can be. 'ho takes good care of me, Aow, wouldn't it be loverly? RELATED - Traveling to Toronto and London? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: bit.ly/2LETSfV

I really like this market! In 4 days, I visited 3 times to check out the vendors. I love all the places to get prepared foods and the variety from pastries, cookies, salads, sandwiches, pasta, meats, sushi, Thai, Indian, Chinese, gelato, and more! If I worked close by I would be stopping by to get lunch here. I also checked out the shopping where they have funky and fun cards, locally made jewelry, kids' clothing, chocolate, and home decor items. There are some produce vendors with fresh fruits and veggies. There are tables and chairs to sit and relax or eat. Upstairs also has seating and quiet areas. There's also a tea shop there. The outside is great with tables to enjoy nice days.

I love, love, loved exploring the adorable little vendor stands at Covent Garden Markets. What a lovely array of stores and products. There's everything from artisan chocolate to produce to food stops and handmaid cards. It was a great way to explore a lot of high quality products with very nice people. I would love to return and check out more of these stands as I only had 25/30 minutes since I arrived at 5:25pm and the shops close sharply at 6pm. I would recommend they stay open later as 6 is fairly early for dinner and so many of the shops had great food I would have enjoyed if I had more time to explore.

Great place to check out when you're in London. It's an indoor farmer's market, think St. Lawrence Market on a small scale. So many things to see, sample and buy. For the savvy shopper you can find bargains at every turn. Had lunch at Piping Kettles Soup Company (lunch special $5.25 lunch combo), dessert was a delicious and artful Thai cookie for $1.25, and hubby bought me a beautiful air plant (2 1/2 inch for $7) complete with care instructions. Street musicians, art for sale, gourmet cheeses, imported meats, artisanal breads and international cuisine: what's not to love? Go early to avoid the crowds and definitely take advantage of the free parking: first 1/2 hour on weekdays and first 2 hours on the weekends (Make sure to get your ticket validated at one of the indoor kiosks).

Great place to go to to not just get great food, pastries, drinks, gifts, and what not, but also to support small local businesses. That's especially important during these uncertain times such businesses are going through. This is definitely a must visit when in the London area. Even if you're coming here just to browse around, it's still worth your time. This market may not be like what you might see in Toronto or Vancouver, but it is still absolutely worth a visit. I will definitely be back.

The market is honestly garbage. The only good thing is 30 minutes of free parking, validated in the middle of the "market" next to a machine that sells you stupid bags for a Toonie (which, for normal people that have no idea what moronic Canadian currency is called, is worth $2) The food is barely adequate. Everything is overpriced. Its dirty inside. It's small, full of stores that are dying because the rent is so damn high. The only good thing in the market, are the restaurant's that front onto King Street. Don't waste your time here.

I couldn't decide what I wanted for lunch today so I walked around the market and decided on meat lovers pizza from International Bakery with a cherry danish for dessert (check out the pic I added). The pizza was the shinning star in the meal, it had more then enough cheese and toppings (pepperoni, bacon and sausage) to keep me happy. The bacon is actually real bacon which is broken up and not the weird pink salty bacon crumble stuff. The sauce is more tomatoey then sweet which is a rarity in London. The danish was delish and a perfect ending for lunch. After thinking long and hard I can't think of a better slice of pizza I have bought it London and it on par with my favourite places for a quick slice in Toronto.

So worth be visit. So much to see. We did it twice in the week we were in London. Lots of stall for so many things. Food choices are incredible! People watching is worth it too.

Went here for the first time in years! International Bakery - OMG - best chocolate croissants and best eclairs ever Red Roaster - Good cup of coffee! Lots of other great places were you can find all kinds of gourmet foods. They have a lot of prepared food stands also. Saturdays there have a great Farmer's Market outside --- take your coffee and treat outside and enjoy in the sun! BTW 2 hours free parking on Saturdays too.

This was a surprising.. surprise when I was visiting friends in London, ON (as I realized London was FULL of surprises). It's essentially at what I suppose is the center of downtown London and given the large patio space/deck I can only imagine the farmers market, stalls and gatherings that must go on here in the warmer months. Inside is essentially London's version of the St. Lawrence market. Farm to table spots, dozens upon dozens of shops and stalls selling every specialty food item and others you could possibly want. I mean where else will you find a Czech bakery? I didn't even know Czech's had their own delicious baked goods - well now I know! To Abbas' review, it's a maze that continues to improve with each turn, there is something for every taste and you can literally get lost walking around here for hours (I know I did). I especially loved the gourmet coffee roasters towards the front of the market, and on the weekends there were several acoustic artists playing guitar in several spots around the market which was just heaven to the ears! If visiting London, carve out at least an hour to trek through the Covent Garden Market - you stomach will thank you!

I love the croissants at an outside market vender! It goes super quickly, so only early bird can get this treat, but it's definitely worth getting up early. His other breads are fantastic, too. They are all sourdough. If you haven't true then, please do so.

Covent Garden is a little hard to review, as it's not truly one location - it's a huge range of vendors all under one roof. Each vendor has their own unique qualities, and I haven't been to them all, so take this review for what it's worth. Covent Garden Market is located in downtown London - perfect if you work downtown, but they also have plenty of free parking underground off king street (with validation) if you don't. It closes in late afternoon so it's great for some daytime shopping or lunch, but don't try to come in the evening. The actual building itself is great. It's huge, and always clean. The bathrooms are always clean as well. There is lots of seating, though it can fill up if you're in for lunch. There is also seating outside, and on the second floor. As for vendors, there is a huge variety. I usually come in for produce at one of the main produce vendors. They tend to carry lots of local options. Prices vary, some of it is super cheap, some of it is way more expensive than the grocery store - you just have to know your prices. There are several butchers, as well as a cheese stand with a HUGE selection of cheeses from all over the world. Glenda's is another favourite stop, I always pick up hummus. There are several spots to get ice cream or chocolates, and quite a few ready-made food options such as Chinese, Italian, soup, middle eastern, thai, Korean, Caribbean, Japanese that are great for lunch. Of the ones I've been to, I'd recommend any of them, except maybe the Chinese place. There are also a few I haven't gone to, so again, take it for what it's worth. There is also a tea shop on the second floor, and lots of spots to get crafts or decor. Overall, stop in and take a look, hopefully you'll find something you like!

Historically, this market has been around since the 19th century. Today, it's still here and it has an eclectic group of different shops and restaurants within the market building itself to service you for breakfast, lunch, and for when you hit your 3pm wall at work. For the downtown residents, employees and tourists this is a great place to grab a bite to eat, depending on what your'e feeling, sushi, soup & sandwich, coffee, bagels, Indian food, health food, desserts, gifts, place has it. My personal favourite places to go to in the mall is the health food store, The Piping Kettle and the sushi restaurant. It's a quick 10-15 minute walk from home or a less than 5 minute walk from work to grab lunch or a coffee, a place where you can socialize with friends or stop and get a treat for later! I go often enough for lunch and to bring family who don't live in the city to get a history lesson or a cup of coffee!

Each time I come back to London, I make it a point to stop at this market. It's a local gem and I wish there were more of these markets in the community. It has an eclectic mix of shops and vendors, with amazing fresh fruits, vegetables, meats and baked goods from around the world. It's a great place for breakast and lunch, or a midday break. I especially love the variety of sweets including fresh cupcakes, cakes, and ice cream! I look forward to my next visit!!

I like all the vendors at the Cevent Market ( as you have seen in other videos on my Youtube Channel ). I also like all the work they put into making sure that there is something going on for you to enjoy. Here we have Rick McGhie performing Gordon Lightfoot's classic hit " Sundown " . Please support local artists and vendors and businesses in your community. We have a very diverse pool of talents in our city. Thank you Rick, and The Covenent Garden Market for helping to bring light to damp rainy day. Now - sit back - relax - and enjoy the music of life. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LfUyEJnZNZ4 ( Live link to performance of the song Sundown at the Covent Market ) #LdnOnt #GordonLightfoot #TourismLondon

The Covent Garden Market is such a treat! Coming from a small town, it feels really cool to walk down and do some shopping for fresh veggies, meat, and cheese, eat lunch, pick up my dry cleaning, and even see a performance, all in the heart of my city. Whether you are looking to get a bite to eat, gather ingredients, or even purchase gifts, the Covent Garden Market has something for everyone. There is free 2 hour parking which is handy, especially if I am driving home from work, I can easily stop in and never worry about where I will park or having to pay. I also really love that the market is the centre of attention during big events. If there is a concert at Bud Gardens, you can sometimes find a big pre-party there. Ice skating in the winter is also really neat. Did you know upstairs there is a theatre? Fringe hosted some performances there. The Covent Garden Market continues to impress this new(ish) Londoner with every visit she makes!

Love the market. There are lots of choices for lunch and plenty of choices for produce or meat without having to go to the big supermarkets. The gelato place here is freaking awesome! I also really like the Thai food place, and it is very reasonably priced. Check it out sometime

The market historically was a place to buy your food needs. There was no where else unless you had your own garden, animals etc. Today, it is really a mall for office workers who work downtown. Need a gift? Need lunch? Need cheese for a client? Its all here. The items sold here are expensive...most regular people would visit occasionally but its not a practical "grocery" place.

Been in london for a few weeks now and it doesn't get any better than this. It's truly a privilege to have a such wide variety of vendors selling their fruits and veg every Saturday on the patio. The inside, too, offers a fantastic variety of crafts, foods, and places to grab a bite. Make you know your prices because the inside shops tend to inflate the costs of nearly everything. That said, I wouldn't do a full shopping here, but I'd totally stop by here for some food inspiration. There's a lot of marinades and locally jarred sauces that look like they could really fancy up some meals. There's a florist, tons of gift shops, a produce vendor, a meat counter, a coffee bean vendor, a bakery, and a lot more! Where else can I get serving of piping hot Mac and cheese straight from the oven for just a few bucks?

This is probably one of my favorite places to go in London; there is a fantastic selection of local food and plenty of good coffee to choose from. The parking here fills up quickly on weekdays, but be sure to get your ticket validated for 2 hours of free parking on weekends. Yes, you might pay a little more for fresh produce/meat here, but the quality is second to none and you're supporting local business owners. There is also a good selection of natural health products and organic foods. I think the prices are reasonable for the most part. I've noticed there are some empty vendor spaces here that have been vacant for a while - it would be great to see those filled.

I have spent waaaaaaaaaaaay too many hours strolling along this market. There is just so much to see and taste here, and it's definitely a hi-lite in London. MUST TRY: The cheap asian food (YUM) The organic butcher has the best meat The best bread in the city can be found here The desert place as soon as you walk in from King Street ---memories. The chocolatier whos on the dundas side entrance.. The shawarma guy near the square entrance.. The cupcakery (is that a real word?) is gorgeous. The coffee place is pretty dec too. The tea place on the 2nd floor (took me a long time to realize that there's a second floor too! Like 2 years really) In the summer, definitely get a meal and sit outside in the square. There's always something happening there!

I'm not sure what can be said about the Covent Garden Market that hasn't already been said. For starters, it's not a single business but a collection of businesses - if you're familiar with Toronto's St. Lawrence market then you are pretty much there. For starters, they have a LARGE collection of places that serve fresh produce, cheese, meat, and most of the stuff you could need - mostly locally grown and small independent businesses. A must visit if you're into organics - which I am not. There are also many take away restaurants that serve food of all types. in addtion, there are a few sit-down more formal retaurants. Add to this a teas shop, a massage place and even a theatre. There is a show repair/key cutting business, an art gallery and a flower shop. That's just off the top of my head - although I know I'm missing plenty. There is a large square on the west side which plays hosts to plenty of festivals in the summer, is a large patio with seating the rest of the time - except winter when it becomes a public skating rink. They also host a weekly farmers market which moves indoors when weather requires it. Always lots to see and do! There is a large parking garage below it and I can saw that as someone who lives, works and plays downtown I find myself in the market on pretty much a daily basis. I'm tempted to post my personal favourites here but with everyone having such different tastes i think it's best simply to leave it to you to find your own. This really is the jewel in downtown London's crown and deserves to be recognized and celebrated!

It is the closest thing to a Whole Foods Market or mini St. Lawrence's Market in Toronto. I do find some of the fruits & vegetables on the pricier side, however, many places offer organic and local food so that is where most of the cost goes. It is a great way to get everything you need to cook yourself a nice meal (I cooked myself a gourmet one since the ingredients you would buy here is extremely fresh and high in quality). Recommend going to the tea shop upstairs as they have really unique teas to pair with whatever food you get on the main floor. Also have an extensive cheese shop and a lot of butcher shops with very nice quality cuts of meat. Tip: There is parking in the basement (on the side) that is free for I think an hour in the afternoon on weekends so make your grocery trip then!

Seeing as I just moved to London, I'm still discovering the hidden gems. Not sure Covent Garden Market classifies as hidden, but for a noob, it was a nice find. Small and quaint, it reminded me immediately of some markets in Barcelona. Now if I could only wander around with a bottle of beer or glass of wine... Anyway this visit was short and I expect to spend much time here in the future.

While this isn't the greatest market in the world, it definitely has it's highlights of stores. Want meat? There's a butcher. Want cheese? There's a place for that? Tea? Same thing. The selection isn't the best, but at least it's a one stop shop to find all the local groceries you can think of. The great things about this market is the 30 minute free parking (with validation) on weekdays and 2 hours on weekends. Just make sure you go and put you ticket into the machine in the middle of the market. It's pretty painless, you just put it in to the machine and it does some machine magic on your ticket. Highlights of the market probably include an awesome food court. It's basically food carts, but they don't move... so... restaurants. I really like the Piping Kettle soup store. Their chicken noodle is absolutely amazing. It's not the place that will have everything you're looking for, but it's got the necessities and a little bit more than that.

My first yelp from London! Great place to start as a newbie in this city {on a student's budget} Its a melting pot of different cultures, tastes and with every visit, you discover something new. It has a make-you-feel-good factor about it particularly useful in winter! Had a delicious spanakopita and salad at Nates followed by coffee and melt in your mouth cinnabon at International Bakery- both excellent Stay away from the over-rated and over priced cupcakes at the gourmet cupcake stall- the cake was dry, bland and the frosting disappointingly tasteless and greasy. Can't wait to try out the other food stalls!

Love it! Great selection of food, groceries, etc. Definitely recommend the indian food at New Delhi Deli, and the frozen yogurt at...forget the name of the place. Walk around and try stuff out! A delightful variety of delicious things to eat.

Great fresh food (most of the time) with lots of variety. During the summer, they have an outdoor market selling fresh fruits and vegetables as well. Very clean and fun for everyone.

Is it strange to call this place a hidden gem when it's deep in the heart of Downtown and easy to spot next to Budweiser Gardens? I guess so but I'm gonna do that anyways. When I was a young girl and moved here this place used to be a very flat building with a pet store with a fake monkey that flipped over it's perch, it had strange dim lights but I always went there to buy flowers for my mom with my allowance. This is not that Covent Garden Market. Though the memories are fond don't get me wrong, the memories I'm making now are much fonder, The place is a well lit building with two floors of vendors to explore & delight in. There is truly something for everyone here and it'd be a travesty for me to list them all and let you miss out on the adventure yourself. During May - Dec there is an outdoor farmers market that takes place here on Thurs/Sat that I adore. Inside is some of the best produce & meats in the city bar none. Sure, some things you will pay more for than your run of the mill grocery but your body will thank you for that ten-fold! Some of my faves here are: The Salad Bowl, Tea Haus, Hot Oven and Field Gate Organics. But by all means.... explore it next time you are downtown and find your own faves :D

When the old market was there it was a weekly ritual to go down and hang out. We don't make it as often now, but when we do we are always glad we did. There are so many different vendors and prices vary from low to high. There is always something happening outside during the warmer months and the upstairs also has different community things to offer. We always take the time to stop and have a wonderful cup of coffee and a new treat. With Fresh produce, cheese, meat and baked goods we never leave empty handed!!

Who says you can't buy groceries downtown? I have been buying produce, fresh meats and breads along with many other sundry items here for years. With the twice weekly outdoor market during the warmer months this is a gem in the downtown crown. While some prices may be a little higher than some of the discount supermarkets my experience has been higher quality goods and much less waste of food. There are great eateries inside along with some other specialty stores and free parking on weekends (2 hours) and a half hour weekday free parking for a quick grab of something makes it convenient. Overall a great place to shop, eat or just hang with a hot drink.

I love the market! I love the variety of different cultures. There is so much food to choose from. You would never go hungry in there. There is free parking for 30 minutes on weekdays and 2 hours on weekends. The parking is located off of King St. and is underground. You just have to get it validated at these electronic machines in the middle of the market.

Great local market right in the heart of downtown! There is something for everyone..and a foodie's heaven. There is tonnes of fresh produce, delicious baked goods, cheeses from around the world, other great homemade products and a great range of food from around the world. This is a little gem in the heart of downtown London. There is 30mins free parking on weekdays and 2 hours on the weekend (with parking validation)...giving more than enough time to explore the market without having to pay for parking.

Love this little market! Just like a miniature version of the real thing! We didn't expect to find anything like that as we last aimlessly wondered through the streets of London w/o a cell phone during our road trip. I am jealous of everyone who gets to enjoy it everyday!

Great place, great atmosphere, and nice people. I love coming here on weekends!

So many hidden gems in this place . There are amazing little restaurants in here and we'll as some great shopping . The atmosphere is wonderful and if you can't decide what you want to eat you can walk around and look at all the range of selections from Chinese food to crepes and more !

Finally had a chance to go here, selections were a bit limit but had a great time.

This is the best London has to offer but this market is meh? There are some amazing speciality places such as Fieldgate and The Tea Haus but beyond that it is average. Very high prices for produce that comes from the food terminal in Toronto. Several places have questionable food safety and MANY places have surly staff. The woman at the Indian place is down right rude. After last night's experience at Glenda's and today's getting rushed off the phone by Glenda herself while trying to explain the horrible service and tainted product I will never buy anything in the market except from Fieldgate. Another London attraction - looks good on the surface but lacks substance.

crappy smell in this entire place it literally all smells like decaying fish throughout the entire market not a very professional staff they were pretty young to say the least could have been a better experience but it lacked in a lot of areas....smh

I went here a lot when I lived downtown. I can't remember what the place is called, but they're right by the entrance through the ally that's in front of the shoppers drug mart. They serve really good food there. Lasagna, spaghetti with fried veal, the stuffed pasta with the rose pasta sauce was my favourite. I never tried the pizza though - it always looked like it had been sitting out for two days. My least favourite places were the produce sections. While they do admirably have the nicest, kindest vendors there from anywhere I've ever went before, their product quality is what you'd find in any grocery store. I'd say they'd be just a bit better than Freshco or Price Chopper and about 80% of the time worse than Metro or Loblaws. I was always disappointed with the freshness at these local produce markets, which was weird considering they're supposed to be 'local'. Bummer.

The market is filled with good eating places so can only rate vendors overall. Been around for a long time. Half hour free parking on weekdays-just perfect for takeout-and two hours on weekend-perfect to browse and dine. One of London's jewels.

I used Kwik Fix for the first time and perhaps Rob is good at what he does but he also charges way too much for his service. The price he gave me for the repair of my orthotics was $39.95 + tax which is ridiculous. I walked to CitiPlaza to Biltrite and the same quality service was given but the price was only $15.00. Do I need to say more??