London | Covent Garden

Ever since I was small, Covent Garden has been a place that I associate with having fun. Every school holidays, I would jump on a train and spend a day exploring London, a day that would inevitably end up in Covent Garden watching the street performers, eating in a 'grown up' restaurant or spending the last of my holiday money in the market.

It's such a great place to spend a day wandering around and discovering hidden gems. And for readers that are based further afield, there are plenty of hotels near Covent Garden that would be a ideal place to stay if you wanted to spend more time in and around the area. 

Now I'm a bit older, my tastes have changed a little but my love for the area definitely hasn't. It's fantastic to find new places and things to do and so today, I wanted to share how I would spend my perfect day there, so read on to check out what I did...

Food

 

 

 

Of course, being in the center of London, you're not short on food choices but tucked away in the lower level of Covent Garden market is Chez Antoinette, a French restaurant well known for its tartines and a perfect location if you want to hear some of the fantastic classical street performers who frequent the inside of the market. I opted for the charcuterie and cheese platters which are great if you want to try a bit of everything or are having drinks with friends and need something tasty to snack on. 

Culture

 

 

Covent Garden is globally famous for its theaters, the Royal Opera House is located right in the center, with redevelopment plans to make it even more impressive currently in the works. If you're looking for something a bit more bohemian, just a few minutes walk from the underground station, Neal's Yard is a colourful alley packed with cafes, restaurants and shops. Back at the market, as well as the apple market with handmade and antique items, you can find world renowned brands such as Tom Ford, The Ordinary Skincare and Laduree and pass the time watching the many street performers.

Treats

 

My trip to Covent Garden coincided with the hottest day of the year so it was only fair that ice-cream was included in the day. Venchi Gelato is located right in the heart of the covered market and has been going since 1878, so you can rest assured that they know their stuff! Sometimes it's difficult to know which ingredients are in your food but the Venchi gelato uses no chemical flavourings, colourings or additives - so have a second scoop!

Treatments

I've walked past Blow LTD quite a few times when I've been for food in St Martin's Courtyard but never been in until now. They offer beauty on-the-go with blow drys, nail treatments, hair braiding and makeup application. I managed to book a fast nails appointment for the afternoon and had my nails expertly painted and shaped in just fifteen minutes, a perfect treat or last minute saviour if you have evening plans in the capital. 

*This post was made in collaboration with Hotels.com

Have you ever visited Covent Garden?

Rosanna

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