Covent Garden

From fruit and veg to Froo Tan Vetch

Covent Garden is a district in London on the eastern fringes of the West End, between St. Martin’s Lane 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 the Royal Opera House, which is also known as Covent Garden. 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 elegant buildings, theatres and entertainment facilities, including the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, and the London Transport Museum.

Though mainly fields until the 16th century, the area was briefly settled when it became the heart of the Anglo-Saxon trading town of Lundenwic. After the town was abandoned, part of the area was walled off by 1200 for use as arable land and orchards by Westminster Abbey, and was referred to as ’the garden of the Abbey and Convent’. The land, now called the Covent Garden, was seized by Henry VIII, and granted to the Earls of Bedford in 1552. The 4th Earl commissioned Inigo Jones to build some fine houses to attract wealthy tenants. Jones designed the Italianate arcaded square along with the church of St Paul’s. The design of the square was new to London, and had a significant influence on modern town planning, acting as the prototype for the laying-out of new estates as London grew.

A small open-air fruit and vegetable market had developed on the south side of the fashionable square by 1654. Gradually, both the market and the surrounding area fell into disrepute, as taverns, theatres, coffee-houses and brothels opened up; the gentry moved away, and rakes, wits and playwrights moved in.

By the 18th century it had become a well-known red-light district, attracting notable prostitutes. An Act of Parliament was drawn up to control the area, and Charles Fowler’s neo-classical building was erected in 1830 to cover and help organise the market. The area declined as a pleasure-ground as the market grew and further buildings were added: the Floral Hall, Charter Market, and in 1904 the Jubilee Market. By the end of the 1960s traffic congestion was causing problems, and in 1974 the market relocated to the New Covent Garden Market about three miles (5 km) south-west at Nine Elms. The central building re-opened as a shopping centre in 1980, and is now a tourist location containing cafes, pubs, small shops, and a craft market called the Apple Market, along with another market held in the Jubilee Hall.

Covent Garden tube station is a Grade II listed building and was opened by Great Northern, Piccadilly and Brompton Railway on 11 April 1907, four months after services on the rest of the line began operating on 15 December 1906.

Like the rest of the original GNP&BR stations, the street level station building and platform tiling was designed by Leslie Green. The station building is a classic red ’Oxblood’ building which has two elevations fronting onto the end of James Street and Long Acre. The platform wall was tiled with two shades of yellow and white tiling which formed geometric shapes along with three blank spaces to incorporate the station name. As part of TFL’s investment programme, the ageing tiling dating back from the station’s opening was replaced in 2010 in a like-for-like basis, retaining the look and feel of the platforms.

Covent Garden station is one of the few stations in Central London for which platform access is only by lift or stairs and often becomes congested due to the Covent Garden area’s popularity with tourists. To control congestion on Saturday afternoons, when the surrounding shopping areas are at their busiest, the station was previously exit only to avoid the risk of dangerous overcrowding of the platforms, but following replacement of the lifts, this restriction has been lifted. There are four lifts which give access to street level, although a final flight of stairs from the lifts to the platforms means that the station is wheelchair inaccessible. Alternatively, there is an emergency spiral staircase of 193 steps (The equivalent to a 15 storey building). During the lift journey a recorded announcement is played asking passengers to have their tickets/passes ready as they exit the lifts and advising where to turn for Covent Garden’s market.

Image: Chris Ross

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NEARBY LOCATIONS OF NOTE

101 Strand, WC2R This shop was one of the first in London to have gas lighting fitted.

101 Strand, WC2R

101 The Strand 101 The Strand was an art school from 1750 until 1806.

101 The Strand

Ackermann’s Rudolph Ackermann (20 April 1764 in Stollberg, Saxony – 30 March 1834 in Finchley) was an Anglo-German bookseller, inventor, lithographer, publisher and businessman.

Ackermann’s

De Hems De Hems has become a base for London’s Dutch community, serving bitterballen and frikandellen.

De Hems

Houghton Street (1906) A greengrocer’s on the corner of Houghton Street and Clare Market (behind The Strand) in 1906 just before demolition.

Houghton Street (1906)

Leicester Square Leicester Square, while indeed a square, is also the name for a tube station.

Leicester Square

L’Escargot L’Escargot is one of London’s oldest restaurants.

L’Escargot

St Giles St Giles is a district of central London, at the southern tip of the London Borough of Camden.

St Giles

The Adelphi The Adelphi is a small district surrounding the streets of Adelphi Terrace, Robert Street and John Adam Street.

The Adelphi

Tottenham Court Road Tottenham Court Road runs from St Giles’ Circus (the junction of Oxford Street and Charing Cross Road) north to Euston Road.

Tottenham Court Road

Wyld’s Great Globe Wyld’s Great Globe was an attraction situated in Leicester Square between 1851 and 1862.

Wyld’s Great Globe

NEARBY STREETS

Adam Street, WC2N Adam Street is named after John and Robert Adam, who built the Adelphi development in the 1760s (Charing Cross)

Adam Street, WC2N

Adelaide Street, WC2R Adelaide Street was named for Queen Adelaide, Consort to King William IV (Charing Cross)

Adelaide Street, WC2R

Africa House, WC2B Africa House is a block on Kingsway

Africa House, WC2B

Agar Street, WC2N Agar Street is named after George Agar, who built the street in the 1830s with John Ponsonby, Earl of Bessborough (Charing Cross)

Agar Street, WC2N

Aldwych House, WC2B Aldwych House is located on Aldwych (Aldwych)

Aldwych House, WC2B

Aldwych, WC2B The name Aldwych derives from the Old English eald and wic meaning ’old trading town’ or ’old marketplace’; the name was later applied to the street and district (Aldwych)

Aldwych, WC2B

Andrew Borde Street, W1D Andrew Borde Street was situated opposite the end of Sutton Row and under the Centre Point development (St Giles)

Andrew Borde Street, W1D

Arab Press House, WC1V Arab Press House is located on High Holborn

Arab Press House, WC1V

Aria House, WC1V Aria House is located on Newton Street

Aria House, WC1V

Arne Street, WC2E Arne Street was named after the 18th century composer Thomas Arne, who was born near here (Covent Garden)

Arne Street, WC2E

Artists House, W1D Artists House is a block on Manette Street (Soho)

Artists House, W1D

Bainbridge Street, WC2H Bainbridge Street takes its name from Henry Bainbridge, a local resident in the 17th century

Bainbridge Street, WC2H

Banbury Court, WC2E Banbury Court is named for Nicholas Knollys, 3rd Earl of Banbury, who owned a house here called Banbury House (Covent Garden)

Banbury Court, WC2E

Bateman Street, W1D Bateman Street was named for Sir James Bateman, local landowner and Lord Mayor of London in the 1670s (Soho)

Bateman Street, W1D

Bateman’s Buildings, W1D Bateman’s Buildings runs north from Bateman Street (Soho)

Bateman’s Buildings, W1D

Beacon House, WC2B Beacon House is a block on Kingsway

Beacon House, WC2B

Bear Street, WC2H Bear Street is a streetname with two possible derivations (Leicester Square)

Bear Street, WC2H

Beaufort’s Buildings, WC2R Beaufort’s Buildings was replaced by Savoy Court (Charing Cross)

Beaufort’s Buildings, WC2R

Beaumont Buildings, WC2B Beaumont Buildings is located on Martlett Court (Covent Garden)

Beaumont Buildings, WC2B

Bedford Chambers, WC2E Bedford Chambers is one of the streets of London in the WC2E postal area (Covent Garden)

Bedford Chambers, WC2E

Bedford Street, WC2E Bedford Street was named after local 18th century landowners the Russell family, earls/dukes of Bedford (Covent Garden)

Bedford Street, WC2E

Bedfordbury, WC2N Bedfordbury is one of the streets of London in the WC2N postal area (Covent Garden)

Bedfordbury, WC2N

Betterton House, WC2H Betterton House is located on Betterton Street (Covent Garden)

Betterton House, WC2H

Betterton Street, WC2E Betterton Street is one of the streets of London in the WC2H postal area (Covent Garden)

Betterton Street, WC2E

Blackmoor Street, WC2B Blackmoor Street was in the Drury Lane slum (Aldwych)

Blackmoor Street, WC2B

Bow Street, WC2E Bow Street was first developed by Francis Russell, 4th Earl of Bedford in 1633 (Covent Garden)

Bow Street, WC2E

Brettenham House, WC2R Brettenham House is a block on Savoy Street (Charing Cross)

Brettenham House, WC2R

Broad Court, WC2E Broad Court is an alleyway parallel with Long Acre (Covent Garden)

Broad Court, WC2E

Bruce House, WC2B Bruce House is sited on Kemble Street (Covent Garden)

Bruce House, WC2B

Brydges Place, WC2N Brydges Place replaced Taylor’s Buildings in 1904 when the Colloseum was built (Charing Cross)

Brydges Place, WC2N

Bucknall Street, WC2H Bucknall Street is one of the streets of London in the WC2H postal area (St Giles)

Bucknall Street, WC2H

Bull Inn Court, WC2E Bull Inn Court lies north off Strand (Covent Garden)

Bull Inn Court, WC2E

Burleigh Mansions, WC2H Burleigh Mansions dates from 1885 (Leicester Square)

Burleigh Mansions, WC2H

Burleigh Street, WC2E Lord Burghley laid out the original Burleigh Street in 1673, which extended northwards from the Strand, but only reached as far as Exeter Street. (Charing Cross)

Burleigh Street, WC2E

Cambridge Circus, WC2H Cambridge Circus is the intersection of Shaftesbury Avenue and Charing Cross Road (Soho)

Cambridge Circus, WC2H

Carriage Hall, WC2E Carriage Hall is one of the streets of London in the WC2E postal area (Covent Garden)

Carriage Hall, WC2E

Carting Lane, WC2R Carting Lane is thought to be named after the carts that brought goods to and from the wharf formerly located here. (Charing Cross)

Carting Lane, WC2R

Castlewood House, WC1A Residential block (St Giles)

Castlewood House, WC1A

Catherine Street, WC2B Catherine Street runs from Russell Street in the north to Aldwych in the south (Aldwych)

Catherine Street, WC2B

Cecil Court, WC2N Cecil Court is a pedestrian street with Victorian shop-frontages (Leicester Square)

Cecil Court, WC2N

Cecil Street, WC2N Cecil Street was built on the site of Cecil House (Charing Cross)

Cecil Street, WC2N

Central Arcade, WC2E Central Arcade is one of the streets of London in the WC2E postal area (Covent Garden)

Central Arcade, WC2E

Centre Point, WC2H Centre Point is a controversial 1960s-built tower block

Centre Point, WC2H

Chandos Place, WC2N Chandos Place replaced the northern section of Chandos Street in 1938 (Charing Cross)

Chandos Place, WC2N

Chandos Street, WC2N Chandos Street (called Chandos Place after 1938), was named after the third Lord Chandos, the father-in-law of the fourth Earl of Bedford. (Charing Cross)

Chandos Street, WC2N

Charing Cross Mansions, WC2H Charing Cross Mansions is one of the mid 1880s block built around a widened Cecil Court (Leicester Square)

Charing Cross Mansions, WC2H

Charing Cross Road, WC2H Charing Cross Road is a street running immediately north of St Martin-in-the-Fields to St Giles Circus (Leicester Square)

Charing Cross Road, WC2H

Ching Court, WC2E While Ching Court has its origins in the 1690s, the modern layout dates from the early 1980s (Covent Garden)

Ching Court, WC2E

Clare Market, WC2A Clare Market is one of the streets of London in the WC2A postal area (Aldwych)

Clare Market, WC2A

Clare Market, WC2E This is a street in the WC2E postcode area (Covent Garden)

Clare Market, WC2E

Columbia House, WC2B Columbia House is a block on Aldwych (Aldwych)

Columbia House, WC2B

Commonwealth House, WC1V Commonwealth House is a block on New Oxford Street

Commonwealth House, WC1V

Connaught House, WC2A Connaught House can be found on Aldwych (Aldwych)

Connaught House, WC2A

Connaught House, WC2B Connaught House is located on Aldwych (Aldwych)

Connaught House, WC2B

Covent Garden, WC2E Covent Garden, is the name of a district, but also the name of the central square which formerly hosted a fruit-and-vegetable market (Covent Garden)

Covent Garden, WC2E

Coventry Street, W1D Coventry Street is a short street connecting Piccadilly Circus to Leicester Square. On the London Monopoly board, it was named after the politician Henry Coventry, secretary of state to Charles II (Leicester Square)

Coventry Street, W1D

Cowdray House, WC2A Cowdray House is a building on Portugal Street (Aldwych)

Cowdray House, WC2A

Cranbourn Street, WC2H Cranbourne Street was named after local landowner the Earl of Salisbury, Viscount Cranbourn (Cranbourne) after the town in Dorset. (Leicester Square)

Cranbourn Street, WC2H

Cross Court, WC2B Cross Court appears on maps between the 1750s and 1900 (Covent Garden)

Cross Court, WC2B

Crown Court, WC2E Crown Court is one of the streets of London in the WC2B postal area (Covent Garden)

Crown Court, WC2E

Crystal Wharf, WC2B A street within the WC2B postcode (Aldwych)

Crystal Wharf, WC2B

Dansey Place, W1D Dansey Place was formerly named George Yard, after a pub adjacent called the George and Dragon (Soho)

Dansey Place, W1D

Dansey Yard, W1D George Yard was renamed Dansey Yard after 1884 (Soho)

Dansey Yard, W1D

Denmark Place, WC2H Denmark Place was an alleyway one block north of Denmark Street (St Giles)

Denmark Place, WC2H

Denmark Street, WC2H Denmark Street is one of the streets of London in the WC2H postal area (St Giles)

Denmark Street, WC2H

Drury Lane, WC2B Named from Sir William Drury, Knight of the Garter in Queen Elizabeth’s reign, who owned land on its site (Covent Garden)

Drury Lane, WC2B

Dryden Street, WC2B Dryden Street is one of the streets of London in the WC2E postal area (Covent Garden)

Dryden Street, WC2B

Dudley Court, WC2H Dudley Court is one of the streets of London in the WC2H postal area (Covent Garden)

Dudley Court, WC2H

Duke’s Court, WC2B Duke’s Court appears on maps made between 1750 and 1900 (Covent Garden)

Duke’s Court, WC2B

Durham House Street, WC2N Durham House Street was the former site of a palace belonging to the bishops of Durham in medieval times. (Charing Cross)

Durham House Street, WC2N

Dyott Street, WC1A Dyott Street is one of the streets of London in the WC1A postal area (St Giles)

Dyott Street, WC1A

Earlham Street, WC2H Earlham Street is one of the spokes leading off of Seven Dials (Covent Garden)

Earlham Street, WC2H

Earnshaw Street, WC2H Earnshaw Street was at first called Arthur Street (St Giles)

Earnshaw Street, WC2H

Egmont House, WC2H Egmont House is a block on Shaftesbury Avenue (Soho)

Egmont House, WC2H

Endeavour House, WC2H Endeavour House is a block on Shaftesbury Avenue (St Giles)

Endeavour House, WC2H

Endell Street, WC2H Endell Street, originally known as Belton Street, is a street that runs from High Holborn in the north to Long Acre and Bow Street in the south (Covent Garden)

Endell Street, WC2H

Excel Court, WC2H Excel Court is one of the streets of London in the WC2H postal area (St Giles)

Excel Court, WC2H

Exchange Court, WC2E Exchange Court leads south from Maiden Lane (Covent Garden)

Exchange Court, WC2E

Exeter Street, WC2E Exeter Street off Strand was built circa 1677, and so called after Exeter House, the town house of Cecil, Earl of Exeter (Charing Cross)

Exeter Street, WC2E

Fairgate House, WC1A Fairgate House is a block on New Oxford Street (St Giles)

Fairgate House, WC1A

Falconberg Court, W1D Falconberg Court once ran off Falconberg Mews (Soho)

Falconberg Court, W1D

Falconberg Mews, W1D Falconberg Mews runs off of Sutton Row (Soho)

Falconberg Mews, W1D

Fletcher Buildings, WC2B Fletcher Buildings is sited on Martlett Court (Covent Garden)

Fletcher Buildings, WC2B

Flitcroft Street, WC2H Flitcroft Street is one of the streets of London in the WC2H postal area (St Giles)

Flitcroft Street, WC2H

Floral Court, WC2E Floral Court is a location in London (Covent Garden)

Floral Court, WC2E

Floral Street, WC2E Floral Street is one of the streets of London in the WC2E postal area (Covent Garden)

Floral Street, WC2E

Fox Under Hill Alley, WC2N Fox Under Hill Alley ran alongside Cecil House and later Salisbury Street (Charing Cross)

Fox Under Hill Alley, WC2N

Frith Street, W1D Frith Street is named after Richard Frith, a local builder (Soho)

Frith Street, W1D

Garrick Street, WC2E Garrick Street is the northern extension of Bedford Street running up to Long Acre and Cranbourne Street (Covent Garden)

Garrick Street, WC2E

Garrick Yard, WC2E Garrick Yard, together with the more familiar Garrick Street to the northeast of here, both took their names from the Garrick Club which commemorates the famous 18th century actor, David Garrick. (Covent Garden)

Garrick Yard, WC2E

Gate Street, WC2A Gate Street is one of the streets of London in the WC2A postal area

Gate Street, WC2A

George Court, WC2N George Court is named after George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham (Charing Cross)

George Court, WC2N

George Yard, W1D In 1936, George Yard became Goslett Yard (St Giles)

George Yard, W1D

Gerrard Place, W1D Gerrard Place was known as Nassau Street until 1910 (Soho)

Gerrard Place, W1D

Gerrard Street, W1D Gerrard Street is the main street of Chinatown (Soho)

Gerrard Street, W1D

Gibraltar House, WC2R Gibraltar House is a block on Strand (Temple)

Gibraltar House, WC2R

Goodwins Court, WC2N Goodwins Court connects Bedfordbury with St Martin’s Lane (Covent Garden)

Goodwins Court, WC2N

Goslett Yard, W1D Goslett Yard was previously George Yard, after an inn at its end (St Giles)

Goslett Yard, W1D

Grafton Street, W1D Grafton Street took its name from Henry Fitzroy, Duke of Grafton, Charles II’s illegitimate son by Barbara Villiers, Duchess of Cleveland. (Leicester Square)

Grafton Street, W1D

Grape Street, WC2H Grape Street is one of the streets of London in the WC2H postal area

Grape Street, WC2H

Great Newport Street, WC2H Great Newport Street is one of the streets of London in the WC2H postal area (Leicester Square)

Great Newport Street, WC2H

Great Queen Street, WC2B Great Queen Street is a continuation of Long Acre from Drury Lane to Kingsway.

Great Queen Street, WC2B

Greek Court, W1D Greek Court is a tiny sealed-off alleyway named after a former Greek church established in 1670s (Soho)

Greek Court, W1D

Greek Street, W1D Greek Street leads south from Soho Square to Shaftesbury Avenue. (Soho)

Greek Street, W1D

Green Dragon House, WC2B Green Dragon House is a block on Stukeley Street

Green Dragon House, WC2B

Half Moon Street, WC2N Half Moon Street was an old name for the lower portion of Bedford Street (Charing Cross)

Half Moon Street, WC2N

Hanover Place, WC2E Hanover Place is one of the streets of London in the WC2E postal area (Covent Garden)

Hanover Place, WC2E

Heathcock Court, WC2E Heathcock Court runs north off Strand (Covent Garden)

Heathcock Court, WC2E

Henrietta Street, WC2E Henrietta Street is one of the streets of London in the WC2E postal area (Covent Garden)

Henrietta Street, WC2E

High Holborn, WC2B High Holborn is a road which is the highest point in the City of London - 22 metres above sea level

High Holborn, WC2B

Hobhouse Court, WC2H Hobhouse Court is named after Sir John Cam Hobhouse, Victorian MP and arts patron (Leicester Square)

Hobhouse Court, WC2H

Hog Lane, WC2H Hog Lane was a lane that went from St Giles’ leper hospital (set up in the 12th century) to the monument to Eleanor at Charing Cross. (St Giles)

Hog Lane, WC2H

Hop Gardens, WC2N Hop Gardens is a small courtyard (Covent Garden)

Hop Gardens, WC2N

Horse and Dolphin Yard, W1D Horse and Dolphin Yard once lay behind the Horse and Dolphin Inn (Soho)

Horse and Dolphin Yard, W1D

Houghton Square, WC2B Houghton Square is a road in the SW9 postcode area (Aldwych)

Houghton Square, WC2B

Houghton Street, WC2A Houghton Street is a street which has been ’demoted’ over time (Aldwych)

Houghton Street, WC2A

Hudson House, WC2R Hudson House is a block on Tavistock Street (Covent Garden)

Hudson House, WC2R

Huguenot House, WC2H Huguenot House is a block on Panton Street (Leicester Square)

Huguenot House, WC2H

Imperial House, WC2B Imperial House is a block on Kingsway (Aldwych)

Imperial House, WC2B

India House, WC2B India House is a block on Aldwych (Aldwych)

India House, WC2B

India Place, WC2B India Place is a small alleyway leading from Aldwych (Aldwych)

India Place, WC2B

Irving Street, WC2H Irving Street is named after Henry Irving, the popular Victorian actor (Leicester Square)

Irving Street, WC2H

Isis House, WC1A Isis House is a building on New Oxford Street (St Giles)

Isis House, WC1A

Ivybridge Lane, WC2N Ivybridge Lane is named after a former ivy-covered bridge (Charing Cross)

Ivybridge Lane, WC2N

James Street, WC2E James Street connects Covent Garden station with Covent Garden market (Covent Garden)

James Street, WC2E

Jebsen House, WC2H Jebsen House is a block on Mercer Street (Covent Garden)

Jebsen House, WC2H

John Adam Street, WC2N John Adam Street is named after John Adam, who built the Adelphi development with his brother Robert in the 1760s (Charing Cross)

John Adam Street, WC2N

Jubilee Market, WC2E Jubilee Market is one of the streets of London in the WC2E postal area (Covent Garden)

Jubilee Market, WC2E

Kean Street, WC2B Kean Street is one of the streets of London in the WC2B postal area (Aldwych)

Kean Street, WC2B

Keeley Street, WC2B Keeley Street has a dual history (Covent Garden)

Keeley Street, WC2B

Kemble Street, WC2B Kemble Street is a road in the WC2B postcode area (Covent Garden)

Kemble Street, WC2B

King Street, WC2E King Street is one of the streets of London in the WC2E postal area (Covent Garden)

King Street, WC2E

Kings Head Yard, WC2H Kings Head Yard ran off Short’s Gardens (Covent Garden)

Kings Head Yard, WC2H

Kingsway, WC2A Kingsway is one of the streets of London in the WC2B postal area (Westminster)

Kingsway, WC2A

Lakatos Building, WC2A Lakatos Building is a block on Portugal Street (Aldwych)

Lakatos Building, WC2A

Lancaster Place, WC2R Lancaster Place is part of the northern approach to Waterloo Bridge (Charing Cross)

Lancaster Place, WC2R

Langley Court, WC2E Langley Court is one of the streets of London in the WC2E postal area (Covent Garden)

Langley Court, WC2E

Langley House, WC2E Langley House is a building on Long Acre (Covent Garden)

Langley House, WC2E

Langley Street, WC2H Langley Street is one of the streets of London in the WC2H postal area (Covent Garden)

Langley Street, WC2H

Leicester Court, WC2H Ryders Court was renamed to Leicester Court in 1936 (Leicester Square)

Leicester Court, WC2H

Leicester Place, WC2H Leicester Place leads north from Leicester Square (Soho)

Leicester Place, WC2H

Leicester Square, WC2H Leicester Square is a central tourist attraction of London (Leicester Square)

Leicester Square, WC2H

Leicester Street, SW1Y Leicester Street was named after Robert Sidney, 2nd Earl of Leicester, who purchased land in 1630 and erected a house (Leicester Square)

Leicester Street, SW1Y

Lincoln’s Inn Fields, WC2A Lincoln’s Inn Fields is the largest public square in London, laid out in the 1630s under the initiative of the speculative builder William Newton (Westminster)

Lincoln’s Inn Fields, WC2A

Lisle Street, W1D Lisle Street leads east from Wardour Street (Soho)

Lisle Street, W1D

Litchfield Street, WC2H Litchfield Street is possibly named after Edward Lee, 1st Earl of Lichfield, who was brother-in-law of Henry FitzRoy, 1st Duke of Grafton and son of Charles II (Leicester Square)

Litchfield Street, WC2H

Little Compton Street, W1D Little Compton Street was a street in Soho (Soho)

Little Compton Street, W1D

Little Newport Street, WC2H Little Newport Street was renamed as Newport Place in 1939 (Leicester Square)

Little Newport Street, WC2H

Long Acre, WC2E Long Acre is one of the streets of London in the WC2E postal area (Covent Garden)

Long Acre, WC2E

Lumley Court, WC2N The very narrow Lumley Court connects Strand and Maiden Lane (Charing Cross)

Lumley Court, WC2N

Macclesfield Street, W1D Macclesfield Street leads into Soho and Chinatown from the north (Soho)

Macclesfield Street, W1D

Macklin Street, WC2B Macklin Street is one of the streets of London in the WC2B postal area

Macklin Street, WC2B

Maiden Lane, WC2E Maiden Lane runs from Bedford Street in the west to Southampton Street in the east (Covent Garden)

Maiden Lane, WC2E

Maidstone House, WC2H Maidstone House is sited on Mercer Street (Covent Garden)

Maidstone House, WC2H

Manette Street, W1D Manette Street in Soho is named after the character from Dickens’ A Tale of Two Cities. (Soho)

Manette Street, W1D

Market Building, WC2E Market Building is a block on Covent Garden Piazza (Covent Garden)

Market Building, WC2E

Marlborough House, WC2H Marlborough House is a block on Earlham Street (Covent Garden)

Marlborough House, WC2H

Martlett Court, WC2B Martlett Court appears on maps from the 1750s onwards (Covent Garden)

Martlett Court, WC2B

May’s Court, WC2N May’s Court is a road in the WC2N postcode area (Covent Garden)

May’s Court, WC2N

Melbourne Place, WC2B Melbourne Place is a road in the WC2B postcode area (Aldwych)

Melbourne Place, WC2B

Mercer Street, WC2H Mercer Street is one of the streets of London in the WC2H postal area (St Giles)

Mercer Street, WC2H

Monmouth Street, WC2H Monmouth Street is one of the streets of London in the WC2H postal area (Covent Garden)

Monmouth Street, WC2H

Montreal Place, WC2R Montreal Place is a road in the WC2R postcode area (Aldwych)

Montreal Place, WC2R

Moor Street, W1D Moor Street first appears by name in 1683 (Soho)

Moor Street, W1D

Nassau House, WC2H Nassau House is a block on Shaftesbury Avenue (Soho)

Nassau House, WC2H

Neal Street, WC2H Neal Street is one of the streets of London in the WC2H postal area (Covent Garden)

Neal Street, WC2H

Neal’s Yard, WC2H Neals Yard is one of the most photographed places of London (Covent Garden)

Neal’s Yard, WC2H

New Academic Building, WC2A New Academic Building is located on Lincoln’s Inn Fields (Westminster)

New Academic Building, WC2A

New Compton Street, WC2H New Compton Street is one of the streets of London in the WC2H postal area (St Giles)

New Compton Street, WC2H

New Row, WC2E New Row is one of the streets of London in the WC2N postal area (Covent Garden)

New Row, WC2E

Newport Court, WC2H Newport Court was laid out approximately on the site of the courtyard of Newport House (Leicester Square)

Newport Court, WC2H

Newport Place, WC2H Newport Place was named after Mountjoy Blount, Earl of Newport (Isle of Wight), who owned a house on Newport Street in the 17th century (Leicester Square)

Newport Place, WC2H

Newton Street, WC1V Newton Street is named for Isaac Newton, scientist and mathematician

Newton Street, WC1V

Norman House, WC2R Norman House can be found on Strand, behind Savoy Steps (Charing Cross)

Norman House, WC2R

North East Wing Bush House, WC2R Residential block (Aldwych)

North East Wing Bush House, WC2R

North West Wing Bush House, WC2R Residential block (Aldwych)

North West Wing Bush House, WC2R

Nottingham Court, WC2H Nottingham Court is one of the streets of London in the WC2H postal area (Covent Garden)

Nottingham Court, WC2H

Odhams Walk, WC2H Odhams Walk is one of the streets of London in the WC2H postal area (Covent Garden)

Odhams Walk, WC2H

Old Building, WC2A Old Building is a building on Houghton Street (Aldwych)

Old Building, WC2A

Old Compton Street, W1D Old Compton Street is a road that runs east–west through Soho (Soho)

Old Compton Street, W1D

Orange Street, WC2H Orange Street gets its name from William III, Prince of Orange - the reigning king when the street was built. (Leicester Square)

Orange Street, WC2H

Orion House, WC2H Orion House is a block on Upper St Martin’s Lane (Covent Garden)

Orion House, WC2H

Oxendon Street, W1D Oxendon Street, after Sir Henry Oxendon, husband of Mary Baker, daughter of Robert Baker who built the former Piccadilly House nearby (Leicester Square)

Oxendon Street, W1D

Panton Street, SW1Y Panton Street was named after Colonel Thomas Panton, local property dealer of the 17th century (Leicester Square)

Panton Street, SW1Y

Parker Mews, WC2B Parker Mews is one of the streets of London in the WC2B postal area

Parker Mews, WC2B

Parker Street, WC2B Parker Street is one of the streets of London in the WC2B postal area

Parker Street, WC2B

Parker Tower, WC2B Parker Tower is a block on Parker Street

Parker Tower, WC2B

Phoenix House, WC2H Phoenix House is sited on Phoenix Street (St Giles)

Phoenix House, WC2H

Phoenix Street, WC2H Phoenix Street is one of the streets of London in the WC2H postal area (St Giles)

Phoenix Street, WC2H

Portsmouth Street, WC2A Portsmouth Street is one of the streets of London in the WC2A postal area (Aldwych)

Portsmouth Street, WC2A

Portugal Street, WC2A Portugal Street was named in honour of Charles II’s Portuguese queen Catherine of Braganza (Aldwych)

Portugal Street, WC2A

Queens House, WC2A Queens House is a block on Lincoln’s Inn Fields (Westminster)

Queens House, WC2A

Romilly Street, W1D Romilly Street is a small street that runs behind Shaftesbury Avenue and takes its name from lawyer Samuel Romilly (Soho)

Romilly Street, W1D

Rose Street, WC2N Rose Street is one of the streets of London in the WC2E postal area (Covent Garden)

Rose Street, WC2N

Royal Opera House, WC2E Royal Opera House is a block on Bow Street (Covent Garden)

Royal Opera House, WC2E

Russell Chambers, WC2E Russell Chambers is one of the streets of London in the WC2E postal area (Covent Garden)

Russell Chambers, WC2E

Russell Street, WC2E Russell Street is a road in the WC2E postcode area (Covent Garden)

Russell Street, WC2E

Salisbury Street, WC2N Salisbury Street was named after Robert Cecil, the first Earl of Salisbury (Charing Cross)

Salisbury Street, WC2N

Sardinia House, WC2A Sardinia House can be found on Lincoln’s Inn Fields (Aldwych)

Sardinia House, WC2A

Sardinia Street, WC2A Sardinia Street is one of the streets of London in the WC2A postal area (Westminster)

Sardinia Street, WC2A

Sardinia Street, WC2B Sardinia Street, formerly Duke Street, was a street that ran from Prince’s Street in the south to the western side of Lincoln’s Inn Fields in the north. (Aldwych)

Sardinia Street, WC2B

Savoy Court, WC2R Savoy Court is a modern name for Beaufort Buildings (Charing Cross)

Savoy Court, WC2R

Savoy Hill, WC2R Savoy Hill is located at a site originally called Savoy Manor (Charing Cross)

Savoy Hill, WC2R

Savoy Place, WC2N Savoy Place is located at a site originally called Savoy Manor - taking its name from Peter II, Count of Savoy. (Charing Cross)

Savoy Place, WC2N

Savoy Street, WC2E Savoy Street is final street east off Strand before the approach road to Waterloo Bridge (Charing Cross)

Savoy Street, WC2E

Savoy Way, WC2R Savoy Way is located on the former site of the Savoy Palace, built for Peter II, Count of Savoy in 1245. (Charing Cross)

Savoy Way, WC2R

Seven Dials, WC2H Seven Dials was built on the site of the Cock-and-Pie Fields, named for a nearby inn (Covent Garden)

Seven Dials, WC2H

Shaftesbury Avenue, W1D Shaftesbury Avenue is a major street in the West End of London, named after Anthony Ashley Cooper, 7th Earl of Shaftesbury (Soho)

Shaftesbury Avenue, W1D

Shaftesbury Avenue, WC2H Shaftesbury Avenue was named after Anthony Ashley Cooper, 7th Earl of Shaftesbury, Victorian politician and philanthropist (St Giles)

Shaftesbury Avenue, WC2H

Sheffield Street, WC2A Sheffield Street is one of the streets of London in the WC2A postal area (Aldwych)

Sheffield Street, WC2A

Shell Mex House, WC2N Shell Mex House is a grade II listed building located at 80 Strand (Charing Cross)

Shell Mex House, WC2N

Shelton Street, WC2E Shelton Street is a road in the WC2B postcode area (Covent Garden)

Shelton Street, WC2E

Sheridan Buildings, WC2B Sheridan Buildings is a block on Martlett Court (Covent Garden)

Sheridan Buildings, WC2B

Shorts Gardens, WC2H Shorts Gardens is one of the streets of London in the WC2H postal area (Covent Garden)

Shorts Gardens, WC2H

Slingsby Place, WC2E Slingsby Place is one of the streets of London in the WC2E postal area (Covent Garden)

Slingsby Place, WC2E

Soho Place, W1D Soho Place is a walkway created in the 2010s when the Crossrail project caused the demolition of the locality (St Giles)

Soho Place, W1D

Somerset House, WC2R Somerset House is a block on Strand (Temple)

Somerset House, WC2R

Sounding Alley, WC2H Sounding Alley is a road in the E3 postcode area (St Giles)

Sounding Alley, WC2H

South East Wing Bush House, WC2B Residential block (Aldwych)

South East Wing Bush House, WC2B

Southampton Street, WC2E Southampton Street - named for Thomas Wriothesley, 4th Earl of Southampton and landowner (Covent Garden)

Southampton Street, WC2E

St Clement’s Building, WC2A St Clement’s Building is a block on Clare Market (Aldwych)

St Clement’s Building, WC2A

St Clements Lane, WC2A St Clements Lane has also been known as Clements Lane (Aldwych)

St Clements Lane, WC2A

St Giles High Street, WC2H St Giles High Street is one of the streets of London in the WC2H postal area (St Giles)

St Giles High Street, WC2H

St Giles House, WC2B Residential block (Covent Garden)

St Giles House, WC2B

St Giles Passage, WC2H St Giles Passage is named after St Giles Hospital, a leper hospital founded by Matilda of Scotland, wife of Henry I in 1117 (St Giles)

St Giles Passage, WC2H

St Giles Square, WC2H St Giles Square is part of a new, post-Crossrail, development (St Giles)

St Giles Square, WC2H

St Giles Square, WC2H St Giles Square is a modern piazza-style development

St Giles Square, WC2H

St Martins Court, WC2H St Martins Court is one of the streets of London in the WC2N postal area (Leicester Square)

St Martins Court, WC2H

St Martins Lane, WC2N St Martins Lane runs up to Seven Dials from St Martin’s-in-the-Fields (Covent Garden)

St Martins Lane, WC2N

St Martins Place, WC2N St Martin’s Place is a short stretch connecting Trafalgar Square to the bottom of Charing Cross Road (Charing Cross)

St Martins Place, WC2N

St Martins Street, WC2H St Martins Street is one of the streets of London in the WC2H postal area (Leicester Square)

St Martins Street, WC2H

Stacey Street, WC2H Stacey Street is one of the streets of London in the WC2H postal area (St Giles)

Stacey Street, WC2H

Strand Bridge House, WC2R Strand Bridge House is a block on Strand (Temple)

Strand Bridge House, WC2R

Strand Building, WC2R Strand Building is a block on Strand (Temple)

Strand Building, WC2R

Strand Underpass, WC2E Strand Underpass is the name of the tunnel leading from the northern approach of Waterloo Bridge to Kingsway (Charing Cross)

Strand Underpass, WC2E

Strand, WC2E Strand (or the Strand) runs just over 3⁄4 mile from Trafalgar Square eastwards to Temple Bar, where the road becomes Fleet Street inside the City of London (Charing Cross)

Strand, WC2E

Strand, WC2R Strand, as it nears the Aldwych, is home to many London theatres (Aldwych)

Strand, WC2R

Stukeley Street, WC2B Stukeley Street is one of the streets of London in the WC2B postal area

Stukeley Street, WC2B

Sutton Row, W1D Sutton Row has existed since 1681 (Soho)

Sutton Row, W1D

Swiss Court, SW1Y Swiss Court is named for the former Swiss Centre, once located here (Leicester Square)

Swiss Court, SW1Y

Tavistock Street, WC2B Tavistock Street is a road in the WC2B postcode area (Covent Garden)

Tavistock Street, WC2B

The Arcade, WC2B The Arcade is one of the streets of London in the WC2B postal area (Covent Garden)

The Arcade, WC2B

The Macadam Building Street, WC2R The Macadam Building Street is a location in London (Temple)

The Macadam Building Street, WC2R

The Market Piazza, WC2E The Market Piazza is one of the streets of London in the WC2E postal area (Covent Garden)

The Market Piazza, WC2E

The Market, WC2E The Market is one of the streets of London in the WC2E postal area (Covent Garden)

The Market, WC2E

The Piazza, WC2B The Piazza is the formal name for the central area of Covent Garden market (Covent Garden)

The Piazza, WC2B

Thomas Neal Centre, WC2H Thomas Neal Centre is one of the streets of London in the WC2H postal area (Covent Garden)

Thomas Neal Centre, WC2H

Tonbridge House, WC2H Tonbridge House is a block on Mercer Street (Covent Garden)

Tonbridge House, WC2H

Tower Court, WC2H Tower Court is one of the streets of London in the WC2H postal area (Covent Garden)

Tower Court, WC2H

Tower House, WC2E Tower House is a block on Southampton Street (Covent Garden)

Tower House, WC2E

Tower Street, WC2H Tower Street is one of the streets of London in the WC2H postal area (Covent Garden)

Tower Street, WC2H

Twining Street, WC2A Gilbert Street was renamed Twining Street after 1895 (Aldwych)

Twining Street, WC2A

Upper St Martin’s Lane, WC2H This is a street in the WC2H postcode area (Covent Garden)

Upper St Martin’s Lane, WC2H

Vale Royal House, WC2H Vale Royal House is a block on Charing Cross Road (Leicester Square)

Vale Royal House, WC2H

Vere Street, WC2B Vere Street was a street in the Lincoln’s Inn Fields area (Aldwych)

Vere Street, WC2B

Victoria Embankment, WC2R Victoria Embankment runs from the Houses of Parliament to Blackfriars Bridge (Temple)

Victoria Embankment, WC2R

Waterman House, WC2B Waterman House is sited on Kingsway (Aldwych)

Waterman House, WC2B

Wedgwood Mews, W1D Wedgwood Mews hosted Josiah Wedgwood’s showrooms between 1774 and 1795 (Soho)

Wedgwood Mews, W1D

Wellington House, WC2E Wellington House is a 1930s office block on the corner of Lancaster Place and Strand (Charing Cross)

Wellington House, WC2E

Wellington Street, WC2E Wellington Street is one of the streets of London in the WC2E postal area (Covent Garden)

Wellington Street, WC2E

Wellington Terrace, WC2E Wellington Terrace is a street in Paddington (Covent Garden)

Wellington Terrace, WC2E

West Central Street, WC2H West Central Street is one of the streets of London in the WC1A postal area

West Central Street, WC2H

West Street, WC2H West Street is one of the streets of London in the WC2H postal area (Covent Garden)

West Street, WC2H

Whitcomb Street, WC2H Whitcomb Street - named after William Whitcomb, 17th century brewer and property developer (Leicester Square)

Whitcomb Street, WC2H

White Bear Yard, WC2H White Bear Yard - named after a former pub - was off the north side of Lisle Street (Soho)

White Bear Yard, WC2H

Wild Court, WC2B Wild Court leads west from the Kingsway

Wild Court, WC2B

Wild Street, WC2B Wild Street is one of the streets of London in the WC2B postal area (Covent Garden)

Wild Street, WC2B

William IV Street, WC2N William IV Street runs from Charing Cross Road to the Strand (Charing Cross)

William IV Street, WC2N

Wingate House, WC2H Wingate House is a block on Shaftesbury Avenue (Soho)

Wingate House, WC2H

Wych Street, WC2R Wych Street was near where Australia House now stands on Aldwych - it ran west from the church of St Clement Danes on the Strand to a point at the southern end of Drury Lane. (Aldwych)

Wych Street, WC2R

Zimbabwe House, WC2N Charles Holden designed this building located on the corner of Agar Street and Strand for the British Medical Association. (Charing Cross)

Zimbabwe House, WC2N

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