Covent Garden is in the very heart of London. One of London's liveliest areas, Covent Garden is a popular destination for Londoners and tourists alike.  The streets are shaped by their Georgian past, and are business and entertainment centres, attracting tourists and Londoners alike to their theatres, clubs and restaurants.

Covent Garden is home to the Royal Opera House and the excitement of theatreland and to the famous piazza, as well as numerous shops and market stalls and a myriad of street entertainers who perform at every opportunity. The Piazza is a vibrant modern-day market place. Surrounding the market are hundreds of shops, bars, cafes and restaurants and enlivened by regular street entertainment, which make the area buzz with vitality.

For pure indulgence, women should visit The Sanctuary in Floral Street, a totally 'hedonistic' women-only spa with pools, jacuzzis, saunas and solarium. Enjoy a traditional afternoon tea in the The Savoy Hotel . Porters Restaurant on Henrietta Street provides splendid British food at very reasonable prices if you're in need of sustenance.

 The London Transport Museum is a great place to take the children with heaps of interactive exhibits. Also to be found here is the Theatre Museum packed full of theatrical memorabilia from the last 300 years. Of course, don't miss the famous Royal Opera House which stages world class operatic and ballet performances .

The London Coliseum is also just down the road on St. Martin's Lane; this houses the equally impressive English National Opera and English National Ballet. The Theatre Royal on Drury Lane is an immense edifice and has the largest theatre auditorium in London. To the south of Covent Garden is Somerset House, which contains the Courtauld Gallery and two other major galleries. To get the full impact of the imposing riverside setting, enter from the Embankment side. Although Covent Garden is usually packed with visitors, the area remains attractive and vibrant.

 COVENT GARDEN RESTAURANTS

BELGO CENTRAAL - 50 Earlham Street, Covent Garden, London, WC2 - Tel: (0)20 7813 2233
Cuisine: Belgian

BROWNS RESTAURANT & BAR - 82-84 St Martin's Lane, London, WC2 - Tel: (0)20 7497 5050
Cuisine: Brasserie/British/English

GOLDEN HARVEST 17 Lisle Street, London, WC2 - Tel: (0)20 7287 3822 - Cuisine: Chinese

INDIA CLUB 143 Strand, London, WC2 - Tel: (0)20 7836 0650 - Cuisine: Indian

PORTERS ENGLISH RESTAURANT - 17 Henrietta Street, Covent Garden, London, WC2 - Tel: (0)20 7836 6466 - Cuisine: English

ROCK & SOLE PLACE - 47 Endell Street, London, WC2 - Tel: (0)20 7836 3785 - Cuisine: Fish & Chips

SIMPSON’S-IN-THE-STRAND - 100 Strand, London, WC2 - Tel: (0)20 7836 9112 - Cuisine: British