Covent Garden Market
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Covent Garden Market, also known as the Market Building around Covent Garden Piazza, blends historic arcades, artisan stalls, and live street performance in the middle of London's West End. You can move from the Apple Market and East Colonnade Market to nearby theatre streets in minutes, so the stop feels both classic and lively.
For a first visit, start with a guided Westminster-to-Covent Garden walking format, because you cover key landmarks faster and avoid route guesswork in peak-hour crowds. Book now.
For a first visit, start with a guided Westminster-to-Covent Garden walking format, because you cover key landmarks faster and avoid route guesswork in peak-hour crowds. Book now.
Select a date to find available tickets, tours & activities:
Guided walking tours
Best if you want one structured route linking Westminster, Covent Garden, and nearby central highlights with less planning friction.London: Westminster to Covent Garden Personalized Tour
4.7(12)
getyourguide.com
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6 tips for visiting the Covent Garden Market
1
Use Leicester Square at peak times
If your priority is less queue friction, use Leicester Square at midday peaks and walk in, instead of waiting for lift and platform pressure at Covent Garden station. This small swap often saves time and keeps your arrival calmer.
2
Pick your market day first
If you want antiques, Monday is the strongest window at Apple Market and Jubilee Market; if you want handmade crafts, choose Tuesday to Sunday. One early decision gives your whole stop clearer focus.
3
Go before the lunch wave
For cleaner photos under the Market Building arches, arrive in the morning before lunch and pre-theatre flows fill the Piazza. You get more space, easier movement, and less stop-start fatigue.
4
Split your stop into two loops
Do one short indoor loop through Apple Market and East Colonnade Market, then a second outdoor loop across the Piazza and side lanes. Two compact rounds beat one long drift, so you keep energy for the rest of your day.
5
Pair one nearby anchor
After the market, add one nearby anchor like London Transport Museum or National Gallery, not three different transfers. One realistic pairing keeps your West End afternoon flexible instead of rushed.
6
Use the smoother access route
If your group uses wheels or mobility aids, enter from Russell Street and the lower end of James Street, where ramps help over historic cobbles. That way you spend time enjoying stalls, not fighting the surface.
How to plan a Covent Garden Market stop
Covent Garden works best when you decide your visit style before arrival. One clear format keeps this central stop fun, not logistically noisy.
Choose guided or self-paced first
Best for first-time visitors: choose a guided Westminster-to-Covent Garden route if you want context plus landmarks in one pass. If your priority is stall browsing, keep it self-paced and focus on the Market Building first. Matching format to intent saves time and reduces decision fatigue. Book now.
Sequence the markets by day
Monday leans antique at Apple Market and Jubilee Market, while Tuesday to Sunday favors handmade crafts and general browsing. At weekend peaks in the Piazza, start indoors and move outside later for performers and photos. This simple order keeps your flow smooth.
Build a compact West End pairing
A practical nearby sequence is market first, then London Transport Museum for an indoor chapter, or National Gallery with Trafalgar Square for an art-and-landmark finish. Keep it to one add-on if you are with family or short on time, so the day still feels relaxed.
Use a traveler-type lens
First-timers usually want guided context, repeat visitors can target specific craft lanes, and families often do best with one short loop plus a food break. If mobility is limited, prioritize the ramped approach from Russell Street and avoid overloading your route with extra transfers.
From 1200 convent fields to the 1980 revival
The market you see today is layered over eight centuries of city change. A few dated anchors make the architecture and atmosphere much easier to read on-site.
1200 roots and 1540 handover
The earliest record places this area in 1200 as abbey-linked fields known as the convent garden. In 1540, the land passed to John Russell, 1st Earl of Bedford, setting up the estate story behind modern Covent Garden.
1630 piazza planning experiment
With support from Charles I, the 5th Earl of Bedford commissioned Inigo Jones in 1630 to create a planned public square, an early urban model for London. The arcaded edges still frame your walk through the Piazza today.
1666 to 1830 market formalization
After the Great Fire in 1666, the square shifted strongly toward produce trade, then gained formal market rights in 1670. Charles Fowler was commissioned in 1828, and the neo-classical market building opened in 1830, shaping the core layout you still navigate.
1974 move and 1980 reopening
By 1974, wholesale operations had moved to Nine Elms, and demolition plans for old Covent Garden were later stopped after resident campaigns in the 1970s. The district reopened in 1980 as a specialty shopping and culture destination, which is why your visit now blends market rhythm with West End street life.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a paid ticket to enter Covent Garden Market?
No. The Piazza and Market Building are open public spaces, so you can enter freely and pay only for shopping, food, or optional guided products.
Read more.What are the usual opening hours?
The area is accessible day and night, while trading windows vary by section. Typical patterns are shops around 10 am to 8 pm Monday to Saturday and around 11 am to 6 pm Sunday, with Apple Market usually 10 am to 6 pm daily and East Colonnade Market around 10:30 am to 7 pm.
Read more.What is the difference between Apple, East Colonnade, and Jubilee markets?
Apple Market focuses on handmade stalls Tuesday to Sunday and antiques on Monday. East Colonnade Market is a rotating craft-and-design lane, while Jubilee Market changes by day between antiques, a general market, and weekend arts-and-crafts formats.
Read more.Which Tube station is easiest for arrival?
Covent Garden station is the closest, but it includes 193 steps from platform to street. At peak times, many visitors use Leicester Square and walk in, while Holborn and Embankment are also practical options.
Read more.How much time should I plan for a first visit?
A practical first window is about 60 to 150 minutes, depending on whether you browse only the market lanes or add one nearby POI. If you include London Transport Museum or National Gallery, plan a longer half-day block.
Read more.Is Covent Garden Market wheelchair accessible?
Yes, but expect historic cobbles in parts of the area. Smoother access is available via Russell Street and lower James Street, and a disabled toilet is located in Tavistock Court by Jubilee Market.
Read more.Which nearby places combine well with this stop?
Strong same-area pairings are London Transport Museum, National Gallery, Trafalgar Square, and National Portrait Gallery. Pick one based on your mood, so your route stays compact and enjoyable.
Read more.General information
opening hours
Piazza and Market Building: accessible day and night.
Shops: usually Monday-Saturday, 10 am to 8 pm; Sunday, around 11 am to 6 pm.
Apple Market: daily, 10 am to 6 pm.
East Colonnade Market: daily, around 10:30 am to 7 pm.
Jubilee Market: Monday antiques, 5 am to 5 pm; Tuesday-Friday general market, 10:30 am to 7:30 pm; weekend arts and crafts, 10 am to 6 pm.
Shops: usually Monday-Saturday, 10 am to 8 pm; Sunday, around 11 am to 6 pm.
Apple Market: daily, 10 am to 6 pm.
East Colonnade Market: daily, around 10:30 am to 7 pm.
Jubilee Market: Monday antiques, 5 am to 5 pm; Tuesday-Friday general market, 10:30 am to 7:30 pm; weekend arts and crafts, 10 am to 6 pm.
address
Covent Garden Market
The Apple Market, Market Building
Covent Garden Piazza
London WC2E 8RF
United Kingdom
The Apple Market, Market Building
Covent Garden Piazza
London WC2E 8RF
United Kingdom
how to get there
Tube: Covent Garden (Piccadilly line) is the nearest stop, but note the 193 steps from platform to street. At peak times, Leicester Square is often smoother, while Holborn and Embankment are each about a 10-minute walk.
accessibility
Historic cobbles remain in parts of the district, but ramps and smoother approaches are available from Russell Street and lower James Street. A disabled toilet is available in Tavistock Court beside Jubilee Market.
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