Covent Garden: Theatre Land & the Birth of Bohemia (Some Adult Themes Not Suitable for Younger Children)

Covent Garden: Theatre Land, Brothels, Bad Behaviour, the Birth of Bohemia, Plus Britain's First Police Force

Welcome, I'm Justin, a huge fan of plays and musicals (I can give you advice on the best theatre in town and where to get cheap tickets), and a lover of history.

The Covent Garden tour is one of 6 different tours that I lead in London, which together have gathered around 1,500 reviews averaging 5 stars (the highest on GuruWalk).

From the late 1600s, Covent Garden become the centre of bohemian London. A field of dreams for both the upper and lower classes. A place where social barriers fell away and artists and intellectuals mixed and played.

Shakespeare famously said that

"All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players. They have their exits and their entrances; And one man in his time plays many parts."

And Covent Garden was the stage that many a man and woman played upon, whether formally in the theatre, in artists' studios or informally on the street.

Let me lead you through the streets of Covent Garden, and in so doing bring the past to life.
 
Over the centuries, the area has had its ups and downs. originally being the home of the super-rich, who wanted to escape from the crowded and disease-ridden old town (which we call “the City of London” between the Tower of London and St Paul’s Cathedral). 

But with the arrival of an outdoor market and then a succession of theatres, Covent Garden morphed into a bohemian playground full of pubs and prostitutes, and the rich fled further west. 

Today, the area has gone upmarket again, with a thriving bar and restaurant scene and hundreds of shops. Critically, the theatres are still here, with a total of 13, offering everything from rock and film musicals to opera and ballet. 

As we walk around the area, I’ll lead you down secret passages few Londoners know and tell you the stories each building has to tell. 

I'll also give you recommendations for plays and musicals in the area and where to eat & drink before a show. 

Highlights of the tour include: 

• Benjamin Franklin’s House:  One of the birthplaces of the United States of America 
• The Nell Gwynne: An ancient pub that celebrates King Charles II’s favourite actress and mistress Nell Gwynne.
• The People's Piazza: The central Covent Garden market. Formally a giant fruit, vegetable and flower market and now a warren of small boutiques and restaurants. 
• The Lamb and Flag: Covent Garden's oldest pub, famous for boxing matches that led to it being called "the bucket of blood". 
• St Paul's Church: the magnificent actors’ church of St Paul’s, with its hidden garden and plaques commemorating past stars of screen and stage. 
• Goodwin Court (aka Knockturn Alley): A piece of 17th century London now immortalised as the model for a Harry Potter film set.  
• The Theatre Royal Dury Lane: The original theatre opened 350 years ago and has been centre of scandal ever since. 
• Bow Street Police Station & Magistrates Court: Home to London's first police force. 
• The Royal Opera House: Providing panoramic views of Covent Garden piazza from the top floor.  

The tour will end a short walk from Covent Garden underground station on the Piccadilly Line. 

The Covent Garden walking tour is one of the 6 walking tours I do around London for GuruWalk: 1) The City of London), 2) Soho,  3) Covent Garden, 4) the South Bank, 5) Mayfair & St James's and 6) ArtLand (which together have around 1,500 reviews averaging 5 stars (the highest on GuruWalk). Hope to see you soon! 

I do have a card reader so can can take credit/debit cards for tips.