Covent garden is the most colorful area of London. Photo

Covent garden is the centre of theatrical life of London.

Covent garden is one of London’s most popular attractions.

The area around the glazed building on the site of the former vegetable market is always full, especially during weekends and in summer. Covent garden is famous for its numerous cafés, restaurants, pubs, kiosks, markets and shops. Many street performers entertain visitors on a pedestrian square.

On the site of the former floral market now houses the London transport Museum. Covent garden is also home to several theatres including the Royal Opera house.

The first London area
In the middle Ages for the location of the current square was a vegetable field, part of the garden of the convent. Here were grown the vegetables for the nuns of the neighboring convent Named St. Peter, the so-called Covent garden Westminster. In 1540 king Henry VIII confiscated the lands of monasteries and the land was transferred to John Byron Russell, the first Earl of Bedford.

In 1632 the 4th Earl of Bedford Francis Russell hired the famous architect Inigo Jones to transform the area into a luxury neighborhood. Heavily influenced by squares in Rome, Jones created London’s first public square, surrounded her arcade buildings in the power of the Church. Paul.

Covent Garden Market
Today’s travelers the district soon began to decline. During the civil war of 1642 many of the buildings around the square were deserted. Some of them were then used as stores. When the Great fire of London destroyed urban markets, many companies have moved to Covent garden. The market continued to expand until it occupied the whole area. In 1830 the middle of the square was built the building of the Central market. The glass roof over the aisles were added later, first in 1875 and then in 1889. Building the Flower market was added in 1870, and in 1904 the Jubilee Market was completed.

Shopping centre Covent garden
In 1921 the government decided that the location in a crowded Central area of London is unsuitable for the market. But the market continued its existence until 1973, until it was relocated to nine Elms.
The developers have planned to destroy most of the freed buildings and markets in Covent garden. The new district with hotels and business centres would replace old buildings, but protests from local residents and opposition by the General public prevented the demolition of the markets. Plans were changed and buildings have been restored. Conversion to current entertainment shopping center has been remarkably successful: Covent garden attracts around thirty million visitors every year.

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