Lady’s Guide to a Beautiful Walk in Covent Garden

It’s time for another self-guided London walking tour. I’ve been walking all over the city lately, and I’m excited to share more of my discoveries with you. I’ve been in Covent Garden recently and I adore the area’s vibrant atmosphere, flower displays, and hidden courtyards. Today I bring you another free tour of London in the form of A Lady in London’s self-guided walk in Covent Garden.

Covent Garden

Covent Garden is one of London’s most beloved neighborhoods. The piazza and its markets draw locals and visitors alike, and the shops, restaurants, and theaters around it buzz with energy from morning until night.

There’s always something new to see here, whether it’s a street performer or a flower display, which means it’s worth coming back again and again.

Free Tour of London in Covent Garden

My self-guided walk in Covent Garden will take you through the neighborhood’s most exciting streets and markets. From Neal’s Yard to Seven Dials, secluded squares to iconic red phone boxes, you’ll get a broad overview of the area as you go.

This free tour of London starts at Covent Garden station. When you arrive, exit onto Long Acre and cross the street in front of you. Once across, take a left and walk down to Slingsby Place. There are plenty of shops to pop into as you go, so feel free to indulge in some retail therapy on the way.

Once at Slingsby Place, turn right and walk down the pedestrianized street and into the courtyard. There are are more shops and cafes here, so take your time and linger if you want to.

When you’re done exploring, exit onto Upper St Martin’s Lane and turn right. Upper St Martin’s Lane will become Monmouth Street and lead you up to Seven Dials. Monmouth Street has a lot of great independent shops, so it’s a fun place to explore if you’re looking for a unique find.

Once in Seven Dials, stop for a bit and take in your surroundings. The seven streets that radiate out from the center are full of life, and it’s fun to stop and watch the world go by from the middle.

When you’re done, continue your free tour of London by walking farther up Monmouth Street and turning right into the secret entrance to Neal’s Yard. Once you’re through the passageway, you’ll come out into a colorful square bursting with shops, cafes, and restaurants. It’s a good place to stop for a coffee or a bite to eat.

When you’ve finished exploring Neal’s Yard, exit onto Short’s Gardens and take a left. Walk a short way and then turn right on Neal Street. Head down towards the Covent Garden piazza. Neal Street is another of Covent Garden’s best shopping streets, so it’s worth spending a bit of extra time here.

Neal Street will eventually take you back to Long Acre. When you arrive, turn right, cross the street, and take a quick left on James Street. This pedestrianized street will lead you down to the covered piazza that Covent Garden is famous for.

When you get to the piazza, spend some time taking in your surroundings. From street performers to floral displays, there’s always something to catch the eye. Add to that markets, shops, and restaurants, and you could spend the rest of your day here.

If you can tear yourself away, continue your free tour of London by heading west down King Street. There are a lot of chic stores and boutiques here, and it’s one of my favorite places to shop in Covent Garden.

On your way down King Street, turn right into Floral Court. This courtyard is one of the area’s many hidden spaces, and it’s a fun place to stop for tea or a meal if you’re in the mood.

If not, head back out onto King Street and turn right. Soon you’ll reach Garrick Street. Turn right on Garrick Street and take another quick right into the little alley that is Rose Street. The Lamb and Flag pub at the end of Rose Street is a historic landmark, and Charles Dickens used to drink here.

Have a drink of your own if you want to, or turn left at the pub and follow Rose Street around until it reaches Floral Street. There are more great places on Rose Street as it continues up to Long Acre, so if you want to check them out, feel free to do so.

When you’re done, continue your free tour of London by walking east down Floral Street. This is another great shopping street in Covent Garden, and there are a lot of unique concept stores here.

Walk all the day down Floral Street until you reach Bow Street. Turn left on Bow Street, cross the street, and take a quick right on Broad Court. The ballerina statue and row of iconic red phone boxes are a delight to see (and photograph).

When you’re done admiring them, go back to Bow Street, turn left, and walk past the Royal Opera House to Tavistock Street.

Turn right onto Tavistock Street and walk down to Southampton Street. When you arrive, turn left on Southampton Street and then take a quick right onto Maiden Lane. There are lots more cafes and restaurants to take in along this road.

Maiden Lane will become Chandos Place when it crosses Bedford Street. Continue on Chandos Place until you reach William IV Street. Turn right on William IV Street, catching a glimpse of the National Portrait Gallery as you go. Afterwards, take a quick right on St Martin’s Lane.

Walk up St Martin’s Lane, ducking into side streets like Cecil Court and St Martin’s Court as you go. The former has great antiquarian bookshops and the latter has good restaurants. When you get to Cranbourn Street, turn left and make your way to Leicester Square Station.

You can either end your walk here or continue into Leicester Square to keep exploring London. Either way, your free tour of London’s Covent Garden ends here.

Covent Garden Walk Map and Details

Covent Garden Walking Tour

I’ve published more London walks and compiled them in my London walking tours blog post.

There are additional great walks outlined in London’s Hidden Walks, too. You can get it here. There are other ideas in my London walking books post as well.

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