London › Covent Garden Hotels
By Santorini Dave
- Best Hotels in Covent Garden
Covent Garden Hotel • Hotel phone: +44 20 7806 1000
ME London • Hotel phone: +44 20 3499 8651
NoMad London • Hotel phone: +44 20 390 61600
One Aldwych • Hotel phone: +44 20 7300 1000
The Resident Covent Garden • Hotel phone: +44 20 3146 1790
The Savoy • Hotel phone: +44 20 7836 4343 - Best Value/Midrange Hotels
The Fielding • Hotel phone: +44 20 7836 8305
Z Hotel Covent Garden • Hotel phone: +44 20 3837 6304
Hotel AMANO Covent Garden • Hotel phone: +44 20 3739 8900
Covent Garden Market.
A Guide to Staying in Covent Garden
Why Stay in Covent Garden: The Best of London in One Place
In my opinion, this is the best area for first-time visitors to London. Covent Garden is the absolute cultural heart of the city, where world-class theatre, Royal Opera, incredible shopping, and fantastic dining all exist within a vibrant, walkable neighborhood. The energy here is unmatched, with historic architecture as the backdrop for iconic street performers and bustling markets. If you want to be in the center of it all, this is the place to stay.
Best Things to Do
• Explore Covent Garden Market: The main piazza is the district’s centerpiece. Watch the famous street performers, browse the Apple Market for British crafts and jewelry, and soak in the lively atmosphere.
• See a West End Show: Covent Garden is London’s Theatreland. You are steps away from legendary venues like the Royal Opera House, the Theatre Royal Drury Lane, and dozens of others showing the world’s best plays and musicals. For last-minute deals, use the TKTS booth in nearby Leicester Square.
• Go Shopping: While the market is great for crafts, the surrounding streets are a shopper’s paradise. Find high-end fashion on Floral Street, major brands on Long Acre, and countless quirky boutiques and shoe shops on Neal Street.
• Visit the Museums: You are a 5 to 10-minute walk from The National Gallery and National Portrait Gallery in Trafalgar Square (both have free permanent collections). Even closer is the London Transport Museum, located right in the market piazza, which is fantastic for families.
When our kids were younger the Transport Museum was a London highlight.
Best Restaurants & Food
Covent Garden is one of London’s top dining destinations.
• Best Value Tip: Take advantage of the pre-theatre set menus offered by most restaurants between 5 PM and 7 PM. You can get a high-quality two or three-course meal for a fraction of the usual price.
• Top Restaurants: Book a table at the grand French brasserie Balthazar, the always-popular Indian restaurant Dishoom, the beautiful Italian spot The Petersham, or the steak-focused Hawksmoor Seven Dials.
• Casual Eats: For a great pub meal, try The Lamb & Flag. For quick bites, the market itself has many great food stalls.
Best Bars & Nightlife
After the theatres empty, the area’s bars come alive. For an iconic, world-class cocktail, head to the legendary American Bar at The Savoy hotel. For a more modern vibe, the rooftop bar at Hotel AMANO is excellent. You will also find dozens of historic pubs, cozy wine bars, and live music venues tucked away on the side streets.
Hidden Gems: Neal’s Yard & Seven Dials
Escape the main crowds by finding two of my favorite spots in London. Neal’s Yard is a tiny, hidden courtyard bursting with color, home to organic cafes and wellness shops. Just a block away is Seven Dials, a charming village-like hub where seven streets converge on a central monument, each filled with independent shops and cozy pubs.
The fun and very trendy NoMad Hotel in Covent Garden.
Best Hotels
Covent Garden has some of London’s best hotels, from grand dames to chic boutiques.
• Luxury: The Savoy (legendary grand hotel), NoMad London (the city’s coolest hotel in a former courthouse), One Aldwych (modern luxury with a great pool), Covent Garden Hotel (classic boutique style), and the ME London (sleek, futuristic design with a spectacular rooftop bar).
• Mid-Range & Boutique: Hotel AMANO Covent Garden (stylish with a great rooftop bar), The Resident Covent Garden (smart rooms with kitchenettes), and The Fielding (charming and historic).
• Best Value: For its prime location, the Z Hotel Covent Garden offers unbeatable value. The rooms are compact but modern, clean, and perfectly designed for a city stay.
Getting Around
• Walking: This is a walker’s paradise. You can easily get to Soho, Piccadilly Circus, Trafalgar Square, and the South Bank on foot.
• Tube: The area is served by several stations. Covent Garden Station is on the Piccadilly Line, providing a direct, one-hour journey to Heathrow Airport.
• Insider Tip: Covent Garden station is lift-only and can get very crowded. For a faster exit or entry, it’s often better to make the 5-minute walk to Leicester Square Station, which has escalators and serves both the Piccadilly and Northern lines. Holborn and Charing Cross stations are also just a short walk away.
About Santorini Dave