What to do in Covent Garden?

As you know, Covent Garden is our neighbourhood and we want you to enjoy it. If you are coming to the school for your lessons and you have to wait for a friend or you have some spare time in between lessons, you can use it to discover cool places around us. Here are some suggestions:

To drink a coffee: Monmouth Coffee Company 27 Monmouth Street, London WC2H 9EU This tiny shop was opened in Covent Garden in the 1970s and they still make some of the finest coffee in the area. There isn’t a big space inside so most customers ask for take away. It is often very busy and you need to queue but it’s worth it! To eat something: Food For Thought31 Neal Street, London WC2H 9PR If you are looking for a place to buy a healthy lunch, this is your place! For example, you can find soups, stir-fried vegetables, salads, quiches… and there are also vegan and gluten-free options. You can eat inside and order downstairs or your can takeaway - the counter faces the front door-. To relax yourself or have your lunch outdoors: Neal's Yard This is a small alley in Covent Garden between Shorts Gardens and Monmouth Street which opens into a courtyard. You will enjoy the colourful decoration of the buildings and there are free benches available to sit on during the day (it’s closed overnight). There are also some health food restaurants, cafes and retailers. To discover treasures from different cultures: The British MuseumGreat Russell Street, WC1B 3DG Not far from the School is The British Museum! A great place to learn and enjoy during your spare time… for free! The permanent collection covers almost 2 million years of human history, all housed in a magnificent neo-classical building. You can see amazing items of historical importance, from the Rosetta stone to the Egyptian mummies! For comic fans: Tintin Shop34 Floral Street Covent Garden, London WC2E 9DJWe always say that reading is a great way to improve your English skills. In this particular book shop, you can find books about the most famous characters created by Belgian cartoonist Hergé. As well as all the actual books, it stocks more Tintin merchandise than a real fan has ever dream of! To dance: Pineapple Studios7 Langley St, Westminster, London WC2H 9JA When Debbie Moore founded the renowned Pineapple Dance Studios in in 1979 her philosophy was to break down the elitist barriers surrounding dance, and make it available to everyone. In this great Studio you can chose between 40 different varieties of dance styles (classical ballet, street jazz, Hip hop or Salsa) for all levels and all ages. Try it, it could be good fun! To enjoy a street artist performance: Covent Garden Piazza Apart from the market in which it’s possible to find a large variety of shops, the Covent Garden Piazza is well known for street entertainers who perform in the open air by St Paul’s Church. Musicians, comedians, jugglers or tightrope walkers running daily shows. To learn about the history of the city: London Transport MuseumCovent Garden Piazza, London WC2E 7BB The evolution of the iconic double decker London Bus or the story behind the famous Underground Logo, are some of the highlights of the collection. They also organized temporary exhibitions about different topics. The galleries are full of interactive exhibits for young people and adults alike to play on - including real buses and trains. You will see, for instance, how a train carriage looked in the 1890s. The Royal Opera HouseBow St, London WC2E 9DD If you are lucky and you book it in advance, you can sometimes find cheap tickets for the most prestigious ballets or opera productions. Daily auditorium tours are also available, along with more detailed backstage tours. Inside the building you can gaze at the fabulous architecture and there is a fantastic terrace from which you can see Covent Garden Piazza… and The London Eye!