Discover the fascinating architectural history of this significant area, anchored around one of London’s most popular destinations, Covent Garden Market and Piazza, Inigo Jones’ late 17th-century revolutionary slice of town planning for the Earl of Bedford.
Steeped in history, this buzzing retail and cultural hotspot will take you on a journey through time. The walk leads from the 18th-century formality of one of London’s best-preserved squares on the Bedford Estate to the 21st-century version in Renzo Piano’s Central St Giles.
A mix of ingenious modern infills rising inside the original street grid respect, revitalise and protect this buzzing and densely populated residential, retail and office zone, with major cultural institutions including the London Transport Museum in the former Covent Garden Flower Market Building, and the refurbished Royal Opera House by Stanton Williams.
This walk is led by an experienced Blue Badge Guide.
Start: The Architectural Association, 36 Bedford Square, London, WC1B 3ES
End: Somerset House, Strand, London WC2R 1LA
Duration: 2 hours approx.
General Info
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