Covent Garden

Overview

Covent Garden can be thought of as the more genteel neighbour of Soho, consisting of cobbled streets lined with charming Victorian shops now selling nice things that I can’t afford.

The centrepiece of the area is the Georgian former fruit, vegetable and flower market. It is a bit overly touristy for my tastes - finding any genuine crafts for sale amidst the sea of wares straight from AliExpress is a challenge.

I enjoyed the busker who was boldly entertaining crowds with Radiohead’s Creep, a gloriously off brand choice that captured the mood perfectly.

Photo of Covent Garden Market
Photo by me. The former Apple Market.

Things to do

Bow Street Police Museum

Museum documenting the history of London’s police force, in the cells of a former police station

Price
£6.00 - under 12's free
Website
bowstreetpolicemuseum.org.uk
Hours
Fri-Sun
11:00 - 16:30

Review

The Bow Street Police Museum is, above all things, tiny. It consists of a single room that documents the early history of the police and a few cells with information about some of their infamous inhabitants.

Still, if you’re happy to do some reading then the museum is interesting. The early history of the police paints a vivid picture of 1700s London and I left armed with a list of things to read about later.

Small children might struggle to absorb all the dense boards of text, but the cells and their slightly grim plumbing did seem to keep the families visiting alongside me amused.

I’m not quite sure the experience is worth £6 per adult but if you keep the receipt you get a discount in the Royal Opera House cafe over the road.

Photo looking outwards from a cell with information boards.
Inside one of the cells in the museum
Photo of the exterior of the Bow Street Police Museum.
Photo by me

London Transport Museum

The London Transport Museum is the most exciting place in the world if you’re under the age of 10 and have any interest in trains or busses.

There are lots of interactive displays, including a bus where kids can operate the lights and, horror of horrors, the horn. It is not a relaxing place.

Price
£24.50 - Annual pass. Entry timeslot must be pre-booked.
Website
www.ltmuseum.co.uk
Hours
Mon-Sun
10:00 - 18:00
Last entry
17:00
A routemaster bus on display in the museum
Photo by me. A slightly threatening number plate.

Speciality coffee

Grind

Coffee by day, cocktails by- well, also by day. There’s a small amount of outdoor seating.

Roaster
Grind
Website
grind.co.uk
Hours
Sun-Mon
08:00 - 18:00
Tue
08:00 - 19:00
Wed
08:00 - 20:00
Thu-Fri
08:00 - 21:00
Sat
08:00 - 22:00
Photo of a flat white in a red cup.
Photo by me, this was a solid 8/10 flat white.

Monmouth Coffee

I’m going to be bold and call this my favourite flat white in London. The shop is tiny so ordering can be a hectic experience, but it is worth it.

You have to take along a reusable cup, or there’s a refundable £5 deposit to rent a cup. I wouldn’t advise trying to sit in-store!

Roaster
Monmouth
Website
www.monmouthcoffee.co.uk
Hours
Mon-Sat
08:00 - 19:00
Sun
Closed
Photo of the exterior of the shop
Photo by me, takeaway flat whites are not photogenic.