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Christmas in Covent Garden

Hot roast chestnuts? Hand-made Christmas decorations? Santa's grotto? Christmas lights? If you are looking for 'traditional' Christmas themes or individualistic shops selling unique, hand-crafted items in Covent Garden - forget it! If you want to buy new shoes or designer wear from shops playing some of the loudest music in London, at vastly inflated prices - come on down…. Covent Garden is fast becoming yet another London high street, with all the 'flag ship outlets' and high-street names such as B**ts, Mc*****ds, N**t, HMV, M&S, GAP and lots more 3 and 4 letter words.

Sadly, Covent Garden has also become the boozers' capital, with one of London's highest density of pubs, bars, restaurants, clubs and wine bars. Most people think of going to Covent Garden in terms of a good night out or letting their hair down. Not a problem in itself, were it not for almost 6,500 residents who get in the way. According to some street-wise London commercial estate agents, only a 'handful' of residents live in the West End. If they can't cope with the shouting, singing, screaming, urinating and vomiting, they shouldn't live in Covent Garden, they argue.

Not all is doom and gloom, however. Covent Garden has managed to retain some of its positive aspects and attractions. You will find some stunning architecture, some remarkably peaceful gardens, some beautiful window boxes, a whole raft of interesting churches and a mix of real 'characters' living in the area. The residential community has proved to be the essential ingredient in keeping Covent Garden vibrant and unique. Without this endangered species, the area would have become a ghetto of bars, pubs and clubs by now.

If you listen carefully, you may catch a glimpse of carol singers from the two local primary schools performing in the Phoenix Community Garden, the Age Concern day centre or on a street corner. Christmas Day itself in Covent Garden is bliss: quiet, no traffic, no vomit. The week between Christmas and New Year is always quiet, with the noisiest element of London's revellers either still hung-over, in Torremolinos or staying at home in suburbia until New Year's Eve.

For more information about the 'hidden' Covent Garden please browse our extensive information

In order to defuse claims that 'all restaurants are bad', we list our recommended eateries in the area:
http://www.punjab.co.uk
http://www.monplaisir.co.uk/
http://www.onealdwych.co.uk/
http://www.sarastro-restaurant.com/
http://www.maxwells.co.uk

Our favourite Christmas shopping tips:
http://www.culpeper.co.uk/culpeper/default.asp traditional herbalist
http://www.coventgardenmarket.com lots of stalls selling lots of hand-made arts & crafts
http://www.nicolas.co.uk/ off-licence with highly recommended regional French wine list
http://www.cardaid.co.uk all profits of these Christmas cards go to charity

Post-Christmas blues:
http://www.thesanctuary.co.uk/ forget the shopping, pamper yourself! (ladies only)
http://www.weightwatchers.com/ if you're desperate

Spare a thought….
http://heritage.virtualsite.co.uk/stmartin/social.html
St Martin's-in-the-Fields Social Care Unit - more than 50 years of caring for the homeless and destitute in central London
http://www.shelter.org.uk/
national campaign for the homeless
http://www.thehungersite.com
donate free food on-line to help some of the world's poorest communities

Web site developed by Liam Delahunty of Mega Products Ltd.