Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
the architect replied, “Sire, you shall have the handsomest barn in England”. It's better
known nowadays as the
Actors' Church
, and is filled with memorials to thespians from
Boris Karloff to Gracie Fields. The cobbles in front of the church's Tuscan portico
- where Eliza Doolittle was discovered selling violets by Henry Higgins in George
Bernard Shaw's
Pygmalion
- are now a legalized venue for buskers and street
performers, who must audition for a slot.
The piazza's history of entertainment goes back to May 1662, when the first recorded
performance of Punch and Judy in England was staged by Italian puppeteer Pietro
Gimonde, and witnessed by Pepys. To celebrate this a
Punch and Judy Festival,
called
May Fayre, is held on the second Sunday in May, in the gardens behind the church; for
the rest of the year the
churchyard
provides a tranquil respite from the activity outside.
COVENT GARDEN & THE STRAND
Centrepoint
Tottenham
Court
Road
S
U C
HIGH HOLBO
Holborn
St Giles-in-
the-Fields
Oasis
Sports
Centre
Oasis
Sports
Centre
Neal's
Ya r d
Seven
Dials
Neal's
Ya r d
CAMBRIDGE
CIRCUS
Freemasons'
Hall
Seven
Dials
SEE INSET FOR DETAIL
0
50
Covent
Garden
yards
Royal Opera
House
LSE
Leicester
Square
Theatre
Royal
PIAZZA
London
Transport
Museum
Covent Garden
Market
W
Waldorf
Hotel
London
Film Museum
St Paul
Bush
House
India
House
Jubilee
Market
St Clement
Danes
Australia
House
Twinings
Coliseum
St Mary-le-Strand
Roman
Bath
ACCOMMODATION
Covent Garden Hotel
The Fielding
Grosvenor House Studios
High Holborn Residence
The Savoy
Seven Dials Hotel
6
3
2
1
4
5
Courtauld
Gallery
Zimbabwe
House
Savoy
Chapel
Police
Station
Savoy
Theatre
King's
College
Coutts
Savoy
Hotel
RSA
Somerset
House
Charing
Cross
R I A
E
Temple
Benjamin
Franklin
House
0
200
River Thames
yards
York
Watergate
Charing
Cross
Train
Station
SHOPS
The Natural Shoe Store
Neal's Yard Dairy
Paul Smith
Pollock's Toyshop
Rokit
Stanfords
Tatty Devine
The Tea House
The VIVOBAREFOOT
Experience
Cleopatra's
Needle
CAFÉS
Canela
Food for Thought
Homeslice Pizza
Kastner & Ovens
Monmouth
Coffee Company
Poetry Café
Rock & Sole Plaice
Spud
RESTAURANTS
Dishoom
Green Man
& French Horn
Hawksmoor
J. Sheekey
Kopapa
Masala Zone
Opera Tavern
Terroirs
9
7
3
5
1
4
2
8
6
15
14
11
3
12
1
13
7
5
9
2
6
16
4
8
10
Embankment
PUBS & BARS
Cross Keys
Gordon's
Harp
Lamb & Flag
Princess Louise
The Salisbury
4
GAY & LESBIAN VENUES
Halfway 2 Heaven
Heaven
Retro Bar
2
9
5
3
1
WHITEHALL PL
AC
E
7
8
6
