Gazetteer of
British Place Names

Covent Garden is a metropolitan district in Westminster, Middlesex. Lying in the heart of the West End of London, the area is famed for the former fruit-and-vegetable market in its central square and for the Royal Opera House. The name relates to the area formerly having been used as arable land and orchards by Westminster Abbey. The Italianate arcaded square and St Paul's Church were designed by Inigo Jones for Francis Russell (4th Earl of Bedford) around 1631. A fruit and vegetable market had developed by the late 17th century, after 1830 becoming enclosed by Charles Fowler's neo-classical building. The market itself moved to New Covent Garden in 1974, but the building and the area remain major tourist destinations. The area is within the council area of Westminster.

Place Type: Urban locality
Historic County: Middlesex
Lat, Long: 51.51185,-0.122678
Grid Reference: TQ 3037 8088
Council Area: Westminster CA
Strategic Authority Area: Greater London SA
Police Area: Metropolitan PA

GBPN ID: 11137
Entry Type: Main listing (P)
URL: https://gazetteer.org.uk/place/Covent_Garden,_Middlesex_11137

 Peruse Middlesex on Wikishire