People always try and dissuade visitors to London from visiting Covent Garden. They write it off because it is busy and has too many tourists. However, I think that it is one of the most fascinating parts of London, and is absolutely worth a visit. And if you want to get there, you very well may take the Underground for at least part of the journey. The Covent Garden Tube Station is without a doubt my favourite Underground station. Not only is it in my favourite place in London, the station itself is like stepping into the past. Today, I’m going to be looking at the history of the Covent Garden Tube Station, and why you shouldn’t skip it!
A Quick History of Covent Garden
Covent Garden began life as a convent garden, henceforth the name. For over a thousand years, it has served as a market, a meeting place, farmland, and more. In the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, many theatres popped up in the area, showing many popular plays, operas, ballets, and pantomimes. And it shouldn’t be a shock thatCovent Garden was well known as a red-light district with many brothels in the same period. (Think Harlots.) The floral market flourished, though, and the market persists through today. You can find all sorts of small shops and sellers throughout the market, and several places to eat as well.
Visit my post on the Quirks of Covent Garden here!
The Royal Opera House
The Royal Opera House, home to the Royal Ballet and the Royal Opera dominates the area. Nearly every evening (in non-Covid-19 times), over 2,000 people attend performances at the ROH. This current theatre dates back to the mid-nineteenth century, the third to stand there, and it has undergone extensive renovations in the last ten years. It actually had its own floral market, meant to provide income to the ROH. After falling into disrepair in the twentieth century, it was incorporated into the complex as Paul Hamlyn Hall (see below).
Find my post on the secrets of the Royal Opera House here!
The Covent Garden Tube Station
But now onto the station! The Covent Garden tube station is at the corner of Long Acre and James St, and is a very short walk from the market. The only line that comes through is the Piccadilly line, so you will have to specifically get on that line. (With many other stations, you can pass through on multiple lines.)
Given that there are often thousands of people attempting to enter the station at once, it has separate entrances and exits. (And no, I wouldn’t recommend attempting to enter through the exit.) There are many signs directing you to walk 4-7 minutes to a further station at busy times to mitigate traffic, as you have to take a lift down to the platforms- no stairs! If you aren’t out of the theatre in the first wave of people, you might end up waiting quite a long time. However, pass through during the day and avoid massive crowds. (If you do walk on to the next station, I would recommend Charing Cross or Holborn, and avoiding the also always crowded Leicester Square.)
Covent Garden Station- Grade II Listed
The street level building at the Covent Garden tube station is Grade II listed, and it is easy to see why. (Grade II listed means that it is of particular interest and all efforts should be made to protect it.) It was originally part of the Great Northern, Piccadilly and Brompton Railway, and the station opened in April of 1907. English architect Leslie Green designed the Covent Garden tube station, as well as the other stations for the Railway (including Oxford Circus, Russell Square, and Piccadilly Circus).
Built in the Arts and Crafts style, they are known for their distinctive oxblood red tiles on the facade, and continued tiling throughout the station. Each station has its own specific colours and patterns. (You can see the Covent Garden pale yellow, green, and brown tiles below.) The tiles were replaced in 2010 for refurbishment, but were replaced like-for-like, so nothing has changed appearance-wise. What I particularly appreciate is that the “To the trains” and “Exit” signs are actually designed into the tile work. (They can be easy to miss, but take a few moments out of the stream of people to appreciate the tiles!)
Looking for another fascinating tube station? I’ve also explored South Kensington (on the same line), as well as the updated Baker Street!
Have you passed through the Covent Garden tube station?
Cheers,
The Historian
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