Covent Garden Walking Tour (Self Guided), London

A shopping and entertainment hub on the eastern fringes of London's West End, Covent Garden is a district historically associated with the former fruit-and-vegetable market – currently a shopping spot popular with locals and tourists alike.

Once a slum area, today the north of the district is given over to independent shops centered on Neal's Yard and Seven Dials. Both places offer boutique shops, vintage and street style clothes, and a great number of pubs and restaurants that cater to shoppers and diners of all tastes.

The south of the district contains many historic buildings, theatres and entertainment venues, such as the London Transport Museum and London Coliseum.

In 1757, Benjamin Franklin, one of the founding fathers of the US, arrived in London as agent for the then Pennsylvania Assembly. He settled in a terraced Georgian house on Craven Street, a short distance from the market. During the periods of 1757-1762 and 1764-1775, Franklin lived in the house for nearly sixteen years. Today his former residence is open to public as a museum.

To acquaint yourself with London's Covent Garden for a chance to see its top attractions and sample the variety of shopping and dining options, take this self-guided walking tour!