Last Alteration: Sunday 07 April 2013
Covent Garden Market
Covent Garden Market
London
Covent Garden started life in the 1630s when land formerly belonging to Westminster Abbey was redeveloped by the fourth Earl of Bedford as the first experiment of town planning in London, supported by King Charles I and architected by Inigo Jones. The Market began to take hold around the Great Fire, and by the 18th Century occupied a large part of the area. The present Piazza was built in 1830.
The market itself moved to Nine Elms in 1973, and the area was under threat of demolition and redevelopment. Fortunately it was protected and reopened up as a venue with shops and restaurants.
How to get here:
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Underground (Piccadilly): Covent Garden - Exit the station and head south along James Street to the market. +
Access: publicStatus: recognisableSouth-East Corner
Invasion of the Dinosaurs (1)
Filmed: 2 Sep 1973
Covent Garden is completely deserted.
Access: publicStatus: recognisableBedford Chambers
The War Machines (2)
Filmed: 26 May 1966
Early-morning market activity in Covent Garden.
Where to walk to next?
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Shelton Street (The Web of Fear). Head north out of the market on James Street; when you reach the station, cross the road and walk along Neal Street. Then turn left into Shelton Street.
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John Adam Street (Aliens of London, World War Three). Head south out of the market on Southampton Street, and then turn right onto the Strand. Cross over, and then turn left into Adam Street, and then right into John Adam Street.
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Trafalgar Square (The Dalek Invasion of Earth, The Chase, The Web of Fear, The Seeds of Death, Invasion of the Dinosaurs, Rose, The Christmas Invasion, The Day of The Doctor). Head south out of Covent Garden onto South Street, and then turn right at the bottom onto the Strand; follow this until you reach Trafalgar Square.
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Great Queen Street (The War Machines). Head north out of the market on James Street; when you reach the station, turn right onto Long Acre and continue until it becomes Great Queen Street.
Additional locations as the crow flies:
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Royal Opera House (The War Machines): 0.08 miles. 
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Old Brewer's Yard (The Web of Fear): 0.15 miles. 
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Neal Street (The Web of Fear): 0.17 miles.
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Somerset House (Fragments): 0.25 miles.
In the News:
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14 Jul 2009: ifoAppleStore - "Objections Remain Over Covent Garden Design" (report on Apple's plans for the ground floor at Bedford Chambers)
General Details:
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The Royal Opera House was rebuilt between 1996 and 1999, replacing much of the character of the north-east corner of the market (including the absorption of the old Floral Hall next door).
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Bedford Chambers was reconstructed in 1877-79 from the original houses built by Inigo Jones that occupied this side of the square. It has since become home to a number of businesses, and the Rock Garden restaurant that occupied the ground floor has reopened in 2010 as an Apple Store!
Further links about the location:
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Covent Garden Life - Website for the Covent Garden area
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Wikipedia - Article on the history of Covent Garden
Related Stories
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The War Machines [26 May 1966]
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Invasion of the Dinosaurs [2 Sep 1973]: A seemingly deserted London
Information, downloads, photographs and other media are provided for reference and for personal use only (planning visits etc.) - they remain the copyright of their respective authors and may not be duplicated on any other website or media without prior permission.
All screen captures are the copyright of the BBC and appear here as reference to illustrate the location in comparison with how it looked at the time of filming and the present day; no attempt is made to supercede this or any other copyright.
