Covent Garden, in London, is the home of the Royal Opera House, one of the world’s great opera houses. The Royal Opera House was opened in 1858 and stands on the site of two earlier theaters, the first of which opened in 1732. The Royal Opera House is home to the United Kingdom’s Royal Opera and Royal Ballet.
Covent Garden was originally the site of the old convent garden of Westminster Abbey. The square known as Covent Garden was designed by the architect Inigo Jones in the 1600’s. St. Paul’s, Covent Garden, a church designed by Jones, still stands. Residential housing was built up around the square in the 1600’s. A small market began in the square in 1661. The market grew until special buildings had to be erected for it in the early and mid-1800’s. In 1974, the market was moved to Nine Elms, in south London.
The old market area was redeveloped during the late 1970’s to house an attractive shopping and tourist precinct. The new development opened in 1980. It attracts both tourists and residents to its craft shops, boutiques, restaurants, and wine bars.
