London's most continental square is thronged with shoppers and sightseers by day, and with theatregoers and revellers by night.

Covent Garden Piazza was laid out in the Italian style in 1630 by Inigo Jones. Initially it was a very fashionable address, but from 1670 onwards, with the advent of the main London fruit, flower and vegetable market, it was driven down-market and developed into a notorious red-light area. In 1830 its handsome centrepiece iron and glass hall was erected and the market continued trading at Covent Garden until 1974, when, finally defeated by transport logistics, it moved south of the river to Vauxhall. The site was then developed as a pedestrianised area, accommodating dozens of small shops and restaurants.