Covent Garden
Travel Guide
Covent Garden station is a trap on a busy evening — there's a much better way in. The stops locals actually use, post-theatre routes that dodge the Strand gridlock and live status for every relevant line.
41
West End theatres within walking distance of the Piazza
5 min
walk from Leicester Square tube to Covent Garden Piazza
500+
street performances per year in the Piazza
10:30pm
typical West End show end time — plan your route home
Covent Garden station warning
Covent Garden tube station is one of London's smallest — it has a single lift and is frequently overwhelmed after theatre shows and on busy tourist days. TfL themselves recommend walking to Leicester Square (5 min) or Holborn (10 min) instead, especially after 10pm. The station often runs exit-only or has lengthy queuing systems post-show.
Getting there
Five ways to Covent Garden
Piccadilly Line
Covent Garden station is directly on the Piccadilly line — but read the warning above before using it. For most journeys, get off at Leicester Square instead and walk 5 minutes. King's Cross to Covent Garden is just 12 minutes direct.
Leicester Square is a safer betNorthern Line
Leicester Square is on the Northern line — brilliant for anyone coming from south London (Waterloo, London Bridge, Balham, Clapham). It's a 5-minute walk across to the Piazza. Night Tube runs Fri/Sat on the Northern line.
Night Tube Fri/Sat to south LondonCentral Line
Holborn station (Central + Piccadilly) is 10 minutes walk from the Piazza and an excellent post-show option — much less crowded than Covent Garden. The Central line covers the whole of London east-west, from Shepherd's Bush to Liverpool Street.
10 min walk, far less crowdedNational Rail via Charing Cross
Charing Cross National Rail station is a 12-minute walk along the Strand. Excellent for south London, Kent and East Sussex. The Jubilee line also connects here via Waterloo — great for post-show heading to Canary Wharf or south.
12 min walk along the StrandTiming & tactics
Before & after the show
Before the show
- Arrive 90 min early: Browse the Market, find a restaurant, enjoy the Piazza without crowds
- Arrive 45 min early: Ideal — most theatres have bars, no need to rush from the station
- Avoid 5–7pm (weekdays): Covent Garden station is swamped by commuters plus tourists
- Street performers: Best shows at 1pm, 3pm and 5pm in the Piazza — worth timing your visit
After the show (10:30pm)
- Best option: Walk 10 min to Holborn — Central line covers all of London. Night Tube on Fri/Sat.
- South London: Walk 5 min to Leicester Square — Northern line direct to London Bridge, Waterloo, Clapham
- South-east/NR: Walk 12 min to Charing Cross — National Rail south and Jubilee to Waterloo/Canary Wharf
- ⚠ Avoid: Covent Garden station — expect lengthy queues or exit-only restrictions post-show
Last trains from Leicester Square
Northern line last trains leave around 00:30. Night Tube runs from approx 00:30 Friday–Saturday with 24-hour service. Always check the boards — post-show crowds can fill trains quickly.
Station by station
Which station to use and when
Covent Garden
PiccadillyLeicester Square
NorthernPiccadillyHolborn
CentralPiccadillyCharing Cross
JubileeTemple
Circle/DistrictWhich theatre, which station
Theatreland station guide
Royal Opera House
Opera & Ballet
Piccadilly line — right on Bow Street. Fine outside peak hours.
Lyceum Theatre
The Lion King
Northern + Piccadilly. Walk via Wellington Street.
Cambridge Theatre
Matilda
Central + Piccadilly. Seven Dials via Shorts Gardens.
St Martin's Theatre
The Mousetrap
Northern + Piccadilly. West Street, practically next door.
Savoy Theatre
Various
NR + Jubilee. On the Strand — Charing Cross is the natural stop.
Adelphi Theatre
Various
NR + Jubilee. Strand location — Charing Cross or Leicester Sq both work.
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Popular questions
Food & drink
Pre & post-theatre dining
Pre-theatre classics
- Balthazar — French brasserie, set pre-theatre menu, perfect timing
- J. Sheekey — Legendary seafood, iconic post-show institution
- The Ivy — Book weeks ahead — the classic Theatreland restaurant
Queue-worthy
- Dishoom Covent Garden — Allow 15–20 min queue — absolutely worth it for the bacon naan
- Wahaca (in the Market) — Great value Mexican inside the Market building itself
- Flat Iron (Henrietta St) — Brilliant steak for under £20, no reservations needed
Pre-show convenience
- Market Building restaurants — 20+ options in the Market building itself, 90 min should be enough
- Seven Dials Market — Brilliant street food hall 8 min walk — great variety
- Covent Garden Piazza cafes — Coffee, snacks and people-watching before the show
After the curtain falls
- Gordon's Wine Bar — The oldest wine bar in London, candlelit caves on Villiers St
- The Harp (Covent Garden) — CAMRA pub of the year, great ales on Chandos Place
- Late night St Martin's Lane — Bars stay open until 1–2am — perfect after a 10:30pm finale
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
Should I use Covent Garden tube station?
Often no — Covent Garden station is tiny with a single lift and frequently becomes overwhelmed. TfL themselves advise against using it during busy periods and after theatre shows. At peak times (especially post-theatre 10:30–11pm) it operates exit-only or has lengthy queuing systems. Leicester Square (5 min walk) or Holborn (10 min walk) are usually better options.
Which station is best for the West End?
It depends on the theatre. Leicester Square (Northern + Piccadilly) is best for central Theatreland — St Martin's Theatre, Lyceum, Adelphi. Holborn (Central + Piccadilly) is best for Seven Dials shows like Matilda at Cambridge Theatre. Charing Cross (NR + Jubilee) is ideal if you're heading to south London post-show.
How do I get to the Royal Opera House?
Covent Garden station (Piccadilly line) is right outside on Bow Street — about a 2-minute walk. Outside peak hours it's perfectly fine. Alternatively walk from Holborn in 10 minutes: exit via Kingsway, head south-west along High Holborn and into the piazza.
Is Covent Garden accessible?
The Piazza itself is largely flat and accessible. However, Covent Garden station has only one lift, making it unreliable for wheelchair users if the lift is out of service. Holborn station has step-free access from street to train on both the Central and Piccadilly lines and is the recommended accessible option.
What time do West End shows end?
Typical evening performances end between 10:15pm and 10:45pm — plan around 10:30pm as a rule. Matinees (usually Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday) end around 5–5:30pm. Always check your specific show as curtain times vary.
Is there late-night food in Covent Garden?
Yes — the area is well served late. Many restaurants around St Martin's Lane, the Strand and Long Acre stay open until midnight or later. J. Sheekey and Balthazar are classic post-theatre options. For something faster, the Strand and Charing Cross Road have 24-hour options.
Quick journeys
Plan your route to Covent Garden
King's Cross → Covent Garden
Piccadilly direct to Covent Garden
Victoria → Covent Garden
Circle/District to Embankment + walk, or bus
Waterloo → Covent Garden
Walk over Waterloo Bridge (25 min, scenic), or Northern line
Liverpool Street → Covent Garden
Central line to Holborn, 10 min walk
Paddington → Covent Garden
Bakerloo to Charing Cross + 12 min walk
London Bridge → Covent Garden
Northern line to Leicester Square
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