Covent Garden

In the 1630s Inigo Jones designed London's first arcaded square, inspired by Italian piazzas. The fruit, vegetable and flower market grew here for centuries, and the central iron-and-glass hall dates from 1830; in 1974 the market moved out and the building was saved from demolition.

Today there are shops, the Apple Market for crafts, cafés and street performers on the West Piazza, in front of St Paul's Church, known as the actors' church. The Royal Opera House is next door.