Covent Garden is a big crowd puller, known for the numerous and varied street performers that entertain the people of London.
From mime artists to jugglers, from fire breathers to break dancers, from puppet shows to acrobats, Covent Garden has it all. It’s no wonder then that each year over 100 million people come to Covent Garden for a day out full of fun and entertainment.
You can find the best street performances in London’s West End at Covent Gardens Piazza which is a public and pedestrianised square surrounded by shops and restaurants.
The Piazza comes alive during the day with performers but you can also enjoy some great evening entertainment at the Royal Opera House which houses some of the world’s greatest ballet dancers and opera singers.
Covent Garden is a big crowd puller, known for the numerous and varied street performers that entertain the people of London.
The performances take place on a daily basis, where the artists and performers show their skills and talents to an audience.
The street shows are free to watch, although the performers appreciate any donations made. The money can help them to continue doing what they love, as well as put food on their table.
Covent Garden opening hours for street performers are:
Monday – Thursday – 12pm until 9pm
Friday – 12pm until 10pm
Saturday – 11am until 10pm
Sunday – 11am until 8pm
There is no set time for any of the performances, so you could arrive at any time during these hours and be entertained.
Covent Garden is a big crowd puller, known for the numerous and varied street performers that entertain the people of London.
The fact that there are so many street performers in Covent Garden means you’ll never be short of entertainment, but it also makes it a bit difficult to know when to head there.
So, I thought I’d put together a little guide to let you know what times of the day to see certain acts. Obviously, this isn’t definite as the performance times can change, but it will give you a pretty good idea of what to expect and when.
I’ve also included some videos from previous performances so you can get a good idea of what to expect from each act!
Covent Garden is a big crowd puller, known for the numerous and varied street performers that entertain the people of London.
The street performers are an important part of London’s theatreland and there are usually at least 30 different performances to enjoy each day.
The Covent Garden Street Performers rota is created by the local authority, Westminster City Council. The council ensures that only the very best performers are allowed to entertain in the area, so you can be sure that you’ll be treated to some first class entertainment when you visit this area of London.
The timings of the Covent Garden Street Performers vary on a daily basis, but generally there will be two sessions during each day. The first session begins at 12:15pm and goes through until 4:45pm. The second session begins at 5:00pm and concludes at 9:30pm. The acts generally perform for 45 minutes each although this may change depending on the act.
People of all ages and from all over the world converge in Covent Garden for a fun-filled day, or evening, in London. The area is known for its numerous and varied street performers that entertain the crowds.
Covent Garden is a big crowd puller and many of the street performers are internationally recognised talents who have been performing there for years.
The variety of performances include singers, magicians, acrobats, jugglers, mime artists and puppeteers.
Street performance has been a feature of Covent Garden since the 1600s and the tradition continues today with the world-famous Covent Garden Street Performers Festival.
The festival takes place on May Bank Holiday weekend each year in Covent Garden Piazza. There is free entry to the public, with an estimated 250,000 people attending over the three days of the festival.
COVENT GARDEN STREET PERFORMERS
Street Performer
Timings
Monday to Saturday: 12pm to 7:30pm
Sunday : 11am to 6pm
Location: James Street and Bedford Street, Covent Garden.
The London Transport Museum has a great collection of old buses, trams and Tube trains (as well as a very child-friendly café!) – the perfect place to learn all about the history of transport in London. Don’t miss the old Victorian horse drawn omnibuses. There are also plenty of fun hands-on activities for the kids.
Every day is different, with new performances and new people coming and going, but there is always something happening. You’ll find singers, puppeteers, acrobats, sword-swallowers, magicians – even the occasional human statue.
COVENT GARDEN STREET PERFORMANCE TIMINGS
The West Piazza is open for street performers from 10am – 10pm.
The East Piazza is open for street performers from 11am – 7pm.
Performers are free to come and go as they please within these times and can perform anywhere they wish in the Piazzas as long as they are not obstructing a shop entrance or exit or a pavement.
