Festive London: Covent Garden

Covent Garden is one of London’s most magical hot (or cold!) spots at Christmas time, and if you’re planning a festive trip to the city then it’s a must do. As well as being one of the most beautifully decorated areas of London during December, Covent Garden also boasts some fantastic shops and market stalls ideal for indulging in a little gift shopping.

If shopping is on your mind, it’s fair to say that money may also be. Christmas shopping in the capital doesn’t come cheap, especially with so many lovely things tempting you to buy them, so why not try to keep costs down elsewhere?

Choosing budget accommodation for a festive trip to London can be a wise move. With so much to see and do in the capital it’s unlikely that you’ll be wanting to spend much time in your hotel room, so why spend a fortune on a bed for the night?

Browse online to see the wide range of London hotels that Travelodge offer and you’re sure to find low cost accommodation to fit in with your plans. There are 51 Travelodge hotels in the city centre, meaning that you’ll easy find the perfect location for your Christmas shopping plans. 

Travelodge Covent Garden is perfectly situated for visiting this London hot spot, as well as offering easy access to the attractions of Soho and Theatreland, and the myriad of shopping opportunities on and around Oxford Street.

Buying a budget room needn’t mean forfeiting location, and the Travelodge Covent Garden hotel is right in the heart of the action. The nearby Travelodge London Farringdon and Travelodge London Central Euston also make great choices.

The plans for Christmas 2012 in Covent Garden are still firmly under wraps, but a quick look back to previous years can give us hints as to what magical delights may await.

Last year saw Covent Garden transformed into a winter wonderland with the help of stunning illuminations. A festive lighting extravaganza lit up the piazza and market building, including giant chandeliers to add extra pizzazz to the festivities.

In addition, Covent Garden always boasts a giant Christmas tree with huge shiny red baubles, which was joined last year by a 32ft topiary reindeer.

Although dates haven’t been announced as of yet, the Covent Garden Christmas lights switch on usually takes place on or around November 10th, so keep an eye on the events calendar on the Covent Garden website for the announcement of a date to put in your diary.

For gorgeous gifts to pop under your own, slightly smaller tree, you’ll be spoiled for choice when browsing the market and shops of Covent Garden. For kids, find traditional toys at Benjamin Pollock’s Toyshop, as well as niche character items in the TinTin and Moomins shops. For the chocolate lovers in your life, the Godiva chocolate shop is the place to stock up on delectable treats, and for those who love their sparkly trinkets, try Links of London.

There’s something for everyone at Covent Garden, meaning that you can get all your gift shopping out of the way in one fell swoop! Save on your London hotel room with Travelodge and you’ll have all the more cash to splash on gorgeous gifts to pile high under the tree!