“Gimme Shelter”—Rainy day Spot #4: The Piazza in Covent Garden, London

If you’re seeking shelter during a typical London rain shower, there are plenty of places to duck into—but big museums will take up the entire day, department stores can cause unplanned damage to your travel budget and we wouldn’t want you to wait out the storm in a crowded chain eatery. After all, on vacation you should enjoy even the soggy moments! So one of the best spots to head for when the rain clouds roll in is the covered plaza in Covent Garden, West End. It’s comfortable and convenient with great views…much like the vacation rental available in the West End area.

Covent Garden was originally a “convent” garden where the monks from nearby Westminster Abbey used to plant vegetables; what has sprung up more recently are unique cafés, craft shops, boutiques and bustling foot traffic. Today, Covent Garden is one of the most popular parts of London for tourists and locals alike—attracting post-theatre crowds and loads of spectators to watch every manner of street performance that takes place there.

When it rains, simply hustle inside the partially enclosed center square—the sides are open so you still get an outdoor feeling without getting drenched. Inside, there is the same variety of shops as well as vibrant coffee bars and restaurants. Street artists want to avoid the inclement weather, too, so you may be treated to impromptu opera, magic tricks, juggling, dance or “living statues” as you keep dry.

Also housed in the roofed piazza is the manageable sized London Transport Museum, which allows visitors to simulate the experience of driving an Underground train (navigating through those narrow tunnels is a lot tougher than you may think!). The gift shop sells an abundance of “Mind the Gap” goods as well as items emblazoned with the iconic tube map of London. If you’re looking for souvenirs, though, the piazza’s Savage store sells tons of fashionable and un-touristy graphic t-shirts or ones with simple London place names across the chest in retro style (including one for “Covent Garden, which you may want to commemorate your stay).

Close enough to sprint to and not get soaked is the nearby Photographer’s Gallery, which occupies two neighboring spaces and always has small but excellent exhibits, in addition to a well-stocked bookstore and café. If the play’s your thing, the local Theatre Museum holds enough must-see memorabilia to occupy you until the sun shines once more.

If you can experience so much in this area in just a brief respite from the rain, imagine what actually staying in a  West End apartment rental would be like! There are plenty of options, including:

•    An incredibly chic, modern 2-bedroom Accommodation in Covent Garden, Westminster (LN-566) on the second floor of a renovated building on small and charming Shelton Street. It is located near the main avenue, Long Acre, which is packed with places to shop and eat.

•    A bright, airy 2-bedroom Vacation Rental in Covent Garden, Westminster (LN-1010) on Bloomsbury Way, only two streets down from the British Museum!

•    A third-floor, decorative 2-bedroom Accommodation in Covent Garden, Westminster (LN-401) on West Bedford Street, only a short walk from the piazza.

A stay in Covent Garden may just convince you to leave your umbrella at home!

Let us know your thoughts about the vibrant Covent Garden area below, or which street performances you have seen there, and be sure to check out New York Habitat’s upcoming number three spot for shelter from the storm.