Page 121 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - London

C OVENT GARDEN AND THE STR AND  119

Paul Nash. This museum is
excellent for children (and they
can enter free of charge). There
are plenty of hands­ on exhibits,
including a London bus and an
Under ground train that children
can climb aboard and pretend
to drive.

4 Lamb and Flag
33 Rose St WC2. Map 13 B2. Tel 020
7497 9504. 1 Covent Garden,
Leicester Sq. Open 11am–11pm
Mon–Sat, noon–10:30pm Sun.
See Pubs and Bars p313.
There has been an inn here
since the 16th century, making The Floral Hall, part of the Royal Opera House
the Lamb and Flag the oldest
tavern in Covent Garden. Tucked it stages blockbuster musicals. It little as £10). An extensive
away next to a narrow alleyway is called the Theatre Royal Drury renovation project, completed
linking Garrick Street with Floral Lane even though its entrance in 1999, added a second
Street, the cramped bars are is on Catherine Street. auditorium, along with rehearsal
still largely unmodern ized. rooms for the Royal Opera
A plaque concerns satirist and Royal Ballet companies.
John Dryden, who was attacked 6 Royal Opera Backstage tours are available.
in the alley outside in 1679. House
He was set upon by hooligans
sent by Charles II to uphold the Covent Garden WC2. Map 13 C2. 7 Neal Street and
honour of the Duchess of Ports­ Tel 020 7304 4000. 1 Covent Garden. Neal’s Yard
mouth, one of his mistresses. Open for tours and performances
Dryden had lampooned her in (phone to check). See Entertainment Covent Garden WC2. Map 13 B1.
his verse. The upstairs bar is p344. 0 = - 7 ∑ roh.org.uk 1 Covent Garden. See Shops and
named after Dryden. Markets p319.
The pub is popular with both Built in 1732, the first theatre
city centre workers and in­the­ on this site served as more of a In this attractive street, former
know tourists, who spill out into playhouse, although many of warehouses dating from the
the alleyway. Handel’s operas and oratorios 19th century can be identified
were premiered here. Like its by the hoisting mechanisms
5 Theatre Royal neighbour the Theatre Royal high on their exterior walls.
Drury Lane Drury Lane, the building The buildings have been
proved prone to fire and burned
converted into shops and
down in 1808 and again in restaurants. Off Neal Street in
Catherine St WC2. Map 13 C2.
Tel Box office 0844 412 4660; tours 1856. The present opera house Short’s Gardens is Neal’s Yard
0844 412 2957. 1 Covent Garden, was designed in 1858 by E M Dairy, one of London’s best
Holborn. Open for tours and perfor­ Barry. John Flaxman’s portico cheese shops. Nearby, Neal’s
mances. & See Entertainment p340 frieze, depicting tragedy and Yard itself is a bright and
∑ reallyusefultheatres.co.uk comedy, survived from the cheerful courtyard of
previous building of 1809. independent restaurants
The first theatre on this site was The Opera House has had and shops, most displaying
built in 1663 as one of only two both high and low points vividly painted façades.
venues in London where drama during its history. In 1892, the
could legally be staged. Nell first British performance of
Gwynne acted here. Three of Wagner’s Ring was conducted
the theatres built here since here by Gustav Mahler. Later,
then burned down, including during World War I, the building
one designed by Sir Christopher was used as a store house by
Wren (see p51). The present the government. Today, it is
structure, by Benjamin Wyatt, home to the Royal Opera and
was completed in 1812 and Royal Ballet companies – the
has one of the city’s largest best tickets can cost over £100
auditoriums. In the 1800s, it was (though restricted­view tickets
famous for pantomimes – now up in the “slips” can be had for as A specialist shop on Neal Street

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