 Covent Garden ( / <unk> / or / <unk> / ) is a district in London on the eastern fringes of the West End , between St. Martin 's Lane and Drury Lane . It is associated with the former fruit @-@ and @-@ vegetable market in the central square , now a popular shopping and tourist site , and with the Royal Opera House , which is also known as " Covent Garden " . The district is divided by the main thoroughfare of Long Acre , north of which is given over to independent shops centred on Neal 's Yard and Seven Dials , while the south contains the central square with its street performers and most of the elegant buildings , theatres and entertainment facilities , including the Theatre Royal , Drury Lane and the London Transport Museum . 
