Easter Essentials 2009
Thorntons
Mon - Wed:
10.00am - 7.00pm
Thurs - Sat:
10.00am - 8.00pm
Sun:
10.00am - 6.00pm
Unit 2 The Market
Covent Garden, London
WC2E 8RA
GEO:51.512,-0.123532
Phone: 020 7836 2173
Website
The celebration of Spring (try saying that if you’re Chris Eubank) that is Easter is a perfect time for exploring Covent Garden. Start the day with a boiled egg and ‘soldiers’ at one of the area’s many cafes, or if you’re feeling particularly decadent, just move straight on to the chocolate version. Then head off to explore the area’s many shopping possibilities or even catch a top West End show – WC2’s Easter options are endless…
Thorntons Kids Chocolate Easter Egg Hunts 2009
Market Building
Friday 10th – Monday 13th April, 2.00pm & 4.00pm
Kids should head to Covent Garden’s Market Building to take part in the hunt to end all hunts. Collecting clues along the way, families will zig and zag around the historic Market Building. The Bunny Trail will lead kids to a tasty Thorntons chocolate treat. The hunt starts at 2pm and 4pm every day from Friday 10th – Monday 13th April, meet outside the Thorntons chocolate shop in the Market Building and then hit the trail. Good luck Bunnies!
Eating and Drinking
Give your tastebuds a treat with some of the seasonal offerings at Carluccio’s in Covent Garden. Head honcho Antonio Carluccio is a renowned mushroom lover so expect to see some lovely seasonal morels on the menu, along with the first spring lamb.
For great pizzas, head to Fire & Stone restaurant on Maiden Lane. It’s a beautifully designed destination that’s perfect for kids who will, no doubt, marvel over the gigantic pizza oven, the largest of its kind in the Northern hemisphere.
Fire & Stone restaurant
31/32 Maiden Lane
Covent Garden, London
WC2E 7JS
If they had their hearts set on a burger, then Maiden Lane is also home to Gourmet Burger Kitchen whose New Zealand-inspired burgers have seen them win a ‘Best Burger’ award from London listings bible Time Out. Tasty burgers can also be found at top chain restaurant Bite on Garrick Street.
Bite
13-14 Maiden Lane
Covent Garden, London
WC2E 7NE
Hamburger Union
4-6 Garrick Street
Covent Garden, London
WC2E9BH
For alfresco dining, check out some of the excellent options available on Covent Garden’s historic Piazza. Take time out to watch the world go by from the comfy outdoor area at the Covent Garden Kitchen while tucking into lovely Gloucester Old Spot sausages and mash or home-made shepherd’s pie.
Covent Garden Kitchen
Unit 6 The Market
Covent Garden, London
WC2E 8RF
Now that cupcakes are officially cool, served up at hip fashion launches and posh dinner parties alike, it’s time to check out the iced frosting heaven that is Candy Cakes. London’s cupcake café chain has a new branch in Covent Garden with a fun new Easter line in store. Look out for the bright blue Easter Delight and garishly green Easter Garden, topped with chicks and eggs, both in the brand’s signature crayon-box colours and frosted with a thick sugar rush of icing.
Candy Cakes
Covent Garden Market Building
London
WC2E 8HD
Shopping
Easter is the perfect time for a spot of shopping in Covent Garden. The rush of commuters has fallen to a trickle, freeing up valuable pavement space for committed shoppers, and the fashion stores have their new spring/summer collections on offer.
For something truly special, check out the unique hand-made gifts available at Covent Garden’s famous Apple Market. Produced solely in the UK and encompassing everything from ceramics and glassware to jewellery, clothing and all manner of distinctive arts and crafts goods, the Inigo Jones-designed covered market is an Aladdin’s Cave of curios for the sharp-eyed shopper.
If you’re after a great gift from this historic market, we recommend heading to the Artizen stall where you’ll find high quality hand-made cufflinks, all at eminently affordable prices.
Events and shows
One of the best things about visiting Covent Garden is your proximity to some of the greatest shows on earth. Theatres such as the Lyceum Theatre showing The Lion King, the Aldwych Theatre showing Dirty Dancing and The Theatre Royal showing Oliver are all just a few minutes walk away. Get booking now and avoid paying over the odds to the touts.
For those families staying in London for the Easter week, the Royal Opera House has a host of activities for kids running every day from Tuesday 14th April until Friday 17th April. These include a free family open day where you can try your hand at playing an orchestral instrument or get ballet lessons from one of the resident dancers. Kids can also make their own puppets and then put on a show for the parents.
