Things to do in Covent Garden, from someone who's there every weekend

I spend every Saturday and Sunday in Covent Garden, painting, selling and watching the world walk past my stall in Jubilee Market Hall. So when visitors ask me "what should we do around here?", I've had a lot of practice answering. Here's my honest list, with the touristy bits, the bits locals actually like, and where to find art you can take home.

1. Watch the street performers in the Piazza

The Piazza is the cobbled square in the middle of Covent Garden, and its street performers are part of the furniture. Acts take turns in front of St Paul's Church on the west side and in the courtyards around the Market Building. Stand at the back, laugh at the right moments, and put something in the hat if they made your afternoon.

Tip: the best acts draw the biggest crowds in the middle of the afternoon. If you want a good spot, get there a few minutes before a show starts.

2. Browse the markets

Covent Garden has two market halls, and most visitors only find one.

• The Apple Market is inside the main Market Building, under the glass roof. Expect makers, crafts, jewellery and design.
• Jubilee Market is the covered hall on the south side of the Piazza. It changes through the week: antiques on Mondays, a general market from Tuesday to Friday, and arts and crafts on Saturdays and Sundays.

I'm in Jubilee Market every weekend, at the stall with the wall of bright slogans. I wrote a full Jubilee Market guide if you want the details.

3. Find some art you can actually take home

Galleries are lovely, but you can't take the paintings with you. Covent Garden is one of the few places in central London where you can meet the artist and buy the work on the same afternoon.

At my stall I hand-paint bold slogans onto antique book pages: one of a kind originals from £55, prints at £20, and cheeky gifts that fit in a suitcase.

More on this in my guides to the Covent Garden art market and where to buy art in London.

4. Step inside St Paul's Church

On the west side of the Piazza is St Paul's, known as the actors' church because of its long links with theatre. Walk round to the garden at the back, through the gates off Henrietta Street or King Street. It's one of the quietest spots in the West End, and almost nobody knows it's there.

5. Visit the London Transport Museum

On the east side of the Piazza, the London Transport Museum is full of old buses, trains and Tube posters. It's great with kids, and the shop is good for design-led souvenirs. Check the museum's website for tickets and opening times before you go.

6. See the Royal Opera House

The Royal Opera House sits on the north-east corner of the Piazza. Even if you're not seeing a show, the building is worth a look. Check its website for what's on and which spaces are open to visitors.

7. Get lost in Neal's Yard and Seven Dials

Ten minutes north of the Piazza, Neal's Yard is a tiny courtyard of brightly painted shopfronts, and the most photographed corner of Covent Garden. Keep going and you hit Seven Dials, where seven streets meet at a column. It's full of independent shops, cafés and the kind of boutiques you don't get on the high street. My Covent Garden shopping guide has the full route.

8. Catch a West End show

Covent Garden is the heart of Theatreland, with theatres in every direction. A weekend afternoon at the markets followed by an evening show is about as London as it gets.

9. Do Covent Garden at Christmas

From November, Covent Garden goes full Christmas, with lights, decorations and a festive crowd in the Piazza. It's beautiful and very busy, so weekend mornings and weekday evenings are calmest. My Covent Garden Christmas market guide covers where to go, and if you're shopping for presents, start with the Christmas gifts collection.

Christmas delivery dates: order by 18 December for UK Christmas delivery and by 10 December for international. Luis posts every order within 3 days. Made-to-order clothing, totes and notebooks take 7 to 10 days, so order those sooner.

Free things to do in Covent Garden

London is not cheap, darling, but plenty here costs nothing:

• Watching the street performers in the Piazza
• Browsing the Apple Market and Jubilee Market
• The garden behind St Paul's Church
• Photos in Neal's Yard
• Window shopping in Seven Dials
• Coming to say hello at my stall. Looking is free, and I'll tell you the story behind any piece on the wall.

Getting there

• Covent Garden station (Piccadilly line) is right there, but it's lifts only and busy at weekends.
• Leicester Square (Northern and Piccadilly) is about five minutes' walk and usually quicker.
• Holborn (Central and Piccadilly) is about ten minutes' walk.
• From Trafalgar Square, walk up through the side streets in about ten minutes.

Taking something home

If you fall for something but you're flying home with hand luggage, don't panic. Prints and notebooks slide into a suitcase, and I deliver to the UK, the USA, Canada, Australia, Ireland and much of Europe. For more ideas, see London souvenirs that aren't tacky or the London souvenirs collection.

Covent Garden questions