New Covent Garden Market

Located at Nine Elms between Vauxhall and Battersea is south west London's famous New Covent Garden Market. Split into two distinct areas, only the freshest fruits, vegetables, and flowers are sold wholesale. Over 2,500 people are employed here and the central location provides ready access to the West End, City and all parts of the Capital. This market is a sprawling 97 acres and is run by the government agency, Covent Garden Market Authority (CGMA) . It is run rather strictly as it provides the majority of the ingredients for London's restaurants, schools, prisons, hospitals and other mass caterers.

Covent Garden dates back to medieval days when the Abbey of Westminster owned the 'Convent Garden' from which surplus produce was sold to Londoners near to The Strand. A regular market grew up and in 1670 Charles II granted a charter to the Earl of Bedford to hold a market there. The market square was partly designed by Inigo Jones on an Italianite design.

After 1918 the Market and its trading rights were sold by the Duke of Bedford to a property company. Eventually the government recognised that public sector involvement would be necessary to modernise the Market and in 1961 CGMA was established.
The Authority selected Nine Elms at Vauxhall as the new home for the Market and the acquisition of the site and construction began in 1971.On Monday 11th November 1974 trading began on the new site.

There are some 58 companies trading in the Fruit and Vegetable Market. The bulk of the produce sold at New Covent Garden Market is to the catering trade which means that there is always a demand for high quality supplies. Niche products such as wild mushrooms, baby vegetables and speciality salad leaves are also destined for the catering sector. There are some 160 different types of fruit and 180 varieties of vegetables sold at the market.

The flower section of New Covent Garden Market is not like any other market in the UK. There are some 55 companies selling cut flowers, plants, foliage and sundries offering a one-stop shop for the florist.

Not only do products come in daily from Holland and elsewhere, it is also the only place a full range of English produce is available. And what you can't see can be ordered specially and in most cases will be available the next day.