A lot of the places I was tasked with documenting were locations that would be relevant to illustration (art supply shops, galleries). Being plopped in the middle of Covent Garden I didn't exactly hit the ground running. When I first arrive in a place I find I'm not really ready to start seeking things out and constructing a mental model, rather first I aim to get a feel for things, to listen and let the place speak to me and then gradually build up a set of associations. This approach came crashing against my time constraint and instead I found myself rushing from spot to spot, hurriedly jotting down the most immediate of impressions like some twisted impersonation of a tourist. In any event, here follows what I managed to scrape together.
The ICA (Institute of Contemporary Arts)
An art institute that exists possibly as a counterpart to the Royal Academy. It's located in The Mall, south of the Royal Academy and right around St. James's Park.
The Royal Academy
The Royal Academy (RA) is an art institute in Piccadilly Circus. No free admission here but it seems like a great place to experience and appreciate art.
Selfridges
Retail doesn't get much grander or more well-known than Selfridges. In spite of the name, they didn't get their start selling refrigerators, but instead specialise in fashion and accessories (although certain housewares are certainly available here). In many ways, like the Hudson's Bay company, although more high-end, and much younger (Selfridge's 109 years is but a child to the Bay's 347 year history). Inside you're treated to a swank shopping experience, but going by the ostentatious adornments on the outside you'd expect nothing less. Selfridges is located in the west end between Duke and Baker St., a little east of Hyde Park.
Morplan
Morplan is a supplier to the retail and fashion industries, which means they have all kinds of signage, mannequins and other such supplies that could certainly prove quite handy for your own business ventures. Morplan is located in Fitzrovia, along Great Titchfield St., a little northeast of LCF (London College of Fashion).
Gosh!
Gosh! is an ace comics shop packed with comics. Sure you'll find all the standards, including acclaimed titles like Black Hole, but they've also got racks dedicated to independent press and various zines.
 |
| Morplan and Gosh! logos, London, UK (Ink) |
Pollocks Toy Museum
Pollocks is a small museum and toy shop. I suppose there may be some things of interest here but I'm really not a fan of toys. Pollocks is located at the corner of Whitfield and Scala St. about two blocks north and three blocks west of Russell & Chapple.
Neal's Yard
Neal's Yard is an alley/courtyard in Covent Garden with shops that cater to your aching muscles. There are remedies, holistic massage, health and beauty and some food and drink spots along with some outdoor seating in the courtyard. On a nice day it may come as a welcome reprieve from the noisy, well-trafficked streets nearby. Neal's Yard is a couple of minutes walk northwest from Covent Garden station.
Paperchase
Paperchase is a chain of stationary stores and there are a number of locations around Covent Garden and the west end.
 |
| Paperchase |
Russell & Chapple
A framing and art supply store stocked with paints, brushes, oils and gels. It's a small shop with a focus on painting, but within its focus it is well stocked. Russell & Chapple is located along Store St. in Bloomsbury which puts it at a good 10-15 minute walk northwest from Covent Garden station. It's just around the corner from the British Museum, which just might serve as a lovely source of inspiration.
London Graphic Centre
Just ran out of ink? Looking to restock on paper? London Graphic Centre's got you covered. It's a fairly comprehensive art store with two floors worth of supplies to peruse. It's got a bit of a design-y bent (it's not called the London Art Centre after all) which makes it a better spot for certain items (and probably a worse spot for certain other items) than say Cass Art. For example I noticed they stocked an assortment of Rhodia notepads which I haven't encountered at Cass Art, Cowling & Wilcox, or Ryman's. It's big enough that you can wander off into a corner without being discovered by an overly helpful employee, if that sort of thing is important to you. The flagship store (this one) is located at the intersection of Mercer and Shelton St. just opposite the Cambridge Theatre.
 |
| London Graphic Centre, Covent Garden, London, UK |
Magma Books
Magma Books is a small specialist book shop. They carry books and notebooks on art, illustration, and design. It's a good place to encounter books that are likely to be obscure or absent in a conventional bookshop and it's small size and open layout means browsing the shelves is a breeze. The Covent Garden location of Magma Books is along Shorts Gardens, between Neal and Endell St., northwest of Covent Garden tube station.
 |
| Magma Books, Covent Garden, London, UK |
The Seven Dials
The Seven Dials is a sundial of sorts that serves as a kind of monument in Covent Garden. From the inscription on the piece itself: "This Sundial was built in 1694 by Edward Pierce and Thomas Neal removed from Seven Dials in 1773 and rebuilt 1989." If all the little alleyways have got you feeling a bit lost, the sundial will serve as a handy anchoring point. Seven Dials is a kind of focal point, but is located along Mercer St. between Long Acre and Shaftesbury Ave.
Chinatown
You'll know you've reached Chinatown when all above you is adorned with paper lanterns. Chinatown is just a little west of Covent Garden station, located north of Leicester Square Theatre and M&M's World.
Arthur Beale Chandlers
So no one told you... Chandler isn't just a fictional character's name? According to the Oxford English Dictionary a chandler is a dealer in supplies for ships and boats. At Arthur Beale there are all manner of supplies, although they all seem to be on the small side (no boats for example, or anchors, and good luck finding a dock) but they do include a number of books on nautical subjects. It might prove a good stop for one doing nautical research, or looking for just the right compass to complete that nautical theme, or simply as a repository of interesting objects to draw. Arthur Beale is located just a little north of Seven Dials between Neal and Endell St., northwest of Covent Garden tube station.
London College of Fashion
The John Prince's St. campus of LCF is located in the west end, right along Oxford St. just west as you pop out of the Oxford Circus tube station. The entrance is along John Prince's St., which is a small quiet street that seems much too unassuming for a main entrance. LCF sits atop a number of shops.
The Photographer's Gallery
A couple of tidbits of wisdom I gleaned from eavesdropping on another tour: the Gallery is a great resource, a wonderful place to come, and in the morning it's free (before 12 noon). There are five floors, with up to three of them dedicated to exhibits. If you have a spare morning it could be an excellent way to find a new favourite photographer. Some more practical knowledge: the elevator buttons don't light up when you press them, worse, it always seems to be going down when you want to go up (or vice versa), so pro-tip - take the stairs! They're directly on your left as you walk in. The student pass is £2.50 and it consists of nothing more than a single-colour circular sticker. Place it on your forehead for disapproving stares from snooty gallery-goers. The Photographer's Gallery is located down a neat little alley/street called Ramillies St. just off Oxford St., a little bit east of LCF.
 |
| Outside the Photographer's Gallery, London, UK |
