Since the 1660s Covent Garden has never missed a chance to put on a performance. The first record of Covent Garden street entertainment came in 1662, when Samuel Pepys’ diary notes that a marionette show featuring a character named Punch took place on the Piazza. Today, the custom continues.
From fast paced juggling to lying on a bed of nails all the way to riding on a 10 foot unicycle the Street Performers on the West Piazza are iconic for their legendary perforances. Stay for ten minutes and watch all day, you always know you're going to see an amzing show.
At the North East corner of the Market Building you will discover bench seating surrounding a covered performance pitch. Here you will see everything from singers, jugglers, ventriloquist and more.
Get truly swept up in the theatrics of Covent Garden with the performances in the South Wells of the Market Building. At this pitch you will discover the classical performers. From breathtaking renditions of Les Mis, to a can-can from a string quartet the acoustics of the grade two listed building make this the best venue in the world.
All the world is a stage and none is more famous than the cobbles of Covent Garden.
For centuries, culture vultures have swooped on Covent Garden. They obviously relished the area’s eclectic, ever-changing mix or opera, ballet , musical theatre and drama, from highbrow and mainstream to fringe and beyond, all tastes are catered for and all emotion are stirred. No other urban quarter in the world has two great opera house and more than twenty thriving theatres.
Covent Garden Market regularly holds auditions for talented vocalists, instrumentalists, dancers, and variety/circus acts to perform at our world-famous destination.
The landlords, Shaftesbury Capital, have established a clear process for auditioning as a street performer within the Market Building only. Other local performance sites, including the West Piazza, James Street, and outside the London Transport Museum, fall under the jurisdiction of Westminster City Council and are not covered in this document.
Within the Market Building, there are two distinct busking pitches: the North Hall and the South Hall (or Lower Courtyard).
North Hall
The North Hall primarily welcomes variety and circus performers, although we do have a limited number of spaces for musicians playing or accompanying themselves on acoustic instruments. Variety and circus performers must present a structured show demonstrating a high degree of skill and the ability to engage with the audience. Similarly, musicians need to showcase their talent in drawing and retaining a crowd. Singers typically use a microphone, keeping in mind the volume limit of 85Hz due to the building's listed status. Please note that we do not provide microphones or electricity; performers are responsible for bringing all battery-powered equipment.
South Hall
The South Hall (downstairs) is designated for opera singers and classically trained instrumentalists. Singers must demonstrate the ability to project their voice across a large space without a microphone, as amplification is not permitted on this pitch. For the audition, singers should provide their own backing track(s) and battery-powered speaker.
Due to the building's listed status, we do not allow wind or brass instruments, electric guitars, drums, accordions, bagpipes, or didgeridoos on either pitch.
Audition Details
Auditions are held at the North Hall (located at ground level, opposite Russell Street) four times a year, beginning at 10:30 am. Please arrive by 10:15 am to register.
2025 Audition Dates
We aim to contact all auditioned performers in writing within one week, providing the outcome. All decisions are final.
The auditions are managed and judged by a panel representing the Courtyard Musicians’ Association, Street Performers’ Association, and the Shaftesbury Capital Covent Garden Management Team.
We look forward to welcoming you!
To perform on James Street or the West / East / North Piazza, please contact Westminster City Council or speak to one of the performers.
Covent Garden South Wells is home to Classical Performances (filmed in 2019)
Rob Falsini singing a cover of Chasing Cars in Covent Garden
West Piazza Performance from 2019
